Area in my backyard thinking of putting a pond suggestions?

[xxnonamexx]

Hi I have attached photos of an area near my backyard garden which is a hill that I dislike when it comes to cutting the lawn. I would like to incorporate a pond, waterfall in this area. I was thinking of using the hill as a natural setting for the waterfall. I am looking into a solar pump Aquajet 24V Max Lift: 10.5' / 412 GPH to eliminate running electric to this area. My question is how big of a pond can I build to support this pump? I also do not want a trickling waterfall but a nice flowing waterfall. Thanks

 

[MitchM]

I would be surprised if a solar 412 gph pump could pump 10.5 feet for more than a couple of hours per day.
You should be looking at possibly a 100 gallon water feature only.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

And with only 412 gph, all you will get is a trickling water fall. Minimum of 1000 gph for really a decent flow.

 

[Mmathis]

Hello and welcome!

Are you planning to have fish? If so, this might be an issue with solar.

 

[DutchMuch]

I have 2 (1 1/2 x 2 ft) solar panels on my greenhouse that power a VERY small fan. So I think it wouldn't work for you... Agree go with 1000 plus gallons per hour. Its hard to find good solar powered equipment, if you can make it attach a large panel to the pump and wire it yourself.

 

[xxnonamexx]

What's a 100 gal water feature?

 

[DutchMuch]

This maybe? http://nelsonwatergardens.com/choosing-the-perfect-pump/

 

[xxnonamexx]

Thanks I still need to look into solar pumps. According to the company the pump will power a strong water flow. I m new to solar pond/waterfall. I understand any pump will work you just need to plug it into the correct solar panel and battery backup.

 

[DutchMuch]

Any pump will work if provided the correct size equipment with that pump. And with what your going to use it for, it wont work. A "strong" waterflow to someone who is selling you something, could be me pouring a glass of water into a sink.

 

[CometKeith]

I have never been able to achieve a strong water flow with anything less than 600 or 700 gph and usually you need a lot more than that.... and that's for a pump plugged into an ac outlet. It seems unlikely the pump you are looking at will do the trick.

 

[xxnonamexx]

Thanks I guess I am going to have to get an electrical outlet ran up to that area. The company was trying to sell me this http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-w...uajet-custom-kit-24v-with-battery-backup.html

 

[addy1]

I took all of our hills, planted them, added a stream, waterfalls, ponds, no more mowing on that darn 25 degree slope. I was always falling off the hill with the mower.

I agree with the above you need electricity. I have a separate clear water pump from harbor freight that sends water up our hill, 100 feet of head pressure, on a timer, think it is rated at 1600 gph, makes a nice stream and waterfall. OW just one pump for the ponds, that runs 24/7

 

[sissy]

just like solar lights that don't last or that don't stay on for more than 4 or 5 hours at night or on a cloudy day with full sun maybe 5 hours if you are lucky .Then like solar lights they die or need new batteries and they need the lenses cleaned .I still have some of my harbor freight pumps and they still work in my neighbors pond and some are 10 years old .

 

[Lisak1]

I long for the day when solar technology reaches the level that we can run pumps off of it - it's not there yet.

 

[sissy]

solar panels need to go down in cost ,even with rebates it is high .I thought of solar for my house with wind turbine also but cost and maintaining it and batteries is high .Even smaller panels are high and now they have solar sheets and not sure how they would hold up to storm damage .We had one house here with solar panels and hail damage was bad and insurance companies do not cover damage to them

 

[DutchMuch]

Had a SP that was 5(l)ft by 4 ft, didn't last with Arkansas weather!

 

[Usman]

solar energy can power whole house now days , , its up to u how much u can invest , u can power low power appliances for very long time , here people use solar panels of 8 feet with UPS and truck battery for storing electricity . it is quite possible that the pump works directly from solar panel at day time then after nite it runs on battery as they have calculated but unless u have seen it or tried it , is there any grantee the company give u that it will run 24h? it all depends on solar panel size and battery if they have suitable size with it .
you can create strong enuf but small waterfall of 1.5 foot tall with 6 inch width with this pump .
but my question after this , will u save enuf from this all investment ?

 

[Lisak1]

I think you hit the nail on the head @Usman - yes it IS possible to run a pond pump off of solar panels, but how much would you have to invest to make it work? And what would you be saving?

 

[Stephen T.]

Solar is great! We've been in it since it was really expensive and it's relatively cheap now. If you have a pump that uses 50 watts continuous for 24 hours, that's 1200 watt/hours, about 100 amp/hours @ 12V. My 1200GPH pump uses about 35 watts. You would need a deep cycle, (not car battery) of twice that capacity, or about 200 amp hours (golf cart batteries are a good cost effective route). You should never discharge them more than 50% if you want them to last a few years or more. I'd guess you could get by with a couple 160 watt, 12 volt panels, a cheap charge controller and a 400 watt or less inverter. The best place I've found for panels is Solar Blvd
I've been dealing with them for about 10 years now and never been disappointed. They have Solar Cynergy 160 watt, 12volt panels for $125 each + shipping. The charge controller can be bought on Ebay for about $30 and the same for a small inverter to run a 120 Volt pump.

 

[Usman]

Solar is great! We've been in it since it was really expensive and it's relatively cheap now. If you have a pump that uses 50 watts continuous for 24 hours, that's 1200 watt/hours, about 100 amp/hours @ 12V. My 1200GPH pump uses about 35 watts. You would need a deep cycle, (not car battery) of twice that capacity, or about 200 amp hours (golf cart batteries are a good cost effective route). You should never discharge them more than 50% if you want them to last a few years or more. I'd guess you could get by with a couple 160 watt, 12 volt panels, a cheap charge controller and a 400 watt or less inverter. The best place I've found for panels is Solar Blvd
I've been dealing with them for about 10 years now and never been disappointed. They have Solar Cynergy 160 watt, 12volt panels for $125 each + shipping. The charge controller can be bought on Ebay for about $30 and the same for a small inverter to run a 120 Volt pump.

If i would invest for solar energy i would do where i can make most out of it and as substitute with backup, for example on lights and fans etc where i will get considerable benefit out of the system , another thing is where i dont get effected if it doesnot work , as substitute backup , suppose if batteries dont charge in winters or in cloudy days , the pump will stop, so he shud atleast have main line available, and use it as backup . im not against it but my point is , if u wana save money , do where its best .

Im thinking my self to buy few panels , i have inverter and battery . If ur using liquid battery regularly, u need to buy new battery every year or if ur lucky it will last 18 months but its storing capacity will decrease . new inverters have system that discharges it before its empty to keep it in good shape .