How would I plumb an external pump?

[Anthony]

Is there a diagram somewhere of how I should do this starting at the skimmer and ending at the waterfall?
Are the external pumps completely weather proof and just sit out in the open come rain and snow?
Any tips or suggestions on this type of hook up would be appreciated.

 

[addy1]

I would not call them totally water proof, mine is covered by a cut 55 gallon drum. My two pumps in arizona are open to the weather, but we don't get much rain there. I think I have seen external pumps that can just sit out, we had one in colorado to water the lawn from the creek it was open to the weather, not a pond pump. You would need to read the pumps specs.

Have your pipes go from the skimmer, to in of the pump, the pumps out would go to the waterfall. I would suggest a leaf basket between the skimmer and the pump.

What kind of filter are you thinking of?

 

[taherrmann4]

Here is how i cover mine. I call it the pump house. In the second pic, the pipe that enters the pump from the right comes from my skimmer and the pipe that leaves to the back of the house goes to my filter.

 

[addy1]

laughing....... one of these days we will have a nice cover. My honey wants to do it, he works at a slightly different pace then me.

 

[whiskey]

hope its not two paces forward, three back, he he

 

[addy1]

Well hummm, how do I say this............. I am full speed ahead, he is ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm slower paced.

 

[Anthony]

Do external pumps need to be gravity fed or can the pump be installed at a higher elevation than the skimmer box it is drawing from and then pump to an even higher elevation to feed the waterfall.
How would it prime itself in this scenario?

 

[koidaddy]

It does not need to be gravity fed but you will need a primer pot/strainer. Mine takes a few minutes for it to draw the water through the plumbing. If its below the water line be sure the holding area cannot flood. I would make a small house/cover to keep it out of the eliments.

 

[taherrmann4]

My pump inlet sits about 3 1/2 feet above where I draw the water from in my skimmer. I pull the water from my skimmer at the bottom of it. From the pump it goes vertically about 4 feet and a length of about 15 feet. You just have to make sure you have a powerful enough pump for the distance and vertical height you need to go. My pump is a self priming pump so once you pour water in the primer pot I don't have to do anything else throughout the year when I shut it off or if the power goes out, it will start pumping again once power is restored.

 

[addy1]

Agree with tmann, make sure the pump you pick can handle the head pressure your setup will require.

 

[HARO]

Well hummm, how do I say this............. I am full speed ahead, he is ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm slower paced.

Addy; your honey is a perfectionist. A perfectionist is, by definition, also a procrastinator; he will do nothing until he is clear in his own mind as to exactly how the project will work out, but the end result will be worth the wait. Trust me, I am one also. John

 

[addy1]

lmao no kidding haro. He wanted drawings of the pond to be, so I made them, well the final project is close but not exact.....lol

I told him I am very visual, I can see it in my mind how it will look, how it will turn out, but hard to put it on paper! he said no kidding! lmao