I've had a 1000G Concrete pond, 3' from pump to top of waterfall with a 2010 Evolution ES 3500GPH external Pump, 1.5" PVC tubing system since around 1999. It also has a Jacuzzi brand sand filter I know very little about from circa 1999, but it seems to be a typical sand filter. I replaced the pump in 2010 with the ES3500. There are only maybe 15 goldfish and some mosquito-fish, along with several water plants in pots. 80% sun coverage by tent. I never feed the fish, but I used to use blue dye to reduce string algae, though string algae is less of a problem now. In San Diego, so no issues with freezing.
I started renting out my house, so I don't get to service it very often anymore.
I'm trying to minimize electricity usage, so I put the pump on a timer to run 5 times a day, 15 minutes each time except for 45 minutes at minimum electricity price at 4am.
I'm sure the pump has run dry several times over the years and makes a bit of squeaking noise. I took apart the pump to look at the impeller and it seems fine, but there's a huge gap in its exterior diameter and the interior of the pump (as shown in the pic below). I cleaned off some green algae off it. The impeller didn't seem to want to come off so I left it in situ.
The amount of water flowing is significantly less than it was when new. My sand filter has had 0 maintenance in a year. It was almost no flow. I flushed/backwash/rinse/whirlpool/flushed the filter several times and the water amount is more, but still I'd estimate to be less than 800GpH. The filter shows 0 psi. I got a new gauge and it also says 0 psi (it goes to 35psi). In my memory, the gauge has always been at 0. There is very little strength to the water being pushed into my fountain. All the pond filter settings that flow water seem to flow water equally weakly.
I've had several issues at the same time and am trying to do them one-by-one.
Do pond lose flow by aging? I don't know if the rpms have slowed from new. I also clocked the housing so it exits horizontally. There were two 90s close after the pump I changed to two 45s. The pump was $180 back then, but new pumps seem to be twice that. I also completely disconnected the union from the pump and the water flow directly from the pump was not much.
Can anyone help me troubleshoot?
Is my method of reducing electrical usage a bad idea?
I'm definitely using unions, but is the consensus among pond people to plastic-bond socket connectors and not use male or female threads for any of the PVC connections? Several of the PVC makers recommend using thread sealant instead of teflon tape, and I've been using that for the threads. I've also been using Haynes Lubri-Film Plus Food Grade Grease, O-Ring Lubricant for all the O-rings.
(I've mounted the electrical outlet higher than the pump and tidied the wiring since this picture)
I started renting out my house, so I don't get to service it very often anymore.
I'm trying to minimize electricity usage, so I put the pump on a timer to run 5 times a day, 15 minutes each time except for 45 minutes at minimum electricity price at 4am.
I'm sure the pump has run dry several times over the years and makes a bit of squeaking noise. I took apart the pump to look at the impeller and it seems fine, but there's a huge gap in its exterior diameter and the interior of the pump (as shown in the pic below). I cleaned off some green algae off it. The impeller didn't seem to want to come off so I left it in situ.
The amount of water flowing is significantly less than it was when new. My sand filter has had 0 maintenance in a year. It was almost no flow. I flushed/backwash/rinse/whirlpool/flushed the filter several times and the water amount is more, but still I'd estimate to be less than 800GpH. The filter shows 0 psi. I got a new gauge and it also says 0 psi (it goes to 35psi). In my memory, the gauge has always been at 0. There is very little strength to the water being pushed into my fountain. All the pond filter settings that flow water seem to flow water equally weakly.
I've had several issues at the same time and am trying to do them one-by-one.
Do pond lose flow by aging? I don't know if the rpms have slowed from new. I also clocked the housing so it exits horizontally. There were two 90s close after the pump I changed to two 45s. The pump was $180 back then, but new pumps seem to be twice that. I also completely disconnected the union from the pump and the water flow directly from the pump was not much.
Can anyone help me troubleshoot?
Is my method of reducing electrical usage a bad idea?
I'm definitely using unions, but is the consensus among pond people to plastic-bond socket connectors and not use male or female threads for any of the PVC connections? Several of the PVC makers recommend using thread sealant instead of teflon tape, and I've been using that for the threads. I've also been using Haynes Lubri-Film Plus Food Grade Grease, O-Ring Lubricant for all the O-rings.
(I've mounted the electrical outlet higher than the pump and tidied the wiring since this picture)
