Pond Pump

My pond pump for my little fountain keeps blocking up and I wondered if I could put it in some tights to help filter the goo out? Would this be safe or am I an accident waiting to happen?

 

You can do it, but you will regret it.

The "problem" you have is the contents of the pond, putting anything (fine) over a pump inlet will filter out the bits...............by having the bits stick to it.

The best thing is to remove all the bits from the pond, but since I doubt you can do that you can try a larger inlet foam or try making one, it doesnâ??t solve the problem, it just means you have to clean it less often.

 

Thanks WG

 

I've kept koi for over 20 years, but we did start with a little pond.

Where is your pump?
The previous advice is fine, but I would suggest that you make sure your pump is not sitting on the bottom, raise it up on a brick, to keep it off the silt that gathers at the bottom.
Small pond pumps usually only have a small filter, so they soon get blocked up.

The other thing you could do is make a bigger filter. How good are you at DIY?
Get a 1ltre plastic ice-cream tub with lid and make a small hole in the centre of one of the short sides and a lot of smaller holes in the side at the other end. Push the pump pipe which connects to the filter through the hole in the first side (it needs to be a fairly tight fit) then re-connect the filter housing inside the tub but remove the filter element.
Fill the box with plastic mesh scouring pads nearest the small holes end and get a small block of "open core" plastic foam, putting that nearest the pump end (squeeze it down just enough so water can only pass through it to the pump) and replace the lid. This will cut down the amount of solids and finer detritus getting into the pump.
You will still have to clean this bigger filter occasionally but perhaps not as often.
Unless your pond has a proper bottom drain and thus a way to purge the muck, you can never stop "stuff" getting into it no matter how hard you try.

I hope this helps...

 

There are actually a variety of other options but they are all based on the same thing, making a "filter" for your pump.

I would suggest that you could use a different brand of pump that can pass small solids, this is really ideal for a biological filter.

 

As I understood the original question, it was probably that the fountain jets that were getting blocked, so to change to any "sump" type pump, won't improve matters.
As has been mentioned it's the suspended solids in the pool that cause the problem, it's often algae that does it. Small fountains in my experience, often require "perpetual maintenance." It can be really annoying when some of the jets get blocked and you then have a lop-sided cascade of water.

 

Yeah it is the fountain that's getting blocked. I trid the bell one too hoping that would be better but it wasn't. What happens is one day u check it and it's fine then i don't check it for a few days and it's part blocked and shooting the water out of my pond grrrrr. The pump is raised up off the bottom. Think I'll try the icecream tub idea thanks DR

 

LMRR - we do something very similar as described above - hubby had some of the insulation left over (made out of recycled plastic drink bottles) - and we use that as a filtering substance - works a charm - and one roll lasts forever!

 

I realise the problem is actually regarding the fountain, but if you get the right pump and the right fountain nozzle (both of which have "big holes") the problem is nowhere near so much as it was.

A pump with very large holes is also useful to supply a biological filter.
And only ever use a sump pump for sumps.

I would suggest a foaming nozzle may be more suitable, but not one of the small ones. A normal "tiered nozzle" has holes which are often less than 1mm in them so if the pond debris is bigger than 1mm this will soon block the nozzle. A bell nozzle the water film is often very thin which is why I wouldnâ??t suggest one in this instance.

 

Thanks Natalie I have got some of that loft insulation in my loft might just go a nick a bit lol.

WG I've only got the nozzles that came with it and they've got tiny holes. Where could I get a nozzle with bigger holes from and are they all the same fitment?

 

Err..

My suggestion was to try to resolve a problem with "a liitle fountain" so presumably a small and inexpensive pump.
I'd suggest discussing such things on a forum and finding ways to overcome problems with the stuff we've got, is what this is all about.
If every time the answer given was that we discarded stuff and rushed out and bought more expensive replacements, I guess we needn't bother.

I'd guess not everyone has deep pockets who comes on here.

No offence intended.

 

If you're going to do that, I'd make sure you wrap it in a piece of old tights fabric. If it's loose fiibreglass it could get into the pump and wrap itself round the little impeller.

You might find another nozzle at an aquatics supplier. Don't attempt to widen the holes with a drill. You won't get the right angle and could make the holes too big.
Then you'd get a lop-sided dribble.

 

I would not suggest loft insulation as a filter. Most loft insulation is fibreglass, being glass it can easily break (and does) which will cause more problems than it will solve.

Different nozzles for fountains are available from a variety of places. But it is not as easy as it sounds.
Pump maker, A, may not accept pump maker, B, nozzles due to size difference, but most (not all) accept 1/2 inch or 1 inch nozzles, but the next question is, can the pump supply all the water the nozzle requires. (Foaming nozzles require a lot more water than a normal tiered nozzle)
Yes it will cost some money to get a compatible nozzle and pump so you may want to try experimenting with the pre filter idea as it will be cheaper.

 

"WG I've only got the nozzles that came with it and they've got tiny holes. Where could I get a nozzle with bigger holes from and are they all the same fitment?"

LMRR I've read this thread assuming you have a low power pump, so it aint going to drive a bigger-holed nozzle (well, it will, but it will dribble out rather than shoot out).

I quite like the Emerpor Fountain at Chatsworth. Just the single nozzle ... but a 260 foot jet :thumb: (point of order for folk planning a similar project in their back garden - they had an 8 acre lake dug on the hill behind their house, 350 feet higher up, to get the 4,000 gallons a minute it needs :( )

"I would not suggest loft insulation as a filter. Most loft insulation is fibreglass, being glass it can easily break (and does) which will cause more problems than it will solve."

NatalieB was recommending insulation made from recycled plastic bottles, not glass. I have no idea if that has side effects too, but I got the impression that NatalieB treats it as disposable - replacing it when it gets mucky, rather than leaving it in the pond long enough to degrade?