| When replacing a fountain pump or choosing a | | | | splash if desired. |
| new one, first there are some key terms to | | | | When Is an External Pump Appropriate? |
| keep in mind: | | | | "In-line" pumps provide the "most bang for the |
| "Head": This is the maximum vertical lift of the | | | | buck" in two ways. For one, the purchase price is |
| pump. For example, a 6' head means the pump is | | | | quite reasonable for the high volume of water |
| rated to pump water up to 6 feet high. Note, | | | | being pumped. But even more importantly, these |
| however, that at 6 feet the pump would be | | | | pumps dramatically outperform typical submersible |
| providing very little water, with gallons per hour | | | | pumps, cutting electrical costs two to three times. |
| around zero. So if you need to pump, say, 200 | | | | Since electrical costs for a large pond can easily |
| gph at 72", you will probably need about a | | | | run from thirty to one hundred dollars a month, |
| 300-600 gallon per hour pump to do the job. See | | | | choosing the most energy-efficient pump is |
| a "pump curve" for the amount of water pumped | | | | tremendously important. |
| to various heights.Major pump manufacturers | | | | However, if you need a lot of "head," that is, if |
| include pump curves on their boxes, brochures, or | | | | you are pumping to a height of more than say, |
| other literature. You should take a good look. | | | | seven or eight feet, or if you must pull the water |
| "GPH": Gallons per hour, usually rated at different | | | | (not "push", for in-line pumps push water fine but |
| heights | | | | don't pull well) a long distance from the pond to a |
| "GPM": Gallons per minute, usually rated at | | | | skimmer located far away, then these pumps |
| different heights | | | | probably won't work for you. |
| "Pump Curve": The amount of water volume | | | | How About Battery-Operated Fountain Pumps? |
| "curved" according to various heights. A 500 gallon | | | | We receive many, many calls about |
| per hour pump, for instance, might pump 500 | | | | battery-operated pumps. While there are |
| gallons per hour at 0" lift, 350 gallons per hour at | | | | companies who manufacture pumps that can |
| 24" of lift, and so forth. When buying a pump for | | | | operate on "A" and "AA" batteries, we have not |
| the first time or when seeking a replacement | | | | found a battery-operated pump that lasts or that |
| pump, it is essential that you know how many | | | | is reasonably priced. For those customers who |
| gallons per hour you want to pump and at what | | | | need battery fountains for wedding centerpieces |
| heighth (head). | | | | (a common request), we suggest finding the one |
| Water Volume: The total volume that you will be | | | | you want and buying as many as possible at a |
| pumping is controlled by a few factors. One | | | | store like Wal-Mart. You get the whole fountain |
| factor is the size of the pump, as covered above. | | | | for as good of a price as we could get you these |
| But you also must consider how wide your tubing | | | | specialized pumps all by themselves! |
| will be. Tubing is measured in two ways: inside | | | | Where is the Pump Made? |
| diameter (i.d.) and outside diameter (o.d.). Very | | | | Pumps, like anything else, are made all over the |
| skinny i.d. tubing will greatly reduce water flow. | | | | world, and we suggest you buy pumps from |
| Many customers are shocked when they find | | | | someone who will stand by a guarantee and who |
| that, after hooking up their 500 gallon per hour | | | | has testing programs before marketing their |
| pump to ½" inside diameter tubing, they | | | | pumps. It used to be that Asian pumps were |
| are only getting what they consider a trickle. Well, | | | | quite bad but this is changing. What matters most |
| about the most they will get is 200 gallons per | | | | is how well the pumps have been engineered and |
| hour or so under the very best conditions. They | | | | the materials used in the production. Italy for quite |
| have restricted the flow too much by choosing | | | | a while has been the major manufacturer of |
| skinny tubing. When purchasing a pump, find out | | | | fountain pumps (think of how long Italians have |
| what size of tubing is supposed to go with it. | | | | had fountains), but Germany, Korea, Taiwan, and |
| Another problem is running the tubing too far. | | | | China are making pumps as well. Most American |
| Long lengths of tubing create resistance. If your | | | | fountain pump companies (for example, Cal |
| pump calls for ½" i.d. tubing, for instance, | | | | Pumps and Beckett) have their pumps |
| but you are running the tubing twenty feet from | | | | manufactured overseas. As long as American |
| the pump, it is a good idea to use ¾" | | | | engineering is used and the plans are followed, this |
| tubing instead so as not to cut down too much | | | | should not be a problem. |
| on flow. | | | | Should my Pump Have a 2-wire plug or a 3-wire |
| How much water do I need? What size of pump? | | | | plug? |
| This question is answered in part by whether you | | | | Outdoor pumps should always use a grounded, |
| want a "trickle" or a roar. When you buy a | | | | 3-wire plug. Indoor fountains sometimes have |
| fountain, you will usually find a recommended flow. | | | | 2-wire and sometimes 3-wire plugs. For people |
| For waterfalls, use this as a rule of thumb: for | | | | wanting a really thin cord, 2-wire pumps provide |
| every inch of stream width or waterfall "sheet," | | | | the more aesthetic experience. Some retail stores |
| you will need to deliver 100 gallons per hour at the | | | | require 3-wire pumps even for indoor fountains |
| height you're pumping. So if you are building a 12" | | | | (though, ironically, they might not for aquarium |
| wide waterfall that is three feet tall, you need to | | | | pumps), and these thicker cords can be hidden by |
| buy a pump that will be pumping 1200 gallons per | | | | plants, stones, or other decorations. All pumps |
| hour at three feet of height. | | | | must be connected to a GFI outlet for safety. |
| For ponds, whenever possible, it is a good idea to | | | | Why do pumps burn out so often? |
| recirculate the water once an hour, more often if | | | | 95% of the time the customer has let the pumps |
| possible. Thus, if your pond is 500 gallons, try to | | | | get hot by running them dry. Most fountain |
| buy a pump that will recirculate water at a rate | | | | pumps are water-cooled and once the fountain is |
| of 500 gallons per hour. For really large ponds, this | | | | dry they burn up. Usually there is nothing you can |
| is not necessary and is far too expensive. | | | | do about this other than to buy a new pump. |
| For a nice waterfall effect, we usually advise | | | | Also, however, pumps are supposed to be |
| about 4000 gallons per hour or more at the top | | | | cleaned every so often by opening up the impeller |
| of the waterfall. This creates enough volume for | | | | case on the fountain pump. Follow the |
| a wide, crashing spill. Adjust stones to soften the | | | | manufacturer's directions. |