2 basic garden pump operation questions

[FJ and G]

1. Very small pump; can I leave it on 24/7 or will it eat up electricity like crazy--what do you do?

 

2. When I clean the pond, can I cut power before lifting the submersible pump out of the water or will backflow flood the pump? Or should I lift pump out of water then cut power?

 

thanks 

[altterrain]

Hi Dave,

on Q1 - there should be a wattage rating on the sticker on the pump. A 1200 gph pump I just installed had a wattage rating of like 60 watts. The equivalent of leaving a 60 watt light bulb on.

on Q2 - does the pump pump up to a upper level pond? The back flow won't hurt the pump but your upper pond will drain out. For now I would plug the inflow at the upper pond to prevent that. Also consider installing either an anti backflow valve or shut off valve in the tubing to the upper end.

-Brian 

[ttrigg]

consider installing either an anti back flow valve or shut off valve in the tubing to the upper end.
-Brian

In my case my pump is external to the pond.  Since my pump sends two thousand gallons per hour over the water fall, such a racket would keep us all up.  My system is on a timer circuit, the back flow valve stops the waterfall box from draining back to the pond, not a big deal, except for the plants that live in the fall box.

[FJ and G]

thanks;

 

pump very small; about 3X2X6; sticker fell off and box thrown away; no upper pond;runs about 10 feet about 12" rise and back down thru a large steel pipe

 

 view from 747 flying overhead :-)

 

[Anonymous]

As alot know I was a landscaper and when we installed pumps most was a large load, more than the 60 watt and we used timers on it. Set for 6am - 11pm with a over ride for parties.

But in your case I would think being a smaller size I think it would not kill your bill. You can still use a GFI and timer on it if you want to.

Pull the pump out when it is off.

[ttrigg]

pump very small; about 3X2X6; sticker fell off and box thrown away; no upper pond; runs about 10 feet about 12" rise and back down thru a large steel pipe

David;
Based on your description and the flow of water pictured from the pipe, I'd say your pump should use about 2~4 cents worth of electricity per hour.  You could put it on a timer if you wanted, since this pump only feeds the "fall pipe" I wouldn't worry about a back flow valve.

[FJ and G]

thanks

[EMPIRE II LINE]

You're Brian right ?

Well I'm Byron, You might want to contact this gentleman---Rusty his thread is [e-mail], he was a contractor in various fields, one being pond design and construction for a number of years, he offers a down load program as well as on CD-ROM, named HOW TO DO PONDS FISH MATERIAL AND PUMP CALCULATOR SAVE$ on the EvilBay.

I've recently purchased it myself and hope that it saves me many trial and error headaches in my pretty extensive water effects, that I hope to design, and am in the beginning stages of designing. His pricing is quite reasonable and feedback is 100% to date, I believe. He immediatly responded to my purchase of his product and seems very cordial and ready to help and assist. I sent him some photos of my present rail venture in design, per his request, he was quite impressed, and he asked if he could use some shots of my finished water feature design in his portfolio at a later date. Give him a holler....

Byron