Choosing an external pond pump for your backyard Koi pond or water
garden has many benefits. Unlike most submersible pumps, which cannot be
repaired, replacement components are readily available for many
external water circulation pumps on the market. When choosing a pond
pump, one should take total cost of ownership into consideration. This
cost includes not only the purchase price of the pump itself, but also
monthly energy usage and useful life of the product. The purpose of this
article is to highlight five key areas to consider when deciding on
which pump to use for your outdoor water feature.
Energy Efficiency
Unlike
swimming pool pumps which typically run for only a few hours per day, a
Koi pond pump is designed to run 24/7, 365 days a year in order to
ensure optimal water quality for live fish. Because these units are
designed for continuous use, energy efficiency is very important. Lower
quality pumps can be energy hogs, resulting in astronomical electricity
bills. Paying close attention to the rated energy wattage of a pump can
help protect against surprises later on. Fortunately, the recent boom in
the pond and water garden industry has resulted in a high number of
high quality energy efficient pumps being made available to consumers in
the USA from a variety of manufacturers.
Flow Rates
For
ponds under 5,000 gallons in size, it is generally recommended to turn
the total water volume over once per hour. This means for a 2,000 gallon
pond, you would need a pump capable of achieving a flow rate of 2,000
gallons per hour. Total dynamic head should also be taken into account.
This refers to the effective flow rate after all twists and turns in
your plumbing and any resistance caused by waterfalls and other
variables. There are several calculators available online which can help
you calculate the total dynamic head of your water feature. Once you
have calculated this number, make sure the pump you choose is capable of
achieving your desired flow rate at this level of head.
Reliability
Nothing is worse to a pond owner than coming home to a find a pond full of dead fish due to a failed pump. A reliable pump
is the heart of any Koi pond. Many Koi keepers spend a great deal of
money on the colorful fish in their ponds, and taking a gamble on a
bargain basement pump can often result with devastating results. Word of
mouth, customer testimonials, and simply being diligent about
researching a product can help to ensure you make a wise purchasing
decision. Failure is not an option when it comes to a pump used for a
backyard water feature, especially when the lives of expensive Koi and
other pond fish hang in the balance.
Noise Level
Many
pond owners love coming home from a long day at work to spend a few
hours relaxing to the soothing sounds of a beautiful waterfall. It can
be difficult to enjoy this tranquil environment; however, if you are
also being flooded with loud noise coming from your pump. Swimming pool
pumps are typically far louder than external pumps designed for
continuous use in fish ponds. A quality external pond pump should offer
whisper quiet operation, so not to take away from the natural sounds
coming from your pond and waterfall. Many manufacturers publish the
noise decibel levels for their pumps, which should be reviewed by the
pond owner before making a purchase.
Warranty Period
If
a company stands behind a product they produce, they will stand behind
it. In the world of external pumps designed for use in outdoor Koi ponds
and water gardens, the industry standard in terms of warranty is three
years. With a few notable exceptions, this is the longest warranty
period typically offered by leading manufacturers of external pumps. It
is not uncommon for many of these pumps to operate flawlessly on a
continuous basis for over five years before requiring any servicing or
repairs. If you find an external pump offering a warranty period of less
than three years, you may wish to research further before making a
decision.
No comments:
Post a Comment