Pump Keeps Clogging Up
Saswaa
19 years ago
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Sean_McKinney
19 years agofishmaduk
19 years agoRelated Discussions
Pump cover keeps getting clogged
Comments (3)Hey there. Most of the time I just toss those foam filters out. They really aren't adequate most of the time. DIY prefilters can do a good job and I have used a couple of Tetra designed filters in a 100 gallon pond for more than 6 weeks without clogging so it sounds like you have a bigger problem with the water quality to start with. You don't really give us a lot of information to work with so I am going to make some assumptions. You know the problem with that so I could be totally wrong. The first thing you should do is check the water for particulates. Just scoop out a jar or glass of the water and let it sit for an hour or so. Heavy soils will settle to the bottom, clear water will be in the middle and particulates like peat, perlite, plastic foam and general debris will float on the top. It is the top layer that is likely to be the problem but clay or sand particles can clog up a small filter just as bad if the water is moving so fast it washes them out of the pots. One guess is you have a lot of plants potted in regular bagged potting soil and the tops of the pots are submerged. This type of medium has lots of peat and perlite (hard white granules that crumble easily) in it that floats out and is picked up by the pump filter. This is a very common problem. You need a soil that doesn't have the perlite and isn't peat based. There are soils sold for pond plants or you can use clay based soil from the garden if you sterilize it first in the microwave. Even some types of kitty litter are used for potting pond plants. To avoid soil washing out of pots, cover the soil with a layer of stones. Keep the intake of the pump as far as possible from any pots, especially lily pans. Don't let the out flow of water splash into the pots. Do not use the type of soil that has crystals to hold moisture. They can clog up a filter very fast. I'll be glad to pass on details if you are interested or you can do a search at the box at the end of the forum introduction....See Moreclogging up of cold water/washing machine
Comments (1)From the sound of things, your well water is exceptionally "hard". The term "hard" means that the water has a high concentration of dissolved minerals in it. You should seek out an independent water testing lab and have them tell you what is in your water and how much. OR.... you could get a free water analysis from Culligan or other companies that sell water softeners but just remember that they are trying to sell you something. Products such as CLR can be used to clean up faucet aerators, shower heads, tea kettles and washing machine screens that get coated with lime but it's an ongoing process. I think that you will have to consider putting in a softener. There are softeners out there that do not need any sort of salt but they are more expensive than the regular softeners....See MoreProblem with new pond & keeping submersible pump clear
Comments (4)I guess that if your pond depth is really 3.5' that your volume may be correct. In any case, 900gph is way low for the generally suggested ratio of flow to pond volume. BTW, I have an auxillary pond that has no flow. It can be a total mess of muddy water after a big rush of accumulation from our French Drain. However, this crud will precipitate and this catch basin will become completely clear, again with no pump! I have been very lucky and never had pea soup type issues. I am assuming that this is what you are referring to and not just some string algae, which is a good thing anyway. You failed to indicate your location or garden zone. It may be useful information. I hear that ponds without much plant cover are more likely to get algae problems. I suppose hotter brighter conditions increase the problem. My aux. pond (without any flow) is in the woods with minimal sunlight. There are plenty of in pond pumps that work fine. I don't actually understand where your crud that restricts flow is collecting. I have a 2500gph pump contained inside its own overall slitted case. I remove leaves and other crud that get sucked to the surface every few months. Perhaps your pump is so close to the surface that it catches most of your leaves? Perhaps at the bottom instead, right where leaves fall? BTW, the bottom is not the right place for a pump because a big plumbing leak/break will drain the pond....See MorePond pump clogging
Comments (3)I've been using a Harbor Freight pump for a bit now and really am liking it... plus a good price. For most submersible pumps you actually don't want the pump sitting on the very bottom since they can clog quickly from larger debris which you will need to net out by hand. That means putting it up on a brick or something else. It should indicate on the instructions the height off the bottom it should be positioned. Also look for one that can “handle” solids… meaning it will puree items pulled in. Regardless though if a few decent sized leaves sink down and make it to the intake grill… it will still block up and potentially burn you motor. The other option is to make a prefilter box around the pump and you won’t need to worry about raising it from the bottom. My pond is a bit larger then yours and I ended up putting my pump into a black egg crate on it’s side cutting out any plasitic to allow the output hose. Then get a mesh clothes bag… or mesh sports bag to wrap the whole egg crate and filter. The mesh will filter out any large things from getting to your pump. The mesh bag then synches down tight around the box. I got a cheap one at Dicks Sporting goods. If you get a black egg crate and black mesh bag…. The whole thing blends in nicely at the bottom....See Moredampflippers
19 years agoSaswaa
19 years agochris11
19 years agoAJC_1
19 years agoSaswaa
19 years agoAJC_1
19 years agoSean_McKinney
19 years agoawblessmesturgeon
19 years ago
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