IMHO get the 1200gph pump.

I have a 300ga tank with a 60ga veggie/skippy sorta filter. It has 8 feet of 1" hose and a 4.5' lift from the pump in the tank to bottom of the filter. In the middle of the 8' hose I have a gate valve, so that when I shut off the pump to clean it all the water doesn't drain back from the filter into the pond. The gate valve also lets me control the flow. I run a 1200 ga pump, and it makes a nice bubbling brook through my 3' spillway back to the pond. I think the valve is at least 3/4 open. As I understand it, ideally you want to turn over the water in the tank once an hour.

Someone with more experience can give you better details on how much, but you lose pressure due to friction from elbows, length of hose/pipes, valves, diversions, height water must travel, etc.

Mine may be overkill, but on my 3rd up grade in 3 years, I decided bigger was better for my situation.

Good luck!

Thanks, Sheepco. I was hoping you'd answer since I know you have a number of stock tank gardens. I'm not going as far or as high as you but the bubbling brook sure is appealing. I guess now is the time, if I'm going to do it.

I'm also going to get a gate valve and I wondered about where to put it. Yours is under water then? I figured I don't want any water-filled hose above the water in the winter or it'll freeze but i didn't know if you could put them under the water.
Do you or anyone know about the Pondmaster diverter valves? I can't find any clear info on how they work but it looks like it goes to one side OR the other. I want to be able to shut off either side at will but also run both sides - skippy/fountain or skippy/veggie filter. I'm thinking I need a "tee" connector and a couple valves but it would simplify things if I could use this diverter.

Vanessa

Sorry Vanessa, I'm not familiar with diverter valves, but someone here must be. My gate valve is hidden in a Tansy bush beside the pond so I don't have to get wet to shut it off. Also because my hose runs up out of the stock tank to the skippy.

{{gwi:179934}}

On the right side of this picture you can see the hose, and the gate valve is behind the little angel. It's plastic of some sort, so could be in the water if you wanted. The pump sits on a brick on the bottom between the pink lily blossom and the pickeral rush. The brook/waterfall is the 2 black preform basins - will be reconstructed with rocks to look better this fall or next spring. (The pond in the foreground is a stock tank, w/ the 60ga stock tank filter. The back one is a liner pond, with a 1/2 whiskey barrel skippy-type filter. It's about 275 ga and I run a 600gph pump in it. The 600gph didn't seem big enough for the 300ga pond + 60ga filter + waterfall/brook spillway height and length etc.)

Happy ponding! S

I have a 750 gal stock tank with 2 pumps, a 30 gal skippy and a TT and green water.I also have a 500 gal with no pump or filter and clear water. Just goes to show...

mammasue are both your stock tanks metal? Sorry can't figure TT?? Glenda

Sheepco, thanks for the picture and explaining your set-up. That really helps. So pretty, too. I think I'm going to try this "diverter" valve. It's cheap enough to find out I don't like it and get one or 2 gate valves instead (2 would be ideal). I'll post my "review" when I get it going.
Now I'm just deciding whether I can work in a pretty stream in the next year. If I think I can - bigger pump! If not, might as well spend the extra $40 on plants.

Mamasue, I'm not sure what a TT is either but it sounds like your tank is the same size as mine but your skippy is bigger. I'm not TOO worried about green water. That is to say, I'm willing to let it cycle and be green when it needs to but I was thinking a 20 gal skippy with a 100 gal veggie would be enough. Can I ask you for more info on your bigger pond? What your filters are, how big the 2 pumps are, how long you've had it running? Gee are those enough questions? I'm sure I can come up with more for all of you!:)

mammasue, isn't that the way it goes!! No matter how you figure it, nature WILL play a part! I don't know why some things work and some don't...here or there...

TT stands for trickle tower. As I understand it a filter system that pipes water to the top of a container (big or small) filled with filter media, then by gravity drains out the bottom or sides through a series of holes, creating a trickling effect. You can search it here, there are many gorgeous creative examples to be found. Can be made from big pots, multiple pots, etc.

I made one out of a old watering can filled with scrubies and lava rocks - I loved it, and it worked, but it was too small for my pond.

Good luck, S