Pump: leave on while away?

19 years ago

I'm going to be away for a week soon, and I'm not sure whether I should leave my pond pump on or not.

It's a small pond, and the pump takes water up to a header pool from where it flows back down a chute into the pond. There are two goldfish and a multitude of tadpoles in the pond. The ph and nitrite levels are fine, and it's well stocked if not overstocked with plants.

I'm worried that if I leave the pump on and anything goes wrong I could come back to a drained pond, but if I leave it off the fish could suffer through lack of aeration and through noxious gases from decomposition in the warmer water not being dispersed.

What would people recommend?

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Comments (9)

HissyFit
19 years ago
At the very least, don't leave your pump at the bottom of the pond... then if anything goes wrong in the plumbing it can't completely empty your pond. If they are not already, you could also move the pipe from your pump into the chute, so that if there were any leaks or loose connections, the water will stay within the "system".
Sean_McKinney
19 years ago
I'd switch it off.
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Hey everyone....Thanks for all your tips and experiences... Larry....How are you? lol..You are too funny...I once almost hired a kid to water mine until he watered my fakes plastic ones too... Danielle..Congrats on that...If I meant away for a week and someone forgot to water my plants for just two days, many would croak..I've thought of having just succulents, but I can't seem to do away with my fragrant ones... Linda..Yes it has been a while..What's happening? I hope your fish made it this year..Boy it was brutal...All mine did. The water never froze because I kept it turbulent..Thanks for visiting and your ideas.. I'm sure you would do that for me. You are so kind:-))) Planto..Thank you so much..Yes, it is a bummer..It makes my heart heavy with sadness..Such a good guy and destroying his family...I hope he recovers. He loves my plants and the thought of taking care of them got him and I excited.. Purple...I am so glad you got to go away and came back to no issues...That's my plan...I hope you had a great time..You needed it I am sure.. Yes, being able to wake up and go to bed any time you want is something I have not done in years...Not to have to look at the clock is a luxery..I miss those days. I live in Northern Ma...Just on the border of N.H almost near the coast....So it can get cold here still by May which leaves me no choice except to wait until the end of May when all are safe outside. Ia m hoping to go to Florida..Far from here. I tried that stay home and relax thing and it did not work out. All I wanted to do was work on the house and more..Not good. I am talking about sleeping on a beach for days or reading a book on a chair at teh beach or by a pool, maybe Pugs house, Laurs or Patty's..lol I get up at 5 every day, run a cleaning buisiness, then work full time..Work out 4 days a week after work at 8 pm and then care for my parents about that. I also care for my home, feed the birds, cat, fish and plants...lol MIke
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Scotty24
19 years ago
It won't hurt to switch it off for a week if you want peace of mind while you are away.
Goldfish are VERY hardy and I think you are worrying unnecessarily.
My first pond had no pump or filters and the goldfish and shubunkins thrived in it.
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alison_froglady
19 years ago
I agree with Sean and Sue - unless you have a very friendly neighbour that would keep an eye on it for you, I would switch it off. The fish will also have plenty to eat in and around the roots of the plants and any algae so nothing to worry about.
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bill_d
Original Author
19 years ago
Many thanks for your replies, everyone - I'll switch it off!
retropwr
19 years ago
Having come home from work to a half drained pond yesterday I have to agree with the switch it off brigade.
Beenz
19 years ago
How did that happen retropwr? I would guess the only explanation was the filter got blocked so your pond water spilled over the edge of the filter base and into the garden? Did it only drain halfway due to stopping where your pump is and if so is your pump not knackered now -sucking in air?.

Sorry for all the questions but I have just today installed my first pump & filter and admit this happening is a concern. My base is higher than the pond and secured onto a slab. I am thinking that it would be possible to channel the water back into the pond should this happen to myself, if I have assumed what happened to you was correct
retropwr
19 years ago
The foam sheets in the filter (a Green Genie 12000) got bunged up so the water wasn't going through them any more.
Unfortunatly, over the time it's been in, the end away from the built in overflow that would have returned the water to the pond, had sunk and was lower than the overflow, this has now been rectified. At least the bamboo was well watered.
It hadn't got as low as the pump so that is still OK, I got home in time to switch it off.
Beenz
19 years ago
You were lucky you caught it when you did, I can see why no-one advises to leave it running unchecked for a week. I will keep a close eye on my filter now, thanks

Pump: leave on while away?

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Pump: leave on while away?

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