Pump Keeps Clogging Up
Saswaa
19 years ago
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Comments (11)
Sean_McKinney
19 years agofishmaduk
19 years agoRelated Discussions
Fountain pump clogging 170 gallon small pond- Help!
Comments (31)I loved reading this too! As a result of reading these tips and techniques years ago, we always make a 'filter box' from a plastic file folder type container with a handle lid, we've also used shorter ones depending on the pump size. I like for the box to be twice the size or better than the pump. I use hubby's hole saw attachment for the drill to create many holes all over the container, leaving the bottom and a couple of inches of the bottom sides undrilled. I buy the nylon netting in the fabric department at Walmart for maybe 79 cents a yard and wad that up in the bottom, place the pump inside and route your power cable and pump output through the holes in the top. Stuff another wad of the nylon netting over the top and close the box. Sink it into the pond and finish your plumbing. I place a pot of iris or a decorative rock on top to disguise the filter. I do the whole thing for $10 or $15. I do leave the foam filter in place to prevent the netting being sucked into the intake. If you have fish, I highly advise rinsing all of the materials (plastic box and netting) just to be safe....See MorePump 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 MoreWater Pipes keep clogging up
Comments (14)Umm. I would guess that OSHA would be interested in these pics. People are injured or die all of the time when the sides of a hole cave in and trap the worker. They suffocate because the dirt around them prevents them from inhaling - even if their head is above ground. They also suffer oxygen deprivation to the limbs because blood flow is cut off. To prevent that, various methods are used including a metal structure lowered into the hole to prevent it from collapsing while the worker is below grade. Trenches over 5 feet deep must be supported in such a manner. To be down 12 feet with no protection is major stupidity and the supervisor should be called out on this. Really - make an issue of it... Send the photos to OSHA and the head of the department. The next guy in the hole may not be so lucky. Education and enforcement is the only way not to end up with dead workers. Here is a link that might be useful: Trench OSHA Quick Card...See MoreWhat is clogging my sump pump?
Comments (1)No idea what that is, never seen it before. Is there a cover on the pit, if yes open it up and see what is there. Leave it open and you should see the black 3 or 4" pipe entering the pit from the perimeter drain located on the outside of your foundation. If you see this substance is entering the pit through that pipe, there is a possibility they did not cover the pipe with fabric and something is getting through the perforated pipe....See Moredampflippers
19 years agoSaswaa
18 years agochris11
18 years agoAJC_1
18 years agoSaswaa
18 years agoAJC_1
18 years agoSean_McKinney
18 years agoawblessmesturgeon
18 years ago
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