Well pump on 24/7 for Flow Through Koi Pond
catfishhoward
8 months ago
I have a 6700 gallon pool which I'll be putting koi fish in and I will need to flow well water 24/7 through the pool (well water in pool, then in filter, then out on ground) for about a month or so until the pool filter system gets the beneficial bacteria growth to take care of the ammonia.
Don't know much about my well depth or pump size. The well pump kicks on around 50 psi and turns off around 75 psi.
I heard its better to run the pump 24/7 rather than have it cycle on/off all the time? If this is true is it better on the pump to run it at 50 psi rather than 30 psi? Would it cost more in electric bill to run it at 30 psi vs 50 psi or is the wattage the same? Not sure what water flow I need as of now since the fish aren't in the pool yet.
As for my pool filter pump: I have a 7000 GPH pump which might be to much water flow for my 3 barrel K1 filter system so is there a wattage regulator switch I can hook up to the pump to reduce the flow to say around 3500 GPH?
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catfishhoward
8 months agoRelated Discussions
Regulating rate flow on pump
Comments (20)This project took longer to finish then I had hoped (lack of time and the weather), but finally I was able to get everything in place this past weekend. So far so good. I ended up getting a 2" ball valve, and installing in on the output flow of the pump, very close to the pump itself (it ouwld have been difficult to put it further down line). I didn't realize the pressure that would build up on this valve, so I needed to use the Oatey Rain and shine glue to secure. I also took the opportunity of putting in a better check valve (this did go in further down line). So far so good. I am able to control the flow just fine. One last question: Will the decreased flow by using the valve put an extra strain on the pump itself, thus causing problems in the future? I was never able to find any information from Tsurumi about using the valve. THANKS for ALL for the advice. Saved me a lot of money....See Morenew koi pond - water changes
Comments (6)Frank, I can empathize about the bacterial infections. Over the years it has happened more than once to my pond. When the first pond was way too shallow, any fish that jumped out was going to die from massive gram negative infections. It was in the soil and short of solarization it just wasn't going to go away from our heavy, often water logged clay dirt. Once the 1000 gallon pond was in, storm created power loss caused backwash from the Skippy filter, making the pond a deadly sewer for the fishies. Some creative plumbing solved that problem until a clump of dead leaves and trash escaped the fall cleaning and over the winter allowed bacteria and parasites to multiply until spring when the fishies were attacked once again. A plant from a not very well kept nursery sheltered parasites. The latest insult was the downpour from Katrina. Farms in the area were affected by numerous plant diseases that had never been in this area previously but which are endemic in swampland the storms had passed over. My pond over flowed from the downpour and the rainwater, which was actually dirty from sediment, brought both diseases and parasites to the pond along with an oil slick. That was a hard one. Even with the help and advice of the sages on this forum, I lost twenty-one koi and fancy goldfish. Some I had for over seven years. I don't wait for the trouble to show itself now. I just go ahead and treat the water before the bad rains hit. I try to be philosophical about it but dang, I hate to lose my finny friends. There can be a problem with asphalt shingles. They leach chemicals and oil into the rainwater. If you could spread a tarp over the area that is draining into a holding tank some of that could be reduced. It would have to sit long enough to allow some of the chemicals to sink to the bottom and others with any oil would float. The top could be flushed off but only the center water could be salvaged. Then it would have to be aerated and treated before it could go into the pond. Does anyone from your area sell water by the tank? That would get you started and then you could treat the farm pond water to top it off or the half gallon a minute could be run to the pond continuously. That is a horrible rate. What do you do for your home? What supplies the farm pond? Sandy...See MoreWhat are the REAL reasons not to use a sump pump for a pond pump?
Comments (17)Using an inefficient pump is also a problem in green house gas generation. Just like with our cars, even though 4 or fewer cylinders will get you there comfortably, six and eights are preferred. There really is no good reason, but people buy them anyway. Pond pumps are also able to do the job more efficiently than utility or sump pumps, and are designed for the job they do. You can get there real fast and spend a lot on the gas to do that, or you can get there fast enough, and spend half as much on gas. Same with water pumps. You can spend a lot of money to move the water, or you can spend less. You can risk polluting your water with oil, or you can get a safe pump. Any of the primary options creates bigger problems for the planet. I try to live efficiently. And hope others will too, as it is less expensive personally, and more healthy for everyone in the long run. Being able to afford to do something wrong, doesn't make it right. If you can't find the right way to spend your money, give it to someone that can. Oh, in the interest of full disclosure, I am not perfect, that is god's business. I am simply trying to be excellent! (Though still FAR from that!) I smoke, I drink, I use weed killer, I use bug killer, I drive a car, I have an OLD septic system, I have some incandescent light bulbs, and I have a chlorinated swimming pool. But, I smoke and drink less than I used to. I follow the directions on the killer cans, and use them now as a LAST resort, I drive a car that gets 38 mi/gal, have compact florescents in my most used fixtures, and want to convert the pool to a pond, just couldn't sell the Mrs. on it. Yes, I have a long way to go, but I am better now than ever, and encourage others to try to improve as well. Little bits here and there from everyone, ad up to big bits that are good for everyone. So please, use the most efficient pump you can. -TT -TT...See Morekoi pond and carnivorous plants
Comments (2)Agree. I would love to put some of mine in my Japanese garden but the sprinkler system would hit the sarracenias and North Florida well-water is deadly to sarracenias. It might seem weird to put sarracenias in a Japanese garden but leucophyllas resemble a Japanese Jack-in-the-pulpit....See Morecatfishhoward
8 months agoJake The Wonderdog
7 months ago
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