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Choosing the right pump for your new pond can be a nightmare, because there are a lot of retailers out there that do not understand the functions of a pump. Let's use the example of a waterfall. The first thing you need to do is to work out how high the waterfall is above the water level of your pond. (Not the bottom of the pond). Then, using a garden hose or similar source of water, work out how much water you want to flow over the waterfall by adjusting the tap more or less until you reach your desired flow. Now, keeping the tap in that position, use the hose to fill a standard 9, 10 or 20 litre bucket and time how long it takes to fill. Convert this to litres per minute or litres per hour. This is your flow rate. Be aware that on larger waterfalls, the flow from a tap may not be enough even on full, so you may need to double, or triple this reading to get the desired flow. It's always a good idea to buy a pump one or two sizes bigger than you need, to make sure you get the flow you desire. It is easy to reduce the output flow, but you cannot increase the output flow if it's already at maximum. Example. Lets say it took 10 seconds to fill a 10 litre bucket. This means that in 60 seconds, you will have 60 litres. Therefore, the flow rate is 60 litres/min. or, multiplying by 60 to get it to litres/hour (60 minutes in an hour), 3600 litres/hour. Now, for the same example, you measured the waterfall to be 2 metres high. From this information, you will need a pump that is capable of pumping 3600 litres/hour at a header height of 2 metres. Reputable pump salesmen will be able to provide you with a flow chart for each pump. Make sure your pump is capable of doing what you want according to the flow chart. Don’t take too much notice of what it says on the side. The particular pump for the above example might have stamped on it 5000 litre/hour, Max. head 3.5 metres. This does not mean that at 3.5 metres, the pump will give 5000 litres/hour. The 5000 litres/hour shows the pump’s maximum flow at 0 metre head. i.e. at water level, and 3.5 metres Max. head really means that at that height, the flow is 0 litres/hour. Confusing? I know it is, and this is why lots of salespeople don’t understand the pump they are selling. So the safest way to get the right pump is to work out what the flow rate needs to be at the height you want, and then ask to see a flow rate chart for various pumps in the store. You will soon find the one that gives you what you need, but a word of advice: Buy the best pump that you can afford. Some cheaper pumps do not last very long (sometimes only 6 months), and you will forever be changing the pumps over in your pond if this happens. Also, cheaper pumps tend to use more power than more expensive brands to do the same job. You would need to weigh up whether to pay more now and less in electricity, or less now and more in electricity. Either pump will create the effect you want. If you would like to see a range of pumps available, check out www.rockaroundtheblock.com.au and follow the links. If you find a pump you like, you can purchase it online direct from this website. Another fantastic website where you can purchase all things water garden/ponds is www.creativepumps.com.au and again, follow the links. Creative Pumps stock OASE pumps and pond products, which is what we recommend to use. They also have a section on their website that explains in more detail how to work out flow rates and pump sizes, so check it out to get a more accurate calculation for your waterfall flow rate.
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Living Landscapes : Be the envy of your friends and neighbours with a complete garden system from Devic Realms. Add interest and excitement for many years to come. Add adventure for the kids to enjoy. Create your own little piece of paradise today.Send mail to Darren
Bettens with questions or comments about this web site.
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