Water Gardening Tips and Tricks, From digging the whole to plants,pumps filters, fish and more...

PUMPS & FILTERS

When choosing a pump and filter system it is best to find out
first how many gallons of water you will be moving and cleaning.
Rule of thumb is to circulate the entire body of water at least
once every two hours. So, a pond containing about 2000 gallons will
require a pump capable of pumping 1000 gallons per hour and
a pond containing 1000 gallons will require a pump capable
of moving 500 gallon per hour and so on... This should be
considered the minimum size pump you will need. If you
intend to pump the water up and out of the pond in order to
supply a waterfall feature then a larger size pump may be
necessary. Simply pumping the water should not be confused
with filtering the water. Your choice of filtering method
is important and will affect your choice of pumps. For example,
a pond constructed of rubber liner holding 2000 gallons feeding
a bio-falls waterfall located 15 feet away and a couple of feet
higher than the pond would best be teamed-up with a skimmer
filter-box and 1500 gallon per hour high volume waterfall pump.
A smaller 500 gallon pond containing no fish and using a
spitting frog for circulation and aeration might only require a
submerged pump and filter kit .

While both system types are effective each is customized to
the size of the pond and where the water is pumped to and for
what purpose. Skimmer systems are definitely easier to clean
and maintain and they provide excellent, dependable circulation.
Skimmers are best used with biological waterfall unit.
These bio-falls provide a reservoir in which course filter media
collects debris and houses nitro-fine bacteria. This bacteria
cleans the water. Skimmers typically utilize a powerful waterfall
pump which must be removed during winter due to the
position of the skimmer-box at the top edge of the pond where
freeze is inevitable. In this case a winterizing mechanical-system
would be used in the winter months only. Our mechanical systems
(those which are completely submerged) consist of a magnetically
driven pump connected to a filter tray with filter pads which
need to be removed and hosed clean several times per season.
These systems are convenient due to the fact that they
will serve as the winterizing system by use of a flow diverter.
Additionally, these units come in an extensive assortment
of sizes making them compatible with pre-form pond inserts
and even smaller barrels, tubs or even a table top dish fountain..
Mag-drive pumps are also more repairable due to the fact
that they only have one moving part the impeller.
The impeller is easily replaced if it breaks. In general it is wise
to figure out what the appropriate size pump is for the gallons
in your pond and then purchase the next size or
two larger to ensure adequate circulation even if the filter pads
become over soiled.

IMPORTANT NOTE : Only clean the water in the pond ...
NEVER scrub the inner walls of your pond.
The slippery, fuzzy growth on the inside surfaces
contains beneficial nitro-fine bacteria and actually
help to promote water clarity. Cleaning the inside of
your pond is like starting fresh. Starting a new pond is
definitely more work than correcting and existing problem.
You should never change all the water at one time.
Rule of thumb is about a third can be replaced without
harming fish or plants. Testing water after is important
to keep salt levels, chlorine levels and ph in balance.

For more information on these and other water garden topics go back to our
'tips & tricks' page. Or contact Us.

northlandgardens.com 1-800-4-BONSAI