Choosing the right pond equipment is not always easy. Ask for help if you need to

I do understand that many people have difficulty specifying correct equipment and even though I have tried to reduce the burden and unknowns it can still be a bit daunting. Here's a bit of help Bob requested this week along with my response ... I have a Koi pond that I need help. I use a Tagalus sand filter with a 1 HP Dynamo pump that is broken. I was thinking of replacing the Dynamo pump with Whisperflo 3/4 HP. The pond is approximately 240 cubic feet (12 x 8 x 2 feet). I have a waterfall feature that is about 5 ft high.  The pump and pond filter is in the garage and the water must travel at least 35 feet to the pond. This was originally done so that the pond could be enjoyed without the grating noise of the filter and pump. I would be interested to hear any suggestions you might have. For example, separate pump for waterfall, etc etc. Thank you in advance, Bob

Info(at)pondsandpumps (write to me at this address if you need help with equipment selection.wrote):

Bob, first of all I am totally against sand filters for fish ponds. They contribute to significant disease problems and create unnecessary water wastage and power costs to any pond system. Quite simply it is impossible to keep these filters clean because of water channeling that creates anaerobic conditions. They increase plumbing costs dramatically also

The pump you use is a good example ... noisy, expensive to run and filter needs frequent backwashing probably. For a pond your size there are very good submersible pumps made in USA

If it was me I would do the following ...

Replace the sand filter with fairly conventional box filter with good biomedia (the best low cost biomedia by far in my 13 years of experience is called Alfagrog (Supra in USA). The cost to suit a pond of your size is small see http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/sitedirectory4.htm  and you will have few choices. Biofilter capacity can be increased by adding more media. If you do not have UV I suggest getting combined Fish Mate Bio Filter and UV as you will see on the site above.

With such a filter arrangement and your waterfall of 5 ft you have 2 good possibilities ...

To save maximum power run a single pump that will deliver between 500 US galls per hour and 700 galls per hour to filter placed at ground level 24 hrs per day (this is absolute must for pond filter). I would recommend highly efficient low cost Danner pump ... see http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/pumpselect.htm and choose either 3rd or 4th in list you will see there. You will need to then run a second pump to feed waterfall on separate pipe and switch on only when you want to (this is how you save lots of money). Waterfall pump can be based upon following ...

Width of waterfall overflow lip in inches x 50 US gallons per hour (so if waterfall 10 inches wide a good flow would be 500 galls per hour. This flow must be available at head of 5 feet + another 1 foot say for pipe losses ... so 6 feet head. Pipe must be 1 inch minimum diameter You can also choose a very reliable USA made Danner pump from same site ... http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/pumpselect.htm

Buy pump that will deliver flow required by waterfall and push all through the pond filter which would then either be placed above waterfall. As alternative to this the flow could be split thereby allowing pond filter to be placed at ground level ... you would need to regulate flows using valves ... with separate pipe going to top of waterfall. Flow required would be total of 500 galls for pond filter and that required by waterfall as described Once more choose from http://www.practical-water-gardens.com/pumpselect.htm

If you are not sure send me width of your waterfall overflow and I will give more accurate pump spec for you and If anything not clear let me know

Tony ... Bob replied

Gee Tony thanks! So much information and your time. I live in Cerritos, CA. Any chance you know someone I could pay who could help me? I find that finding a reliable, cost effective pond person is one of the most difficult tasks I've ever had! Bob

If you want help you MUST send me FULL details or I will not be able to answer your question and will probably ignore your request because of my own time constraints ... hope this is fair enough.