Helpful tips for fountains and ponds!

Sizing a pond fountain for your pond!

2012-02-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

When selecting the correct size pond fountain, you will need to consider a few things:

A pond fountain is much more than just a beautiful display. It aerates, breaks up water columns, retards algae growth, and helps prevent water-born pests. In order to do all of this, it must fit your pond correctly. These tips will help you choose the right size!

1. The diameter of your pond.

10' to 70' - Any Calais or Vienna Fountain

30' to 150' -The Amazing 1/2 HP Fountain

1/3 acre to 1 1/2 acre - Amazing 1HP or 1 1/2HP Fountain

If your pond is elongated, you might consider 2 or 3 fountains, as one in the middle might not aerate the ends.

If you have a lot of fish in the pond or extream algae problems, you might consider an aerator.

Our fountains are designed to work in fresh and salt water. In natural or lined ponds. The condition of the pond will dictate how often the pond fountain will need to be cleaned. Ponds with a lot of debri or algae will need to be cleaned more often. It is important to keep the intake of the fountain clear so that it will maximize the life of the motor.

Pro Tips For Inline Pond Pumps

2012-02-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

Inline Pump Installation
Locate the pond pump as close to the source as possible. It is best to have your main (longest) run of pipe on the discharge side of the pump.

Flooded Suction
Install the pump outside the pond, and below the surface level of the pond to create a flooded suction. This will help ensure a proper and consistent supply of water to the pump. The inline pond pump will not operate properly and may be damaged if the water supply is not constant. A flooded suction may be retained with a supply line that runs up and over the pond wall and back down below the water surface, as long as all air has been removed from the line.

Non-Flooded Suction
If installation of a flooded suction is not possible, the following is recommended:
Position the pond pump as low as possible and as near the source as possible. Install a priming pot on the pump inlet. Install a foot valve or a check valve in the inlet below the water level. Always prime the entire inlet line, priming pot, and pond pump before turning it on. DO NOT RUN PUMP DRY!

These suggestions mey help you avoid most common installation problems.

POND BUILDING TIPS:

2012-02-15T17:36:00.000-08:00

Why Knowing a Pond’s Volume is Important For Selecting a Pond Pump

1) Gallons in a pond will tell you the following

a. Size of pump for you pond

b. Size of filter for you pond

c. Approximate Number of fish for your pond

2) How to calculate approximate number of gallons in an existing pond

a. Volume for rectangle ponds:

avg. WIDTH x avg. LENGTH x avg. DEPTH = Pond volume (cubic ft.)

EXAMPLE: 10ft x 12ft x 2ft = 240 (cubic ft.)

240 (cubic ft.) x 7.5 gal = 1800 Gallons

b. Volume for circular ponds:

RADIUS X RADIUS X 3.14 X DEPTH = POND VOLUME (cubic ft.)

c. Volume of a pond can be most accurately calculated by using a water meter that can be connected to a garden hose while initially filling pond.

HOW TO MEASURE FOR POND LINER

Take measurement of pond opening and use the following formula:

POND LENGTH:
Maximum Length + Twice Depth + 3' = Dimension #1

POND WIDTH:
Maximum Width + Twice Depth + 3' = Dimension #2

Example: For 8' x 10' opening that is 2' deep,
Length: 10' + 4' + 3' = 17'
Width: 8' + 4' + 3' = 15'

For this example, unroll 17' from a 15' wide roll of EPDM Pond Liner.

Pond Building Tip: Best to dig pond opening, take measurements and then secure the liner.

Choosing a sewage pump!

2012-02-03T22:28:00.000-08:00

I am often asked how to size a sewage pump either for replacement or new applications. We have several helpful articles on our website to help our customers choose the right size pump for their sewage application. Lets go over that briefly. First always check what the code is for your county or city. They might have certain requirements that you will need to know about before purchasing a new sewage pump. The next question is what are your specifications. What size pipe will you be connecting to? What is the measurement of elevation from where the sewage pump will be placed down in the tank up to the city main sewage line? What is the horizontal run of the pipe? Once you have that information, we will be happy to help you size the correct sewage pump for your needs.

Low Voltage Fountain and Pond Pumps

2012-02-03T22:15:00.000-08:00

Spring is fast approaching and that means we will be outside attending our gardens, ponds and fountains.
If you are putting a fountain or pond out in your yard, you might want to consider using a low voltage pump. A low voltage pond or fountain pump uses a fraction of the electricity that a 110v pump uses, and is a safer alternative as well if you have kids and animals playing near the water.

For smaller applications, like birdbath fountains, small low voltage pumps come with an integrated transformer. For larger applications, like rock fountains and tiered fountains, you will need to use the larger low voltage pumps and those do not come with a transformer. You will have to purchase one separately or integrate into your existing low voltage lighting system. One thing to keep in mind is that the pump will turn on when the lights turn on, unless you use a multiple use transformer.

How to make a fountain for a Christmas present!

2011-11-30T22:11:00.000-08:00

Hand made fountains are so much more beautiful than the factory made fountains that are shipped here from overseas. There are many artisans in the states that make unique fountains using a variety of materials from stone, copper, slate, glass or other natural materials. But for the beginner, all you need to know is the basics of building a fountain, whether it is an indoor or outdoor fountain.

What you will need:

Pick a design ( country, zen, whimsical, art deco)
The reservoir (basin, bowl or bucket to hold the water.
Fountain Pump (size will depend on the height of the fountain)
Tubing (copper or vinyl)
The waterfall or fountain: It may be just the end of the tube covered with rocks or glass. A sculpture or artifact that you can drill a hole so the tubing can be inserted through it. A store bought fountain spray, or tea cups that allow the water to cascade down to the reservior. Different shapes of copper tubing that have small holes drilled into it. These are just some ideas.
Assemble your fountain, keeping in mind that the tubing should be secured to the pump and make sure that the water that comes out at the top of the fountain pours back into the reservior.
Fill your fountain with distilled water and plug in the pump.

What to do with your fountain and pump during the winter.

2011-10-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

If you live in an area where the climate is warmer and will not freeze the water in your fountain or pond, you can actually leave your pumps running all winter long. If you live in an area where the climate is cold and the water in the fountain or pond will freeze, you will have to do some preparation. First drain the water out of the fountain or pond. Then remove the pump and store in a dry place for safe keeping through the winter months. When the weather starts to warm up, you can reconnect the pump and fill up with water. Please visit our fountain pumps page for more tips at http://www.discount-pumps.biz/fountain-pump.htm

Pond Fountains in the winter

2011-10-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

Now that winter weather is fast approaching, it is time to prepare your pond fountain for freezing temperatures. If you live in a cold climate that freezes your pond during the winter, you have two options with your pond fountain. You can remove it for the winter months. After you pull it from the pond, make sure it is dried out and then store it in a gargage or storage shed. If you choose to keep the fountain in the pond during the winter, please refer to the manufacturers instructions on how to operate the fountain during freezing temeratures. Generally, you must keep the pond fountain running 24/7. this keeps the water from freezing in the fountain, and helps to keep the area around the pond fountain unfrozen. Some fountain manufacturers require a de-icer nozzle to be connected to the fountain for proper de-icing. Keeping an area open around the pond fountain is ideal if you have water fowl. For more pond fountain tips please visit our site at http://www.discount-pumps.biz/floating-fountains.htm

How to make a Wedding Fountain Centerpeice

2010-12-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

How to make a Wedding Fountain:

A beautiful fountain centerpiece is a great focal point for your buffet table. It is easy to build and relatively inexpensive. Here are some design ideas:

1. You will start with the base that holds the water for your fountain. It can be anything that will coordinate with your wedding décor. A silver or gold bowl that you can find at a craft store. Keep in mind that bigger is better because you want as much height as possible for the most impact. The pump will sit at the bottom of the bowl and it will push the water up thru the fountain display.

2. Next you will need to decide what you want to put on top of your fountain bowl, where the water is going to come out, and cascade down, back into the fountain bowl. For example, you can use 3 plastic or acrylic champagne glasses, as long as they have a hollow stem. The tube that connects to the fountain pump will also connect to the bottom of the stems and the pump will push the water into the stems, full up the champagne glasses and the water will spill over the glasses and cascade back into the fountain bowl.

3. You will also need a round acrylic base that will sit about 1 inch below the top of the fountain bowl to mount your champagne glasses on. You will need to drip a hole thru the acrylic base so that the tube can go thru it.

4. Next you will need a pump. It is best to use a battery operated pump if you do not have an outlet in a convenient and safe place to accommodate the fountain.

5. Now you are ready to put on the finishing touches. You can use real or artificial flowers at the base of the glasses, on top of the acrylic base.

For more information on how to select the right pump for your fountain please visit us at

http://www.discount-pumps.biz/

How to calculate GPH for a pond or fountain pump

2010-12-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

Measuring gallons per hour

As a pump pushes water higher in a vertical pipe, gravity creates increased resistance. Therefore the gph of a pump decreases as the discharge height (known as head or lift) increases. The resistance created by forcing water to flow horizontally 10 feet is roughly equivalent to the effect of lifting the water 1 foot vertically. Of your pump forces water 20 feet horizontally, for example, that translates to 2 feet vertically. Knowing this gph at a designated point tells you whether the pump can deliver the quantity of water needed to properly operate a waterfall with the planned spillway’s width, depth, and height as well as its distance from the pump.

Manufacturers list how many gph a pump recirculates at 1 foot of lift and at other heights. If the height you need is between two listed heights, estimate what you could reasonably expect. For example, of you need 300 gph released 3 feet of head. That same pump might recirculate only 200 gph at 6 feet of lift. It would not be powerful enough to recirculate 300 gph for a 6-foot-high waterfall.

To build in a margin of error, measure the water distance vertically from the pump, not from the water’s surface. One way or another, avoid skimping on gph. When determining the proper flow rate for a waterfall or stream, figure 150 gph for each inch of spillway width. This rate provides a ½ inch-thick sheet of water over the falls. You’ll also need to know how far the water must travel horizontally in the pipeline. Remember that each 10 feet of horizontal distance creates about as much resistance against the pump as 1 foot of head. Consider a pump that must force water 10 feet in a pipe across the pond bottom and then 5 feet up the pipe to the release point in the waterfall. This is equivalent to a 6 foot head.

Although some variation exists from rated gph capacity, pumps do not operate at more than their rated gph capacity for each rated height. To be safe, purchase a pump with grater capacity than estimated need. While a pump’s gph cannot be increased, it is easily reduced using a valve on the pipeline or a restrictor using a valve on the pipeline or a restrictor clamp on the flexible tubing that limits the flow of water from the pump to the discharge point. Some pumps come with a built-in valve on the discharge. Any restriction you add should be placed on the water line only after the water exits the pump – never before entering the pump. Pumps easily withstand this restriction. It has the same effect as making the pump push the water higher in the line. For more helpful information please visit us at http://www.discount-pumps.biz/choose-pond-pump.htm