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Do I have to have a pump in my water garden?
A water garden does not have to have a pump to be successful, however recirculated water keeps the water cool, oxygenated and beneficial bacteria growing optimally. Of course, in order to have the sound and sight of moving water, a pump is needed. [ TOP ]
How do I know how to size the pump to my pond?
While taking into account the size of the pond, the most important factor to consider is what the pump will do for the pond. Will it power a waterfall? Will it operate a fountainhead or statue? Sometimes a pump is used for recirculation only, with no visible water movement. The way the pump is to be used will determine the size needed.
Waterfalls require the most water flow. To be visually effective, 100 gallons of water per hour per inch of waterfall width is needed. A waterfall twelve inches wide needs 1200 gallons of water flow per hour. More is OK, but less flow means a dribbling falls.
The outlet height is determined by measuring the vertical lift from the pond surface to the height of the top spillway. Add to this one-foot for every ten feet of distance from the pump (which is located as far as possible from the waterfall) to the top spillway. This total outlet height can be matched to the manufacturer's chart for each pump to choose the correct flow rate for your spillways. Be sure to maintain 100 gallons per inch of spillway at the total outlet height. [ TOP ]
Should I have a skimmer?
Removing surface debris before it settles to the bottom of the water garden is the main purpose of a skimmer. This is essential to water quality. A skimmer is a box that is attached to the edge of a water garden to house the pump for the water recirculation. Since it is on the outside of the pond, access is easy and convenient. This also makes removal of leaves and other surface debris very easy with the removal of a net inside the box. [ TOP ]
Do I need a filter?
Filters are necessary for ponds that have an excessive load of fish, especially large fish. Large fish create a lot of waste and stir the water, suspending particles in the water. These particles must be filtered out to avoid clogging of the biological filter or fouling the UV Sterilizer. This is called pre-filtering. Some water gardeners rely only on a pre-filter to clear the water. This will work, but is best in combination with plants.
Water can be clear in the water garden with proper use of plants and water flowing over a falls. The natural bacteria that populates the waterfall naturally filters the water. The plants act as a cooling mechanism for the water. Cooler water means higher oxygen levels; more oxygen means better beneficial bacteria growth. A filter is used to speed the process and to supplement the natural ecology of the water garden. See also the question, What is the difference between biological and mechanical filters? [ TOP ]
What is the difference between Biological and Mechanical filtration?
Mechanical filters are used to remove floating particles from the water. Biological filters are used to process the nutrients from the water using beneficial bacteria. The mechanical filter is attached to the intake of the pump, trapping suspended particles before they enter the working parts of the pump. The biological filter is positioned outside of the pond for easy access to the filter media where the bacteria grows. Ideally, the biological filter would be pre-filtered by a mechanical filter to keep organic debris from clogging the biological part of the system. [ TOP ]
Should I use an Ultra-violet (UV) sterilizer?
An Ultra-violet Sterilizer actually kills algae as it passes through the light emitted in the exposure chamber. The UV light is the surest way to rid a water garden of green water. Water gardeners who have a large quantity of large fish, or choose to use fewer plants than recommended find the UV the best way to control single-cell algae. For the clearest water, use an Ultra-violet Sterilizer with a pre-filter, flowing into a biological filter. [ TOP ]
Do I need a biological filter?
A biological filter is a great way to keep the water quality at optimum levels. The natural bacteria that populates the filter media processes the water as it passes through. Biological filtration is recommended when fish populations are high. The biological filter does not necessarily mean clear water (although it usually does), but it ensures the water quality by removing ammonia and nitrates naturally. Always pre-filter the water going into the bio-filter to maintain maximum efficiency. [ TOP ]
Can my waterfall be a biological filter?
The waterfall acts as one of the best, most efficient biological filters because it has a tremendous amount of wet surface area that harbors beneficial bacteria. With constant water flow over these irregular surfaces bacteria thrive, processing organic pollutants out of the water. Particles of soil and organic debris that are suspended in the water settle out as the water flows over the falls. The water is also cooled and oxygenated as it moves over the stone surfaces. These are the essential components of manufactured bio-filters, just in a natural form. [ TOP ]
How much does it cost to operate a pump?
Pumps have a plate on the side of the pump or the box it came in, that gives the amps and watts ratings. The watts are multiplied by 24 hours (if you operate the pump 24 hours a day). Divide the product of watts times hours by 1000. This gives you the kilowatt hours used in one day. Your electricity bill tells you how much you pay for a kilowatt hour. Multiply the cost per kilowatt hour by the kilowatts used. This gives you the cost per day. Example: A 70 watt pump operating 24 hours a day at 10 cents per kilowatt hour is calculated as follows: 70 Watts ´ 24 Hours ¸ 1000 ´ 10 cents = $0.168 per day. [ TOP ]
Can I leave my pump in the pond during the winter?
If the pump is operating, and if it is below the expected freeze level, the pump can operate continuously all winter. If the electricity goes off, the lines leading away from the pump may freeze, plugging the line. The pump must be unplugged to avoid operating the pump against a closed line. Once the line is frozen closed, it must thaw before the pump can be turned back on. [ TOP ]
Can I operate my waterfall during the winter?
In a water garden with water lilies and goldfish, the falls can operate throughout the winter months. The ice formations that form are always unique and interesting, especially when illuminated with landscape lighting. A properly placed water garden is positioned in a highly visible location must have water flowing the year round, or it will look awkward during the time the system is not running. [ TOP ]
What size tubing do I want from my pump to my waterfall?
To reduce pressure and maintain full water flow, use tubing that is one or two sizes larger than the outlet of the pump. Water, under lower pressure, is easier to hide in the stonework since there is little turbulence. Use fittings to increase the outlet size, then clamp the tubing securely with a stainless steel clamp. [ TOP ]
Do I need to filter water going to my fountainhead?
Pre-filter the water that operates a fountainhead. The small openings of a fountainhead clog easily with debris in the pond water, making maintenance much harder. [ TOP ]
How much water is enough for a waterfall?
One hundred gallons of water per hour per inch of waterfall sill width is required to get good flow over the falls. More water is possible, but less is not likely to accomplish the desired fall from one level to another. [ TOP ]
How often do I need to replace my filter media?
Filter media is ready to be replaced when it begins to shrink or flatten and does not regain its original loft or thickness. As the fibers begin to shred or break up, the media needs to be replaced. Foam material must be replaced when it does not touch the sides of the filter box, allowing water to pass around the material instead of through it. Polyester material lasts about 1-1/2 to 2 seasons of use. Foam products must be replaced annually. Heavy use and frequent rinsing may increase the need to replace the media. [ TOP ]
Which filter media density fits my needs?
Filter density determines the frequency of cleaning. The denser the media, the more debris is captured and the more often it needs to be rinsed out. Coarser media allows more particles to pass through, but less frequency of cleaning. The particles will settle out along the streambed, causing no concern. The freer movement of water through a coarse medium produces more natural bacteria, thus better water quality. For this reason, coarse media is preferred by most water gardeners. [ TOP ]
What are the benefits of an AquaMatâ?
"AquaMatsâ simplify management of a healthy pond by their unique combination of plant-like habitat and precision engineered surfaces designed to support vast amounts of beneficial biological activity.
Nutrients in pond water, such as nitrates and phosphates, are the fuel for this biological activity. Photosynthesis on the surfaces of the AquaMatâ converts nutrients into rich benthic algae and bacteria and also supports a diverse zooplankton population.
This biological community, while utilizing nutrients in a natural cycle, also provides an ideal natural food supplement for koi and goldfish." -Meridian Aquatic Technology [ TOP ]
I want to inject air bubbles into the water to enhance my biological filter, how do I do that?
Use a PVC fitting called a Venturi fitting in the pipe leading from the pump to the biological filter. As water is sent through the fitting under pressure, the fitting has an opening for an air pipe that allows air to be sucked into the fitting. The air is injected into the water before it passes into the filter, making thousands of tiny bubbles. Injecting air into a filter enhances the biological activity inside the system. [ TOP ]
I want to make water go in two directions from my pump. How can I control the flow in two directions at once?
A diverter valve is a device that is attached to the outlet of a pump that has a two-way valve. This fitting gives complete control of the water flow, allowing a small amount of water to go to a statue, for instance, and the rest to a waterfall. [ TOP ]
How can I get water through the side of a pre-formed pond instead of going over the top edge?
Watertight fittings, called bulkhead fittings are used to go through a rigid pond like fiberglass or plastic. The fitting is inserted through a pre-drilled hole with gasket placed on both sides of the pond wall. The fitting is held in place by tightening a large nut that compresses the gaskets to make a tight fit. Rigid PVC pipe or tubing can be fitted to the bulkhead to carry water through the wall of the pond. [ TOP ]
Do I need to use a ground fault circuit interrupter for my outdoor electrical needs?
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) must protect an outdoor receptacle. This mechanism prevents electrical shock in the event of a failure of an electrical system. This life-saving device is installed in place of an outlet or it can be manufactured into an extension cord (however, an extension cord should not be plugged into an outlet GFCI). [ TOP ]
How can I prevent water from siphoning out of my upper pond when the power is off to the pump?
In the event of a power outage, water can be siphoned from an upper pond to a lower pond through the pump and tubing that powers the waterfall. The water can be prevented from being lost with an anti-siphon device called an In-Line Spring Check Valve. This spring activated fitting automatically plugs the water line when electrical power is lost, holding water in place until power is restored. [ TOP ]
Which fountainhead makes the least splash and affects the plant less?
The least amount of splash occurs with a dome fountainhead. Very little turbulence is noticeable, even three inches away from where the water hits the pond surface. Plants with floating leaves are able to grow in close proximity to the dome (or water bell) fountain. The next, least disruptive fountainhead is the foamy or bubbling fountainhead. A foamy head makes a thick, heavily aerated geyser that contributes little turbulence.
Fountainheads that spray small droplets of water into the air splash a lot and are not suitable for growing near floating-leaf plants. [ TOP ] OR
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