Submersible Water Pumps

Surface Mounted Pumps

Water Feature & Indoor Pumps

Which Pump to Choose?
First you must decide what you want the pump to do - is it for a fountain, a waterfall, a feature, a filter or a combination of these? As you can see from the information in this section, we stock a vast range of pumps which vary in output, pressure (expressed as head or lift), power consumption and fittings.

To make the right choice, you need to know:-

1. The volume of the pond = gallonage/litres.
2. The horizontal distance from the pump to filter/fall.
3. The vertical lift from the surface of the water.
4. The required flow rate for the waterfall and/or filter.
5. The internal bore of any pipework.
6. The number and type of different features to be run by the pump.

Confused? - we hope not, but if you are, then we can help. Please feel free to telephone or better still call in and talk to one of our resident pump experts. We will be able to identify the right pump for your project and then offer you a choice of appropriate pumps from different manufacturers. It is important to stress that since we stock the leading pump ranges, our advice is not biased towards any particular make.

FOUNTAIN AND WATERFALL PUMPS
These are usually submersible (in pond) pumps that are generally supplied with the fittings to produce a fountain and/or waterfall. Most kits include a tee piece (on which the fountain jet is mounted) with a valve to balance the flow between the fountain and waterfall. Hose can be run from the tee piece directly into the waterfall or through a filter and UV before feeding the waterfall or returning directly into the pond. These pumps have fine strainers to help prevent fountain jets from blocking, although more efficient pre-filters can be fitted. We recommend you raise the pump above the bottom of the pond on a lily basket or brick to avoid drawing sediment into the pump.

FILTER / WATERFALL PUMPS
Recommended for use with filters and waterfalls because they are fitted with strainers that allow some solids to pass through and so reduce the problem of loss of pressure due to clogging. More efficient pumps have a lower motor rating (wattage) and can save you a considerable amount in running costs. Most filter pumps are now energy efficient with lower wattage motors. Large bore hoses must be used to prevent excessive pressure loss in the pipe.

SURFACE PUMPS
For certain applications, a surface pump may be preferable to a submersible pump. They are very reliable if properly installed and maintained and are recommended for larger projects requiring high pressure and output. The Aquamax, Promax, Atlantis and Amphibious pumps listed as submersible can also be adapted to run as surface pumps providing they are installed with a flooded suction. Surface pumps are multipurpose and can be used to run fountains, waterfalls, filters and features.

WATER FEATURE PUMPS
These are compact pumps ideal for use with small fountain ornaments/pebble ponds or do-it-yourself water features. Indoor pumps are fitted with shorter cables and smaller strainers and should not be used outdoors.

Pump Statistics
All pump statistics are taken from the manufacturer's data. These figures can be quite misleading, we can explain them simply as follows:-

Maximum Output
This is the volume of water that comes out of the top of the pump without any restrictions (fittings or pipes etc.) to reduce the flow. No pump ever produces its maximum output in a working situation.

Output at 1 metre
This is a more realistic representation of the output of the pump as it gives the volume of water that would be produced by attaching a 1 metre length of hose to the pump and holding it vertically. Using a longer pipe or one of the wrong bore (too narrow) would further reduce output.

Maximum Lift
This is the height at which the water would cease to flow from a hose pipe that was attached to the pump and held vertically upright. The output of the pump will reduce with height. Most pump manufacturers will produce a chart showing the output at different levels.

Power/watts = Running Costs
This is the energy consumed by the pump in operation. From this figure, you can roughly calculate the running costs of the pump. At the current standard rate of electricity, it costs approximately 70p for every watt of electricity used to run a pump continuously for a year, therefore a 20 watt pump would cost in the region of £14 for the year.

Cable & Electricity
By law, all mains voltage pumps for domestic outdoor use must be fitted with 10 metres of cable. Cable can be extended by the use of cable connectors but please make sure that all outdoor electrical equipment has proper overload trip protection. If you are attempting a major installation we would advise you to consult a qualified electrical contractor. Cable carrying mains electricity to a static appliance outdoors should be protected inside suitable conduit.

Low voltage pumps run on 24 volts which is too low to cause any harm, but remember that the cable from the mains to the transformer is still 240 volts.

Guarantees
The statutory guarantee on electrical goods is 1 year. Most manufacturers increase this period to emphasise the reliability of their pumps. Generally, the guarantee is against failure of the motor, and the agreement is to repair or replace the unit within a given period. If a pump is replaced under guarantee, the period of cover for the new pump runs from when you purchased the original unit. Manufacturers will not guarantee the impeller. Consumables like foam filters are also not covered. To make a claim under guarantee you must produce some form of proof of purchase. We issue a written guarantee with every pump sold and advise customers to retain this for future reference.

Pond Filtration
Q - How do you know if your pond needs a filter?
A - If you are planning a Koi pond, or wish to keep a concentration of fish of any description, a filter is essential; otherwise the most obvious indication that a filter is necessary is the quality of the water and the health of the fish it supports.

Which type of filter is best for your pond?
Filters can be divided into the following categories:

• Submersible (in the pond)
• External pump feed, gravity return
• External pressurized
• External gravity feed, pump return