Pond Liner Pond Build Stage K – Final choice of pond pumps and pond filters

Before deciding on a final set of equipment there was a couple of other values to throw into the mix. Having decided on <a href="http://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/subcat.asp?SubCatID=11">pressurised pond filters</a> due to the easy-landscaping benefits we needed to weigh up the fact that approximately 15% of the pond pump flow rate can be lost when using  such a pond filter due to additional frictional loss. Also the pond hose itself can create another 5% frictional loss – higher if it is long in length, small in diameter and has an elbows or tight corners. Weighing up all of the information at my disposal I knew I was looking for the following. Based on a low stock 12,000 litre koi pond I wanted a pressure filter that could handle a goldfish pond up to 30000 litres (15000 koi) and a pond pump that could achieve at least 10,000 litres per hour at a head height of 1m.

I chose to go with the <a href="http://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/-pondxpert-easyfilter-30000-and-pondpush-15000-pond-pump-set/p1304">pondXpert EasyFilter 30000 and PondPush 15000 Pond Pump Set</a>. This is a relatively inexpensive set (perfect for the beginner as you only really get to know what you want after you have lived with a pond for a while). But with this set you get a lot of 'bang for your bucks'. I got a 15000lph pond pump which could handle solids up to 6mm and a large filter cage so I knew it would be low maintenance. At only 180 watts I knew I’d be comfortable letting it run 24/7 as the power costs would be less than £200 annually. The pond filter has a powerful 24 watt UVC and an EasyClean function meaning the filter can be backwashed without removing the lid.

The pond pump outlet was two inches (50mm) but the pond filter inlet was 38mm (1.5”). Both had a hosetail going down to 25mm (1 inch) but following the rule of frictional loss we chose 38mm pond hose as this was the biggest universal hose common to both parts of the equipment. We chose pond hose 10m remembering that we needed enough for: <ul> <li>Pond pump to pond filter (pond pump should be placed deep in the pond away from water return (ie, waterfall) to maximise circulation. 4m length required.</li> <li>Pond filter to pond waterfall – 4m</li> <li>Pond Filter Waste Outlet to drain – 2m</li> </ul> We also used 4 x 40mm hoseclips in total. Hoseclips are essential at getting a watertight seal. We used a clip for each of the following situations: <ul> <li>1 clip to connect hose to pond pump</li> <li>1 clip to connect hose from pump into filter</li> <li>1 clip to connect filter outlet pipe running to waterfall</li> <li>1 clip to connect the waste pipe</li> </ul>  Once we were all connected up we could switch on. We found a few drips here and there which is typical. A few tighter hoseclip turns was enough to prevent this.

This article hopefully helps show you what considerations need to be made when selecting <a href="http://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/pond-pumps.asp">pond pumps</a> and <a href="http://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/pond-filters.asp">pond filters</a>. Remember that it is often worth buying a <a href="http://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/filter-pump-sets.asp">pond pump and filter set</a> if you are installing a completely new pond filtration system. Not only will it be considerably cheaper but it will have been put together with a lot of consideration by the retailer or manufacturer. You may even get extra freebies such as free <a href="http://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/pond-hose.asp">pond hose and clips</a> as we like to feel that we deliver to the customer everything they need to press on with their project.

Finally we could activate the big switch on. I was happy with the flow of water and the UVC filter seemed to instantly clean up the pond. The picture above shows our final set up with the filtration system switched on and working. You can see how some of the excavated earth was held back as we wanted to install a waterfall and thought this earth could be useful in its construction. The pond waterfall was quite a project with a few thrills and spills along the way. <a href="http://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/articles/pond-liner-pond-build-stage-l-pond-waterfall-section-1.asp">Read on to see how the waterfall was built</a>.

Pond Build 2011 Diary

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