Do you need help with your fish pond filter?

I am happy to help, if I can ... 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/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/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

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 11 years of experience is called Alfagrog (Alfagrog is called Supra in USA and can be bought here ... it is best all purpose media for small to medium ponds). The cost to suit a pond of your size is small (see this review site ). 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 by clicking this link

You have 2 good possibilities ....

1 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 biofilter). I would recommend highly efficient low cost pump ... see pump selection table 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

2. Buy pump that will deliver flow required by waterfall and push all through the biofilter which would then either be placed above waterfall. As alternative to this the flow could be split thereby allowing biofilter 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 biofilter and that required by waterfall as described Once more choose from pump selection table

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 need to send me FULL details or I will not be able to answer your question and will probably ignore your request ... hope this is fair enough. Here's what you must always send me ....

  • Pond volume
  • Biofilter brief description
  • UV size
  • Pump type and model
  • Pipe size ... length and diameter
  • Height of waterfall above pond surface or say NO POND WATERFALL if question relates to pump
  • Width of waterfall overflow lip if question is about pump or waterfall
  • Other important observations and
  • Your specific request

If you want to send pdf sketch this is OK and also low resolution jpeg photo if it helps me understand your situation

I do like to try to respond quickly but this is not always possible and my time zone is 8 hours ahead of mid west.

My email is info(at)pondsandpumps.co.za