Do you need to run a pond pump all the time?
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2024
- In this video I talk about wether or not you need to run a pond pump 24/7, wether you need a filter, is solar a good option and what can you do to reduce energy consumption for a pond.
Heres some helpful resources that I mentioned in the vid:
Bog filter playlist- • Bog filter DIY videos
For information on efficient pumps and filter design visit my website ozponds.com
Solar pond playlist- • Solar powered pond and... - Jak na to + styl
No additions, corrections, or questions. I am commenting and tickling the thumbs up 👍 button to feed the algorithm monsters.
Thanks, Kev.
Legend 😊👍
Excellent update Kev!! ❤ I always learn something new ❤
That’s nice to hear 😊👍
Thanks so much for the bog filter information. I have a 150 liter pond placed in full sun that I gave up because of algae and mosquitoes. I restarted it recently from scratch after your videos. It has a 15 liter bog filter now, and hopefully add another 15-20 liter bog filter later. The solar controller has two USB ports. One USB 3 watt 240l/h USB brushless submersible pump in a small intake bay and a USB 1 watt air pump with airstone going into a pipe in the center of a fabric pot full of lava stone. I hope a USB hub will let me add more USB devices if needed later. A small 12V 6ah battery seems to give me 12 hours of runtime without sun. A 10 watt solar panel should be enough.
I look forward to maybe getting a 1 watt pump that circulates about 100l/h. I'm not sure which will be better, less circulation with longer continuous run time without sun... or slightly more circulation that may stop once in a while if the battery runs out.
I'm going to be adding Seachem Stability or Fluval Cycle to help speed or improve the nitrogen cycle, but I love the bog filter already 2-3 weeks running.
Thank you for this comment, I have been looking at small DC pumps for a similar sized little pond for my daughter and sharing your experience gives me more confidence that the USB versions are viable.
Thank you, so very much, for sharing your wisdom. You have decluttered and demystified what before was murky waters, speaking as to finding good information on topic. Thanks to you, I was able to renovate an 1800 gallon garden pond.
Great to hear 😊👍
Hi Kev, This past week I personally had the experience of the importance of water flow and oxygen for clear water. After adding additional water flow, my water started clearing almost immediately. I've been watching your videos and doing what you suggested with the bog filter and beneficial bacteria. I guess I'm just slow because it takes a lot of rewatching for the information to soak into my brain. It has taken a while but I keep watching and learning. I still don't understand the watts and voltage and power of pumps related to water circulation and flow but I'll keep trying to
"get it". Thank you for sharing your knowledge. You are a very kind person to help all of us have healthy clear water for our fish. You are my go to for information and I thank you very much.
Watts just refer to how much energy a device uses. The lower the watts, the lower the energy consumption. So you basically want to get the most flow rate for the least amount of watts.
Always so helpful. Thanks, Kev! Hello from Santa Cruz, Ca.
Thanks for watching! 😊👍
Superb as always Kev, commenting for the matrix masters 👍
Legend!👍
Thanks for the info!
Thanks Kev, luckily we are hooked up to rain water as well as normal council water and use the RW to top up
The best pump design I have found after a lot of experimenting is to add a porous plant basket to the intake side and wrap that in shade cloth or an insect net. This allows a lot of water volume reducing pump back pressure. All the pumps have them now. Right now all have great flow rates and less clogging.
The problem with solar batteries is the heat here.
Great tip! 👍
Yes Kev I recommends you constantly
Thank you
Hi Kev. Love your videos!
Glad you like them!😊👍
I am kinda amazed at how energy efficient pond pumps are. I think the one I'm using only uses about 40 watts.
There’s so many good options these days 👍
Climate is a consideration. In winter in 6b USA, we shut our pumps off over winter and just keep a heater on a hole to allow gasses to escape. Spring brings a huge fluctuation of temperatures. It takes a good while for the pond to balance.
This is true.
We have clear water in the winter and algae problems only in the summer due to sun exposure. So yes, weather and climate are relevant.
I was just talking yesterday about how I spend about 200 a year on pumps... I run them 24/7... just because really. I average a cheapo replacement about every 9 mnths....
I can’t remember the last time I replaced an entire pump. About two years ago I replaced an impeller in one of the tiny ones.
@@Ozponds I should prob stop buying the cheapos....and start outer* filterting more... but ya... Its like clockwork. BUT this year i stopped buying "koi pond pumps" and searched "electric submersible" and have come across an entire new genre I now have confidence in.
Fantastic channel, I discovered you a few days ago and I love it.
I have previous experience with permaculture ponds, but insufficient at this time.
I live in a limestone area with plaster. I am collecting rainwater, but even so I always have the PH close to 8. He recently built a 100m3 pond, with concrete, and covered with lime. Since then my PH has gone to 9.0-9.2. I could use acids (nitric/phosporic), but it would be a temporary solution. I want to find a balancing method to lower that PH forever. I currently have a BOG filter, 1m3, but it is too small, I know.
What do you recommend me? Are there any improvements I can make? More air, more recirculation, some type of rock? I have read that with peat... but I don't want to put more nutrients in the ponds, I have fish and ducks.
Wood elements will also lower ph. Overtime you should also notice a drop, biological processes reduce ph. But if the fish and ducks are happy it doesn’t really matter.
Do you have preferred pumps, liners etc. ? I am struggling to find a good prefilter design, one where fry and shrimp do not get juiced up by the pump. But still allows the pump to get sufficient water.
Love your videos and ponds.
On the website I have links to pond liners, pumps, ect. Under the products tab. For pre filter design I love intake bays and skimmers but if the pond is small I place the pump in a plant pot and cover with a coarse sponge. I’ve shown this in a few vids 👍
Hi Kev thanks for this channel, love the simple approach, you have achieved your goal for myself as you have inspired myself and my son to build ponds being guided by your videos.
I have a question, I’ve been thinking about dropping water levels from evaporation etc, I went to Bunnings and bought a brass float valve with a plastic ball float to regulate my water level, not sure what you do to compensate for water loss
Thanks
Al
Auto top ups are a good option. I don’t personally use them as I’m in a pretty high rainfall area. Pretty much just do manual top ups in January and Feb as needed. No need to de-chlorinate the water if you’re just doing small top ups.
I have 3 rain barrels that I use to top up my pond. I don't have to worry about the chorine issue. By the time I used up the water in the barrels, there should be rain again.
Super as usual! I would like to see the chicken! I am sure I heard one. (:
😂 a chicken always makes a video better!
Kev, can you make a video about air, air pumps, venturi aerator, oxygen levels and relation to fish, algae...
I have a 5k liters pond with bog and 1 waterfall, now getting a lot of string algae, so im thinking about adding some sort of aerator but not sure if that will help with anything. I'm having trouble finding some good resources on this subject so though to let you know, maybe you can make a video about that subject in detail perhaps. I'm particularly interested in venturi aerator, but didn't see you have one. I'm mainly interested in that because I would not need an additional device to feed air.
It’s something I’m playing around with, but it takes me a long time to form opinions on certain things. In saying that aeration is always a good thing in my opinion. Water can only hold so much dissolved oxygen so it’s pretty hard to over aerate.
Hi Kev, thank you so much for your video's. I'm currently building my pond with a bogfilter and have a question about the winter. I live in the Netherlands. During winter time it can freeze a little. What would you recommend for the filter. Should I keep the pump running all year? Or is it better to shut it off during winter? Thanks, Anouk
If possible I’d keep it running.
Thanks!
I have just joined this very interesting channel, is there anything here regarding the re using of grey water waist as a pond, would a bog filter clean grey water for garden use thanks
It was one of my first water recycling/ filtering projects at our home. However I didn’t have a CZcams channel at the time and I only really ever mention it in passing. But it’s basically the exact same principle as a bog.
@@Ozponds Thank you for the reply grey water waste will be one of my first projects when the house is built, it would be great if you have time to just maybe do a video on your recycling/filtering project thank you so much
Is there a maximum size for a bog? I just built one and it’s functioning well with a good flow rate. But the only container I could source is quite a bit larger than 20% of the pond.
No problem at all. It could be 200%
Hey, Kev! Thanks for everything! I have a question you might know the answer to: Is Splosht still being made? You mentioned it in a video a few years ago and I got some drop in packs from Amazon. I was skeptical but ended up a believer. It did great things for my water quality! I'm in the US and can't find it anymore. Thanks!
They still send me emails. But even if you can’t find it there’s heaps of bacterial products. It wouldn’t surprise me if they all came from the same place and are then rebranded.
@@Ozponds Thank you! I sure enjoy your videos! You are a great teacher!
I used your ideas to modify a DIY bog filter with a clean-out snorkel make of culvert pipe. It's working great!
Hey Kev I just sent $11 AUD to you ,thanks for the great content. If you're ever in SoCal ...
Thanks so much 😊
It is sitting where i live and the algae is growing nicely. Odd because I've cleaned out the debris and have hardly fed the fish at all. Maybe the bacteria need a kickstart?
Possibly. The changing seasons always lead to changes in the pond. The older the pond the more adaptable it is. My dream & courtyard ponds hardly any string algae at the moment (both are a few years old) the newer stream and pond, pond (18 months) not a heap but as the weather has changed there’s more string algae on the surfaces. Just part of the journey.
Hi Kev, I would like to know if you can set up a system where you filter graywater that feeds into a pond. How much or what kind of pre filter before a bog? I know a little about wetlands and I am curious how this can be a good setup. That way, the pond never runs dry as.long as somebody takes a shower, wash the dishes, or does the laundry.
That’s basically how I have my pond set up behind the nursery. All water from the showers and laundry passes through a wetland then ends up in the pond. The pond is pretty healthy, lots of frogs but you’ll never achieve the same clarity as my other ponds.
@@Ozponds is it because of the chemicals in this "water source"? What if the water undergoes more filtration? Or a wetland filtration with longer retention time before going into the bog? In my mind it has to work. 😅
@@Glass_Half_Full it’s probably more to do with the fact the pond it goes to is unlined and has very limited filtration. I’m happy with my system, I think I could do better. But I’m not going to re jig it now there’s a whole nursery in the way. So you are right it could be made to work.
Pls feature a graywater recycle that ends up in a small container pond. Thanks.
I already have my grey water system setup. I built it before I had a CZcams channel. It’s basically just a down flow bog filter.
@@Ozponds is there another filtration before the bog filter, like woodchips to absorb any grease before reaching the bog filter?
@@peterpiper5300 just a tub that collects solids. I only have showers and washing machine feeding the wetland.
Yasssss! I want my own
I just see it like a relationship .. If ya don't give it a pump often enough.. ya know things are gunna turn green on ya.
🤣🤣
3:20 Wow. 3000 gph with biofalls compared to 1000 gph with bog filter. Really shows how inefficient the bio falls (and bio balls) are comparatively.
I guess it’s a trade off. The biofalls is a smaller filter. The bog or wetland takes up more room but is more efficient to run for sure.
So you've addressed necessity. Now, do satisfaction value!
Of running a pond pump 24/7?
@@Ozponds not 24/7 satisfaction value. I guess what I would like is a comparative analysis of pump volume to satisfaction tour of your ponds. Which ones do you find yourself staring at the most, and does gushiness matter?
@@charlescampbell7230 I’m a tight arse so I don’t really have any super raging waterfalls or streams. But that’s also why I like variable speed pumps. If you were someone who wants to experience both worlds you could without needing to have the pump raging at all times.
Yup🎉🎉