Install Pond Pump

External Pond Pump Installation (header)

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Installation Guide on "How to install Pond Pumps"

Install a Pond Pump for an aquatic Garden

Installations of external pond pumps are vital to provide continuous water circulation, aeration and healthy pond water with basic garden pond equipment. Outdoor installation of an electric well pump affords several precautions before you are able to start pumping.

The pump's earth wire must be connected before use by embedding a copper plate or long copper rod about 80 cm (30 inches) in the ground. Never connect the earth wire with any gas pipe, otherwise it will cause an explosion. Always turned off electric power first and than connect the earth wire of the water pump for ponds.

Never install a pond pump exposed to hot rays or rain. All these extreme conditions will shorten the service life of your garden pond pump. Even more dangerous: It can cause an electric shock.

Acceptable operating conditions for external pumps are at temperatures not be below -10°C (14°F) and not above 40°C (104°F).

When installing pond pumps make sure should they never run dry without delivering any water. Also avoid the possibility of sucking in mud or sand from the ground. Both will cause damage to the motor and will shorten the service life of your water pump. By installing solar powered garden pond equipment you can create an eco-friendly water garden.

Installed garden pond pumps should be serviced before winter and checked for flawless performance stored over the cold period at a dry and ice- free location. After hibernating and re-installing the whole pump system in spring it might be possible that the motor is not operating in spite when you switch on the power. This sticking and solidification of the dirk can happen because of filth in the water of the pump head. Switch of the electric power! Than turn the shaft side hole of the motor a few time to the right and left with a screw driver.

Installing Pond Pumps for Water Gardens

Install the pond pump as near as possible at the garden pond or just over the well. When the external pond pump installation has to be done far from the water garden you have to consider that the maximum distance of the pipe is limited to the suction lift. Make sure to use standard diameters of pipes. If your install your pump for one or several pond fountains, we advice to reduce the diameter from the pipe next to the pump towards the pipes at the water fountain. This will increase the pressure of the water spaying out.

Suction of a small pond pump 34 l/min (9 Gal/min)

Suction Lift	Suction Pipe (max. horizontal length)
8m (26.2 Ft)	3m (9.8 Ft)
7m (22.9 Ft)	14,5m (47.6 Ft)
6m (19.7 Ft)	26m (85.3 Ft)
5m (16.4 Ft)	37,5m (123 Ft)
4m (13.1 Ft)	49m (160.7 Ft)

Proper installation of a small well pump

When positioning the suction pipe be sure neither the suction lift gets above water level during dry season, nor sand or mud will be sucked in. Consider to install an additional sand filter to prevent the defacement of the pond head's impeller. A sand filter installation would avoid the decrease of pumping and the decline the water pressure.

To install a pond pump select a place where the motor can be easily checked and repaired after installation. Keep at least about 30 cm (12 in) free space the pump to reach each side with tools. To guarantee that the running pump will not overheat keep the same distance to the top cover that protects your pump against rain or hot sunshine. Do not store inflammable liquids close to an electric well pump to avoid the risk of fire. Provide a solid foundation with cement. The water pond pump should not lean or slant ever after long time of pumping.

To prevent water leaking in the piping minimize the amount of L-pipes (elbow pipes). This will help to lessen the resistance of water, too. Never run your well pump without priming water, because this will the pond pump's mechanical-seal and the impeller. After installing not self-priming pond pumps, you have to pour water into the pump. Remaining air in the suction pipe will be pulled out with the water. If the priming is not successful there still may be air in the suction pipe. Pour water in the suction pipe and turn power on and off repeatedly.

After your new installed garden pond pump starts working constantly, water quality of your aquatic garden will not change immediately. It will need al least a few hours (or days, depending on the volume of the pond) before water circulation can effect your ecosystem in a positive way. Service your external pond pump periodically and check the power cord against damages from mice. Control, if the pump is always providing full power.

User's Manual: Troubleshooting after installing a water pump for gardens ponds

Installing a Pond Pump for Water Gardens

Troubles with Water Garden Pumps

installed pond pump does not start after turning on electrical power:
>> motor may be overheated (thermal protection)
>> cord is disconnected
motor runs, but no water is pumped out:
>> water level of the garden pond is below normal
>> check the joints of piping, if air is in the suction pipe
thermal protector of the water pump starts too often:
>> power supply may be too high or too low
>> the impeller may have contact with other parts of the motor
>> there may be an open circuit of the capacitor