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  1. #1

    Pump recommendations for a new guy

    Hey, for those of you following my build called 'progress pics' in the build section... Looks like I'm watertight after DIY fibreglass so now sourcing the other bits i need. . Just wanted some advice on a suitable pump or pumps as there seema to be hundreds to chose from. I've got 1 return in the wall, and will have a waterfall return as well... I'm running a 3 barell DIY filter setup, and a seperate 25w uv system. The pond is approx 7000l, gravity fed into the barells with a bottom drain. I know wisdom is to turn the water over every 2 to 4 hours so I guess that means 2000lph to 3000lph rating. I'd prefer an external pump so as not to ruin the view in the water. So I guess that's what you call a dry pump, but would ideally like one unit to run the uv, waterfall and single return while pulling water through barrel filters.

    I have no idea which makes are reliable, genuinely economical or good Value and which makes are just marked up with the 'koi tax'.

    I'd earmarked about £150 for the pump setup, but if I need to spend more I will... Just wanted a starting point really as I'm totally overwhelmed!

    Thanks, Rob


    Last edited by RobWinter; 01-07-2020 at 06:37 PM.

  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Yonsai bicolormoth's Avatar
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    hi Rob. will your 'barrels' handle 3000L/H ?
    5000g, Drum Filter/Gravity, + MBB, Skimmer-Sieve-Shower.

  3. #3
    I hope so. I've gone for 120l barrels x3. I've done the DIY build as per 'Wrighty' in YouTube. I've got 4" bottom drain going to 3" pipe into and between each barell stage.. Which he says should be fine for my setup. But.. I'm new to this, so appreciate your wisdom!

  4. #4
    I should add. Also got a wide mouth skimmer which will be on 40mm solvent weld tube going to the barell filters as well.. Unless it's better to pump that seperatly. The tech specs of the plumbing /filtering side is where I'm out of my comfort zone!

  5. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    It might be worth getting a 10000 lph variable speed pump and run it at about 50% so allowing for flow restrictions you would probably be flowing somewhere between 3000 to 4000 lph and if required you could also run the pump a bit quicker or slower. I think my 10000 lph pump runs from 30 to 100%.

    Mine is an Aqua Forte DM Vario. It's not the cheapest but it's a reasonably good pump. I got it from a company in Germany or Holland. I'll see if I can find the website for you later.

  6. #6
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Yes that correct Peter, not far from Mytchett.

    Other makes to look at are Pond Expert and Jeabo? I think that is how it's spelt lol

    Both those makes are going to be cheaper than Aqua Forte and look almost identical to each other as they all come from the same factory in China apparently.

  7. #7
    Hi,

    (not sure how but I somehow deleted my response!)

    Thanks Frimley, I'll look at that one for starters.

    Out of interest, are you in the same Frimley local to me (I'm in Ash Vale, Surrey)?

    BiColorMoth - why might a barrel filter setup not handle the flow? I literally am an amateur with this stuff so just wondered what the restrictions were? Keen to get it right as much as possible (I appreciate there will be expensive lessons to learn)

    I'm at a point where I've brought the parts to do the DIY build (pipe, gate valves, ball valves, K1 media, barrels etc) but have barely started the assembly. I'm sure the parts will see use elsewhere in the build if not used for this, so if I need to have a rethink I will.

    The reason I favoured DIY was the flexibility of the layout and sizing, as I have quite a small area to locate all my filtration gear.... That and I liked the idea of a DIY system that I understood and could upgrade/rework in future years as my needs grow. I also sized up a Nexus as an off the shelf solution but it was just too big and awkward shaped for the space I have.

    Thanks so far!
    Last edited by RobWinter; 01-07-2020 at 07:18 PM.

  8. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Lol been there, done it and got the t shirt Rob lol

    That's modern technology for you lol

  9. #9
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    You are probably that close to me Rob you could have heard the fun sponge kicking off all afternoon because the internet was running a bit slow. It was like Gordon Ramsey was having a very bad day upstairs earlier lol

  10. #10
    Conversely, You can probably hear my wife shouting at our 3 kids then while I 'busy' myself building the pond... lol

  11. #11
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Lol she would have had to have been shouting via a very powerful PA system to drown out the fun sponge lol

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  13. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Frimley Koi keeper View Post
    It might be worth getting a 10000 lph variable speed pump and run it at about 50% so allowing for flow restrictions you would probably be flowing somewhere between 3000 to 4000 lph and if required you could also run the pump a bit quicker or slower. I think my 10000 lph pump runs from 30 to 100%.

    Mine is an Aqua Forte DM Vario. It's not the cheapest but it's a reasonably good pump. I got it from a company in Germany or Holland. I'll see if I can find the website for you later.

    Just looking into that one now.. £200 ish on Cotsworld Koi for the 10,000 where the non variable 3500lph version is about £100. .. Frim? what would be the benefit in a larger output but variable pump? just asking as I don't know! - Is it just that 10,000lph is more likely to be able to run the waterfall, return and UV all in one for instance? or is it simply the ability to power it down lower if needed to save on energy?

    Pond is only 7000l

    Also, reliability good for you so far?
    Last edited by RobWinter; 01-07-2020 at 08:27 PM.

  14. #13
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Nisai harryc's Avatar
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    If you want the Aquaforte Vario then have a look on Coastal Koi £152.

    The quoted rates are for a straight run which you will never have with pipe work.

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  16. #14
    Thanks Harry, That makes sense. So Variable gives me that extra head room that I may well need then, but also the option to turn down if I discover it's all fine.

    And also - Good spot on that price... plus discount. £150 all in. Happy with that, and in my budget. - Sold!

    Ok FrimleyKoi... If it turns out to be a rubbish pump, I'm going to roam around Frimley until I hear someone moaning loudly about crap broadband and knock on your door...lol
    Last edited by RobWinter; 01-07-2020 at 08:44 PM.

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  18. #15
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    Yes basically it's so you can either turn it down to work on your current system and then as you add to it like a shower etc you can turn it back up and jobs a good'en, no need to upgrade a few months down the line

    My one has been running for about 3 years now and so far so good. I like the controller because it shows some faults and also the wattage it is using so if you see the reading drop slightly it means the pump is not working as hard due to a flow restriction to it and if the reading starts to rise then it means it is blocking on the output side. Mine is pump fed not gravity so recently the reading was dropping and then I found the pump was covered in blanket weed. Cleaned it off and the reading goes back to normal

    The German or Dutch site was cheaper than most places even Allington for P&P.

    When I look for it on my laptop I'll be able to give you a link on here to it.

  19. #16
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Looks like you've got a good deal on that pump

  20. #17
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    The place I got mine from was Hanako Koi but their 10000 lph DM Vario is €227 which is about £180 so Coastal is a better bet

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  22. #18
    Thanks Frim for checking though!

    Glad I got a good price then!

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  24. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by RobWinter View Post
    Just looking into that one now.. £200 ish on Cotsworld Koi for the 10,000 where the non variable 3500lph version is about £100. .. Frim? what would be the benefit in a larger output but variable pump? just asking as I don't know! - Is it just that 10,000lph is more likely to be able to run the waterfall, return and UV all in one for instance? or is it simply the ability to power it down lower if needed to save on energy?

    Pond is only 7000l

    Also, reliability good for you so far?
    I'm running my 10000 lph pump on a 1000 gallon pond. That's about 4500 to 5000 litres.

    It's pump feeding an Eazy Pod but running through a UVC and a multi cyclone filter on the way to it so the flow losses are probably higher than yours would be on a gravity fed system. Well that's before you add the shower

  25. #20
    OK. Sounds in the right ball park then.. I'm hoping being gravity fe might help as well.. In my brain the water pressure is doing the work of filling the filters as quickly as the pump can push it out.. The other end.. And if its only pushing through the uv and the return pipes then hopefully not to bad in terms of restrictions.

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