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Thread: Which pond vac?
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29-09-2020, 02:01 PM #1
Which pond vac?
Due to the limitations of my filters and drains etc. and not having the budget to upgrade at the moment, I'm considering a pond vac. Any recommendations or advice on the pros and cons, which to avoid, which to go for would be good.
There is a thread in the review section of the forum but there aren't many posts in there. I've checked out reviews on amazon and the like but I would prefer to hear the views of owners on here.
Thanks.
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29-09-2020, 02:37 PM #2
The Oase PondoVac range have always been a market leader but out of my price range. I'd recommend checking out this:
https://www.pondkeeper.co.uk/pondxpe...d-vacuum/p3599
£99, 2 year guarantee, 1400w.
I've got the predecessor to this and it's had a lot of use over 5.5 years. This model is a good upgrade with the wheels and bigger motor. If my vac gave out on me now, this is what I'd buy.
Pondkeeper have great customer service, frequent offers, and their in house Pond Xpert range are generally 'knock offs' of Oase and Pontec stuff at a fraction of the price! I've got the Oase PondoVac rolling brush head attachment and it fits my Vac perfectly. Think the brush cost something like £35. The whole vac was only £69 on special offer with a free pair of long arm pond gloves in May 2015.
The main difference between this budget vac and the Oase top specs is that it doesn't have continuous suck and blow. This means it'll suck up for about 2.5 mins, then stop to discharge, then start again. Not great if you want to use it to empty a pond, but perfectly good for cleaning and sludge removal.
Personally, it works better for me with the stop start operation as I get knackered and in pain very quickly hoovering the pond, so the frequent breaks are ideal
If you want to empty your pond quickly, I'd recommend a sump pump like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use this with 32mm flat hose:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Yell...cAAOSwTbVbKi24
And marine grade stainless steel jubilee clips:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jubilee-H...2.m2749.l46252
Just remember if you are using the sump when the fish are in the pond to do partial changes, always wrap a good wodge of sponge or something around the jubilee clip so your fish don't hurt themselves on it!
Sent from my SM-N910F using TapatalkLast edited by Koiz; 29-09-2020 at 02:44 PM.
11,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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jphamill Thanked / Liked this Post
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29-09-2020, 03:32 PM #3
Thanks for that Koiz. I was actually looking at the Pond Xpert one. It has an offer at them moment with the additional basket/collector. Do you have that as well?
Not planning on using it to drain the pond, more to syphon out a couple of areas of the filter and pond base where the much accumulates.
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Koiz Thanked / Liked this Post
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29-09-2020, 03:52 PM #4
It'll be perfect for that
I've never bothered with the collector. I have lengths of guttering downpipe that I put the discharge pipe into to direct the waste water onto my grass or down the main drain.
I also use a 2.5m length of 40mm pipe as an extension to the section hose as I find that easier to use than the segmental extenders that came with the vac. I can push on it really hard to scrub the bottom if necessary with less flexing. The extenders fit into the pipe so I can attach it to the hose and rolling brush, which was the only extra I bought as that's good for getting crud off the floor when you have an algae carpet. Used slowly you won't get so much debris rising up into the body of water and stop you seeing your progress. Working methodically back and forth in a grid pattern I can do my whole pond floor and shelf in about 25 mins.
It's no where near as expensive as I remembered it being (doh!), so worth a look:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oase-Pondov.../dp/B00CGY5UF8
But I'd just give the vac a try before buying any add ons as you may find it's perfect straight out the box
If you do decide to go for this vac, please let me know how you get on with it.
Thanks
Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk11,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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g mac Thanked / Liked this Post
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29-09-2020, 03:57 PM #5
i use a pontec vac, been using it twice a week for over a year now.
simple, reliable, reasonably robust.
not had any issues with it.
it's a bit of a pain waiting for it to drain between vacuuming cycles but it's not like it's in use for that long....
think i got mine from world of water for £89 on sale...
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29-09-2020, 04:07 PM #6
This is what my original PondXpert vac is like - pretty much a straight copy! The one thing I realy like about the new version is the wheels as I struggle to carry it from the shed to the pond. But, having said that, the way I use it now with my raised pond is by standing it on the front wall corner from where I can reach the whole pond with my pole so wheels may actually be a problem for that
I think if you have a pond that you'll want to walk around whilst hoovering then the wheels would be a big bonus. I wonder if you can lock them in place? That'd be perfect if you could!
Oooh - another tip if you go for either of these - the hoses and accessories don't store away on the hoover so if you're a neat freak (like me ) you'll want to keep the box for it all to go back into once dry.
Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk11,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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29-09-2020, 04:19 PM #7
Thanks for the tips and pointers, Dave and Koiz
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Koiz Thanked / Liked this Post
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29-09-2020, 04:57 PM #8
I bought an all singing and dancing oase 4 to discover its not for above ground ponds.
Going to be sold but its @ BT35 9RF
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29-09-2020, 05:02 PM #911,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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29-09-2020, 08:04 PM #10
Hi g Mac. If you are on a budget have you thought about building an airlift and putting a filter sock on the end?
This is a great way of sucking all the crud off the bottom, it's cheap to make, cheap to run and doesn't waste water.
I used an airlift in that setup today and it works a treat. The only limitation is basically the length of the air line.
So providing it's long enough you should be able to reach all areas of the pond, and can even just leave it running in the corner of the pond for a few hours for fines removal. Works a treat!
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window
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29-09-2020, 09:31 PM #11
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29-09-2020, 10:28 PM #12
Wickes do a wet and dry - under £40. Seriously good bit of kit - I know a lot of people who have them and they are seriously robust. Only has a small capacity but sucks like the proverbial.
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g mac Thanked / Liked this Post
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29-09-2020, 10:52 PM #13
If you want to make one and need any pointers on the bits you need to put one together i'd be happy to help.
In terms of the air pump it doesn't even need to be that powerful. A 40lpm rated air pump is all you need, but you can use a more powerful one if you don't have one rated that low.
I'm thinking of building another one, so if I want to vac the pond floor, or just want to leave it in the pond for a few hours to remove some fines it'll mean I won't have to turn off my main circulating pump.
Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window
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g mac Thanked / Liked this Post
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30-09-2020, 08:41 AM #14
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30-09-2020, 05:56 PM #15
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Koiz Thanked / Liked this Post
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30-09-2020, 06:09 PM #16
Agree It should work regardless of what type of pond you have.
I do find that mine performs way better if I stand it on the edge of my raised pond, ie its base is a bit above my waterline, but it's no hardship having it there. I do have to lift the intake hose up at the end of the suck to stop anything running back down due to gravity, but again it's no big deal and any hoover with a stop/start method will do this due to the depth of my pond.
Honestly can't see why the 4 version would not work
Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk11,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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01-10-2020, 10:38 AM #17
Apologies for the delay but the day job was being demanding re my attention. !
I cant position mine safely high enough . Ive tried it with the kids pool and in the pond( its a salt water pool so no high chlorine risks ! ) I dumps huge volumes.
When I use it the combo of siphon effect and a superb Oase pump it blasts water out more than cleaning the bead and nexus combined., I would also prefer to pipe the water back in once the debris is out of the pool, not so much with the pond.
I've gone back to the waft to bottom drain or net the leaves.
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Koiz Thanked / Liked this Post
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02-10-2020, 01:06 PM #18
Sad to hear this isn't working for you as that's a good bit of kit you've got there. Just in case this is food for thought, here are some photos of how our vac gets used. Even when we had the original hole in the ground, liner pond we stood the vac on a plastic garden table as it worked better for the discharge to be at an elevation (top left). You can see in the top right, that it's still being used on the table with the new pond, but on days when I'm doing just a clean and not a full strip down (with hubs), I stand the vac actually on the corner of the pond. It works really well.
You can get debris bags or discharge baskets to use with the waste pipe so you can pump the cleaned water straight back into the pond, but I tend to find that a clean of the floor and shelf takes out about 10% of water, so I just top up and that's my water change done too!
Anway, I had a right laugh at hubs expense looking for photos of how I use my vac so thought I'd put together a little montage to share. Just check out his expressions, bless him. It's such a minging job and he gets to go in the pond as I'm just too unsafe on my feet - a 'liability' as he calls it! My task is to manage the hoses and keep him smiling to take his mind off the freezing cold, green, stinking water
The Joy Of Ponds.jpg11,440L Raised Pond, BD, Oase ProfiClear, Bitron 55W, 2x10k Aquaforte Varios, Skimmer to Waterblade
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02-10-2020, 02:22 PM #19
Those are great pics Koiz
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Koiz Thanked / Liked this Post
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02-10-2020, 04:47 PM #20
Very open and sharing!
I might try once more before donedeal.com
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Koiz Thanked / Liked this Post
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pug has a very impressive veg filter on his pond, have a look at some of his his youtube videos....