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  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    what pumps to buy....

    Currently run a 10k and 20k Aqua Forte vario pumps for the BD / skimmer / x2 returns i was after some previous chats going to upgrade to a 20k and a 30k with a view that running them on less power would save on pump wear and tear and also energy consumption, have read through lots of older posts on here and elsewhere on the net i am a little unsure wether this is factual or not.
    Pond is 2100 / 2200 gallons summer i run the 20k around 65% at 95w and the 10k at 65% at 46w, lately i have slowed things down a touch as food has been slightly cut back and right now running the 20k at 50% @60w and the 10k 60% @42w.

    After reaserching it would seem a 30k pump would be overkill and not viable energy wise ? so now rethinking might go for 3 x 22k pumps either Jabeo / EA or Aqua Forte again, the 20k is beginning to wine and is quite audible at night.... is it fact that the 3 mentioned manufacturers are the same but with diffferent branding ?? does anyone actually know, from what i have read most are sine wave technology with ceramic shafts with cut off if blockage is sensed etc so spec wise all seem the same.... 3rd pump needed for when i get a shower.

    Can pumps be serviced ?

    thanks Steve.


    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

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  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartin View Post
    Currently run a 10k and 20k Aqua Forte vario pumps for the BD / skimmer / x2 returns i was after some previous chats going to upgrade to a 20k and a 30k with a view that running them on less power would save on pump wear and tear and also energy consumption, have read through lots of older posts on here and elsewhere on the net i am a little unsure wether this is factual or not.
    Pond is 2100 / 2200 gallons summer i run the 20k around 65% at 95w and the 10k at 65% at 46w, lately i have slowed things down a touch as food has been slightly cut back and right now running the 20k at 50% @60w and the 10k 60% @42w.

    After reaserching it would seem a 30k pump would be overkill and not viable energy wise ? so now rethinking might go for 3 x 22k pumps either Jabeo / EA or Aqua Forte again, the 20k is beginning to wine and is quite audible at night.... is it fact that the 3 mentioned manufacturers are the same but with diffferent branding ?? does anyone actually know, from what i have read most are sine wave technology with ceramic shafts with cut off if blockage is sensed etc so spec wise all seem the same.... 3rd pump needed for when i get a shower.

    Can pumps be serviced ?

    thanks Steve.
    pumps do need regular cleaning, depending on how hard/dirty your water is and if the impellors are becoming calcified
    you take out the impellor and clean/check if any lime scale soak in a solution of white vinegar or citric acid.
    the aquaforte prime varios have a 5 year guarantee but to qualify they have to be descaled every 4 weeks!

    have a look at the wattage of the different pumps EA, AF, mate
    the 30,000 Aquaforte is 335watts
    the 30,000 Evolution aqua is 450 watts
    also the 30,000 aquaforte min speed is about 130 watts iirc so you wouldn't be able to run it any slower.

    i'd rather run a pump at 40-80% rather than maxed out over 90% as it pushes the inverter and creates more heat.
    but 65% imo is fine...
    pipe diameter has a bigger influence on running costs there was a feature in one fo the koi magazines from a dutch guy,
    showing much better performance from 20,000 lph in 3" pipework than 2" due to restriction losses/mtr

    from page 64
    https://koinet.co.uk/koi-net/issue-3...ndex.html#p=65

    gives a guide to optimum pipe sizing,
    but those are for output so a 20,000 vario pump running 50% could be pipesized for 10,000lph

    Last edited by davethefish1; 12-10-2021 at 07:54 PM.

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  5. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    Good evening Dave,

    thanks for your reply and help mate, as usual very much appreciated..... i have never cleaned my pumps / removed impellors de scaled etc since installation
    Last edited by smartin; 12-10-2021 at 09:19 PM.
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

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  7. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
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    i just spent 10 minutes typing a 2 line response on my phone...
    and lost the whole damn thing in one fat fingered mis typed slip
    back on my PC

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  9. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartin View Post
    Good evening Dave,

    thanks for your reply and help mate, as usual very much appreciated..... i have never cleaned my pumps / removed impellors de scaled etc since installation

    it depends on how hard the pump is pushed and how hard the water is...

    if you pump the water a long way, with lots of bends, with a large lift, at near maximum speed.
    these can combine to dramatically reduce cooling water flow with the pump working flat out.
    this can cause the impellor to heat up and cause scale to form,
    which reduces speed and increases friction and heat which pushes the motor even harder and can cause the windings to short out over time.

    i've ran a 10,000 and 20,000 at about 70% for over a year each one,
    and didn't have any scale but did have a fair bit of slime/gunk build up on the impellor and inside the impellor well, when i did clean them.
    certainly doen't hurt cleaning to keep them working at thier best.
    just a PITA for most people due to how difficult they usually are to get at

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  11. #6
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion NickK-UK's Avatar
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    Airlift?

    If you're getting to that level of water throughput, then perhaps a hole in the ground for a water sump and an airlift would be more economical. A 4" airlift can shift 15-18,000lph plus in any situation there airlift will not burn out or wear out (the air pump may). The negatives are (a) need to have a long enough lift below the water line and (b) they aren't powerful thus need a reasonably low impedance to allow the gravity feed to push the water through. I've designed and builtin a dual 110mm airlift into my new pond with a consumption of 58W for 30-36,000lph. Compared to my 20,000lph EA varipump at 200W.

    Given the current energy price increases due over the next couple of years I suspect airlifts will become more popular than ever.
    14000l, my mutts: Chargoi (2010), Doitsu (2022), Tancho (2022), Kujaku (2022), Hi Utusri (2022)

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  13. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
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    Hi Nick,

    I certainly agree with you ref energy prices, my unit prices have doubled over the past few weeks as my energy deal recently ended, the pumps are used to draw down through the BD / skimmer / x2 returns, i am no expert regarding air lifts but cannot see how i can use one to replace the current pump / gravity set up as the pond is block and fiberglassed, from what i have seen the airlifts look super for water movement and aeration purposes...
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  14. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Adult Champion NickK-UK's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by smartin View Post
    Hi Nick,

    I certainly agree with you ref energy prices, my unit prices have doubled over the past few weeks as my energy deal recently ended, the pumps are used to draw down through the BD / skimmer / x2 returns, i am no expert regarding air lifts but cannot see how i can use one to replace the current pump / gravity set up as the pond is block and fiberglassed, from what i have seen the airlifts look super for water movement and aeration purposes...

    Not wanting to divert the current thread - I'll switch this to the 'airlift' thread I think: https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-constru...tem-using.html

    In short - it does require a little planning and adjustments. The main mechanism could be put anywhere although they work best on the final return. It's possible to create them in a number of ways.
    14000l, my mutts: Chargoi (2010), Doitsu (2022), Tancho (2022), Kujaku (2022), Hi Utusri (2022)

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