Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I'm looking to purchase a pump or pumps for my Aquaponic Swimming Pool and would appreciate comments and suggestions (other pumps if you know any). The table below outlines the pumps that I think are suitable based on the following requirements:

Requirements:

Power: < 120 Watts (the lower the better)
Flow: ~ 5,000 lph
Type: In-line (i.e. not a submersible pump)
Head: 1.0m (actual head will be ~0.6 m but allowing for fittings it will be closer to 1.0 m)

The table shows smaller pumps at the top and larger pumps at the bottom. The idea is that I could use 2 smaller pumps or 1 larger pump. The obvious advantage with having 2 smaller pumps is that if one fails the system can still tick over whilst a replacement is found.

The other bigger advantage that I can see with having 2 pumps is that at certain times of the year I may be able to turn one off at night time (i.e. winter), when the load is lower. This is more to reduced power consumption than anything else.


RB - http://www.rockaroundtheblock.com.au
CP - http://www.creativepumps.com.au

The standout pump is the Tornado Jebao 3000. Its flowrate to power ratio is considerably higher than any other pump, but I've got to wonder if it really performs that well. I could literally use 3 of these and it would blitz all other combinations.

The Oase pumps are good performers, but are also the most expensive. However, their 5 year warranty has to be considered, as replacement of cheaper pumps may actually end up costing more.

I would appreciate comments regarding anyone's experience with the above brands of pumps as well.

TIA.

EXPENSIVE!!!!,,,yep I yelled in shock.

I saw some resun pumps on ebay,I'll look again.

Thanks Chappo. Most of the real cheapies that I've seen tend to have a high power usage to match the low price point

Aren't most of those listed "submersibles" not "in-line" pumps.....

Don't forget you may have to deal with solids up to 10mm +

Resun have a good reputationfor quite a number of years,.....,

AHH quick search on ebay came up with thsi beauty,,
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/6000lph-Resun-Wa ... dZViewItem
This model uses 130Watts but also pumps 6,000 litres an hours,,

I'll check for some smaller ones.

That is of course a submersible.

Head is often an issue. Some pumps capacity drops off very steeply after a meter (or less sometimes).

Yes and no - but no is the real answer. All those listed can be configured as in-line (at least that's what the sales pitch says).


Good point Rup, I'll recheck, but I'm pretty sure they all do 8mm, some 10mm.

Must be a pretty big fish that does a 10 mm sh;;t

It is, but it can be configured as an in-line pump (all resun's can be apparently).

Comparitive stats for it aren't as good as those listed for flowrate to power ratio:

Flow: 4900 lph @ 1.0m
Cost: $131.80 (RB) currently marked down from $214 for comparison (wonder why they have them marked down )
Power: 130 Watts

Note: I have deliberatly not gone looking for the cheapest price in the table above - I'm more interested in a comparative price.

and the shits are not really solid anyway.

Unless there been eating peanuts its likley to break up

I've added columns for Solids size, Inlet size and Outlet size. The last two I think are indicative of what the pump can actually handle in relation to flow.

Dependy on the setup you decide apon the pump in my system runs about 6 min every hr about $40.00 a year others run 24/7 so a low watt one would be better

Now your pump F&F is a true in-line pump.... still reckon most of the PondMate and Resun pumps are submersibles...