Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have a submersible pond pump and the filter keep plugging up on me....Can I run without the filter?

Yes, just make sure that nothing big can get sucked into it.

cool....thanks

Although many pumps may survive running without a filter, I would still recommend using some sort of strainer that will prevent the larger, more damaging pieces of debris from being sucked into the pump. E.g. with my pump, I use a length of PVC pipe with lots of 3mm holes drilled in it; the small bits of fish-gunk etc pass through and are macerated by the pump whilst fallen leaves and other larger debris cannot, therefore they cannot damage the pump.


Scott

Yea the foam filter sponge tend to get clogged up with the fish poo so are generally useless for AP. But you do need a grill of some sort to keep the leaves, pebbles, sticks, and whatnot from wedging into the pump and killing it. Many pumps already have a grill of sorts that holds the sponge, just remove the sponge and things might be fine or it might be even better to wrap some netting around the outside of the grill or place the whole pump in a mesh bag to keep small fish away too.

yeah, it has a grill that held the filter. I honestly thought that the sponge filter was course enough to let the poo through. Still learning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!