Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Anybody out there using a Aqua Nova pump? Interested if there flow rates and consumption are close to claimed. Also have you found them to be reliable and trouble free?

http://www.rockaroundtheblock.com.au/po ... cable.html

They look good but often these type of pumps are dressed up.

I'm chasing the 15000 model which claims to consume only 135w and produce around 12,000L/HR at my 1.6m head.

Hi Muz.
I would also like to hear of anyones experience with them. I rang and spoke to them about a smaller pump, the Aqua Nova Eco 3,500. I was sceptical of there claims, 0 head at 3m, 25 watts ? ? ? coupled with the low price. However he insisted that they bench tested their pumps and stood by their claims. When I pressed him further about how these pumps could use about 20 to 30% less power than more expensive equivalents he just said "new technology".
In the end I got a pump thrown in with another purchase and didn't need one but I will give them a go in the future and keep a spare pump ready to go. Some time ago I think I read the entire "Pumps good and bad" and don't recall anyone reporting back on the reliability or not of this brand. They do have some good prices though, like the Aqua Nova UVC 18w for $134, looks exactly like the Pondmax uvc I paid $220 for a year ago.

Muz, if it really draws 135W at your desired flow rate and head, then it is a bit under 40% efficient, so it is certainly within the realms of the possible for a reasonably well designed pump. You will need to use large diameter pipes and keep bends to a minimum to get close to it though.

I also read the Pumps thread and couldn't find to much info regarding these pumps hence the questions.

I intend on upgrading the 50mm pipe to 90mm and with 45deg bends where possible to limit any flow losses. I'm more than happy with the Grundfos pump I've been running for the last 3-4 years except for the power consumption. It delivers 8000L/Hr at my head for 400w. We've just had solar installed on the shed and I'm trying to limit the power consumption of my system especially over night. Might even run a smaller pump overnight and and put the system into a limp mode so to speak until I'm producing on the solar. Got the PLC touch screen now so control is easy.

Bit more research before I invest in another pump.

Cheers

..
Rockaround.... just supplied me two Kintons pumps... the 5000 models. They are the original models at 112 bucks..
The new model draws more power and is much more in dollars..
I could not compare directly to the AquaNova stuff, but looking at models either side,there seems no real difference ..

The interesting suggestion was the Kintons was equal to the AN product.. one could speculate as to where each is made ...

So far so good..
..
.