Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have had no luck regulating the flow of my GB's so that an auto-siphon kicks in and am ready to purchase a pump that can work on a timer instead.

I don't however, want to burn out a $100 pump every few months. My current pump is an underwater pond pump rated at about 1,000 gph. I see that many of you speak of using sump pumps. Do those work better when they are being turned on and off every half hour?

Other ideas?

Sump pumps have a flotation switch on them, they are designed to turn on at high level and off at low, so in theory they should handle the demands that you are after.
BTW i have a pond pump that has been running for well over five years, at one stage it was on a timer and was turned off/on every two hours, now it won't handle being turned off/on all the time, in fact prop needs a kick start to get it going, but once it is going it runs no worries

Hi RPPA,
I used a Sears Craftsman sump pump in my previous system all Summer turning on 15 minutes of every hour and it still works fine. I think those are $60? It is 1/6th HP. I plan to use it again this Summer.

It looks like this one:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... =sump+pump

I also have a Simer pump like what they show on their online store but it is 1/3 HP and pumps more than I need so I haven't used it for awhile.

BTW, I thought that anything with Craftsman brand on it could be returned for a replacement no questions asked, or is that just for tools?

Thanks Dave, that sounds perfect.

You sure you ant to give up on the autosiphon rp. Are you usign a look one or a bell one. My latest bell design (I call her bella) is pretty fool proof I reckon. I can't remember how you are running your system - do you want to give a quick summary or link me to it and maybe we can have one last shot at getting you working.

VB, thanks. I'll take some pictures and upload them. It will be a day or two.

Okay.

As a standby in a power blackout, can anyone recommend an above-ground petrol/diesel(/gasoline) pump? It would be handy in a bushfire also, because the power grid is usually turned off.

Shite - one of those would pump so much water it would be difficult to use in the system.

Also - I'm not sure how they are made, but would there be a risk of traces of oil/petrol finding their way into the water?

I wouldn't really know, but I doubt it, doesn't the petrol just drive the motor the same as electrcity would?

No, shouldn't be any chance of that unless it is very broken;) The engine drives the pump but the water doesn't go anywhere near the fuel.
Davey do a good little firefighter. But if you are going to use it to fight fire as well make sure you don't use any foam in the water or really flush the pump after using it. The surfactants in the foam will not be any good for the fish.
Might be a bit big for what you want tho, as VB said, they Roar the water out! and if you choke them down too much to reduce the flow, the water may heat up in the pump and cause damage.
You may be better off with a generator to run the 240v pump that you have.
Axl

Adrian,
Would like to look at my fire pump one afternoon?
I got it from Scope. Fred stands by his products and gives good service (as you know already)

Tony

Yes, Tony, I'd love to see.

Oh please ..... get a room guys