Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Fountain pump
Magnetic drive pump
240 gph/hour lift @ 1ft
max pumping height 7.8 ft


Its still in the box and I could take it back for store credit if you all tell me there something better.

First we need to know what you want if for - both large volume and small volume pumps can be good (or bad) purely depending upon what their intended use is...

I expect that you will find that pump too small for all but the tiniest little system. I'm using a pump perhaps that size for my indoor aquarium system. A pump that size might, though it could be too small, be able to run a barrel ponics system with the flush tank.

Anyway, you want to figure out what kind of system you want. Is the pump going to run all the time? If so, a smaller volume pump may be appropriate. You still probably want it to pump the volume of your fish tank (at your planned head height) perhaps a couple times an hour. That pump will probably pump almost no water at 7.8 feet. If you are gonna have a 50 gallon fish tank, are pumping up only 3 feet, and running continuous using auto siphons for draining, that pump might do ya though there won't be any left over flow for extra aeration so you will probably also have to run an air pump with air stones to keep you fish in good shape just in case.

If you are going to use a timer, the pump should be able to pump 4-8 times the volume of the fish tank in an hour at the head you will be lifting.

And then here is a big note. If this system might expand to become a bigger system, then go even bigger on the pump.

Here is the financially important note, not all pumps are created equal, especially when you get to the bigger pumping capacities. Spend a bit extra on an energy efficient pump as it will save you lots of money on the electric bill, especially for pumps that run all the time or run often. One type of pump might only cost $100 but uses 1300 Watts while another energy efficient pump might cost $400 but use only 220 watts, which one is really cheaper? Also, avoid pumps that have oil in them that could leak and kill fish. And finally, a pump designed for continuous operation will last longer if not being turned on and off all the time and a pump not meant for continuous operation will likely burn out if left running 24/7 but is a better choice for timer control or float switch control.

Good luck now that I've given you too much info.

Thanks again TC!

4 gallons per minute... it could be used for a continuous flow or maybe better suited for in your fish tank to pump water though a water garden.

if you got a good deal on it comparatively speaking, then keep it for those times when its either that or manually bucketing water into your tray to keep your plants alive.