Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Guys,

I notice that a lot of people are using the AquaPro pond pumps. I was looking at buying one on the weekend and I noticed it comes with a little sponge filter.
Just wondering what those of you not using PIST, do you have to constantly maintain this filter due to the fish solids? Do those using PIST also have to maintain a sponge filter for the particles that do make it down?

No need for the sponge. It is likely to get blocked and cause you problems. You want the solids pumped to the growbed where they should remain and breakdown for use by the plants.

Yep, throw it away

+1

...and depending on what size of pump you require, IMO you are better off with a dirty water pump, they don't have filters and will handle solids to 6mm. AquaPro do them, they start from 3000Lph from memory.

gday ive been wondering this myself for a while... i have the aquapro 1000 from bunnings..

I shall take the filter out then!

I am not sure the 1000 is a dirty water pump. Make sure you check first. They have 'DW' after the model number.

I think the only real difference between dirty water pond pumps, and any other pond pump, is the size of the holes in the outer casing. A lot of the internals are identical in all the pumps.

As far as dirty water pumps are concerned I've only ever dealt with the AquaPro brand and in that range the impellors, shafts and motors are entirely different from the standard pond pumps, as is their output, max head and wattage used. That's why there's such a price difference.

Don't quote me on the names, but the DW pumps have what I think is called a vortex impellor, with curved blades that look like the logo on a weather map that denotes a cyclone... and the other has a radial impellor, so straight blades radiating outfrom the centre of the impellor.

As for performance, here's the specs on both the AquaPro AP3000DW and standard AquaPro AP3000:

AP3000DW:

Max Flow: 3000Lph
Flow @ 1m: 1680Lph
Max Head: 2.5m
Wattage: 35w

AP3000:

Max Flow: 3000Lph
Flow @ 1m: 1900Lph
Max Head: 3.0m
Wattage: 75w

must be an awfully big difference in impeller design to have that change in wattage...not much improved head either..

Perhaps the extra wattage is needed to turn the curved blades against the water... to acheive the extra volume and head...

It's the standard pump with the straight blades that has the higher wattage motor Rupe.

Ok... there goes that theory then...

I guess the curved blades require less wattage to overcome the resistance of the water then...

ill take my filter out. The plastic cover that comes with the pump has small enough grill to stop little bits of sinking expanded clay jamming the impeller.


Ill see how we go.. the pumps like 40 dollars so pretty cheap.

Thanks for the response. I'll pay attention to whether its dirty water or not. I learned on the weekend that my local CRT sells IBCs for $150 (they held gypsum) so I might be able to do a chift pist afterall. Took a few things to cash converters, few more things on eBAY. If I didn't take such a heavy depreciation hit there'd be something nice about feeding a new hobby with the remains of previous hobbies.