Solar powered pond pumps ! Any good for small pond ?

BADGER.BRAD

BADGER.BRAD

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Hello

I have just put a small pond in my garden and would like to put some sort of small filter on it ( pond about 30 gallons) and am wondering if a solar powered pond pump would work, Do you have any experience with them ? What do you think of them ? thanks all

Brad
 
They do work but you need to spend a lot of money to get one with a decent solar panel to power it.
It'll look quite intrusive on a pond that size.
Small pump / filters would be more efficient, if you can get power to the outside.
 
We have a solar powered fountain in our pond

This is the pond; its a bit under 3m x around 2m.

P1 by Dave Marley, on Flickr

and this is the pump -

www.powerbee.co.uk

Solar Pond Fountain - 8 Watts

Buy a Solar Pond Fountain - 8 Watts 980 LPH Aluminium Solar Panel Ideal for Small to Medium Ponds & Cascades Best Prices, Great Reviews, Free UK Delivery
www.powerbee.co.uk www.powerbee.co.uk

I took these two shots about 10 mins ago when the solar panel was in full sun and at present it is very sunny here.


p2 by Dave Marley, on Flickr

P3 by Dave Marley, on Flickr

The pump comes with a stake to hold the solar panel but as we have a lot of trees around the garden we haven't used it as we need to move the panel the catch the best of the sun.

The pump might be able to produce a fountain of 1m somewhere with very strong sun but the best we have seen is as in the photos - about 25 - 30cm.

I don't know if all solar powered fountains do this but covering even a small part of the panel drastically reduces the power.

The obvious drawback is the lack of flow in dull weather but as, I think, most aeration will be needed in the summer I don't think that is a big problem.

Dave
 
Solar powered fountains are fine for a small fountain but not to run a filter IMO. Ideally a filter needs to run continuously especially if its a biological one, something that can't be achieved by solar power unless the power is harnessed in a battery pack.
 
Oops, I've just read Neil's post above and realised the OP was asking about a solar powered filter, but I answered about a solar powered fountain - Doh!

Although I think a powerful solar pump would be fine for a filter during good weather, I can't see it working on dull days and during the darker parts of the year.

Dave
 
I have just discovered I have a small pump ( brand new) which I had thought I had thrown out in my last house move about three years ago. The only problem is I'm going to have to take all the slabs up on my patio ,get some plastic tubing to protect the cable ( maybe some cable, I'm not sure what I have) and dig a bit of a trench up one side of the garden. I think I have created quite a job for myself ! On the plus side I have noticed various Birds using the pond already.
 
Cancel the last comment the pump I have is 110 volt ! God knows where it came from !
 
Lots of garden electricals are 110V for safety. You might have a small transformer somewhere that was supplied with the pump.
 
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