My 8 x 12 INCHES is one hell of a small bale of straw. Something for a doll house. :-) The pictures at http://stillpondfarmstore.com/bastpr1.html show normal size bales. I guess your 8x12s didn't do much for you?
I just got my new electric bill. Been waiting for it with bated breath. :-) It's been a month now of continuous running and the extra cost is about $200 or 2000 kwh of extra use over this month vs last year's month. I think I'm running a pool pump as the installers didn't know about ponds or fish and used what they always use for pools and water features. I'll try to read the specs on the pump tomorrow but they told me it was a 2 horse pump. I'm also running a 5000 gph submersible pump bought from a pond place.
I suppose that's quite a bit of money but I have no idea what others are paying for their pond pump usage. Can somebody fill me in a little? I mean $437 per month for electric is a hit I wasn't expecting. We do have a hot tub running all the time but otherwise not much is going on here - electrically.
Fred
the greening of a pond
You are moving a lot of water, but WOW, that is a jump in the electric bill. Start with what you think is the pool pump. Compare watt usage with true pond pumps. PondMaster Mag Drive pumps are energy efficient, long wearing work horses that I highly reccommend.
http://www.pondliner.com/PondmasterPumps.htm
Price shop. Deals can be found.
Wow - that's a serious jump. I'm pumping about 5600 gph and my electric bill only rose about $20 a month. I do believe a pool pump is far less efficient than a good external pond pump. I have an artesian 1/3-56
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/performancepropumps.html
Fred were they using alot of electricity to build the pond? That is a hugh jump in your electric bill mind runs between $25-$50 a month more.
I have contractors here who are using various machines (saws, air nailers, etc) but I didn't think that they wold use all that much electricity. Besides, I turned the pumps on in this billing period. I have a feeling it's mostly in the 2HP pump. Here are the specs:
STA-RITE pump model #: P6RA6G-207L
Motor model #: C48M2PA100
HP 2.0
KW 1.5
Volts 230
RPM 3460
Phase 1
Hz 60
Code H
Max Load Amps 12.0
SF 1.1
Thermally Protected CET36ABM
Insul Class B
AMB 50
oC
Time Rate CONT
A.O. Smith EPC
Tipp City, OH 45371
Whatever all this gobbledegook means. Checking the manufacturer's web site gives me http://www.staritepool.com/pdf/S691(1-19-04).PDF
and it is a standard pool pump. Reading the instructions leave me wondering if I should complain and get a pump more suited to my needs in a pond. There is not a word about ponds in the manual. It's all about spas and pools.
It seems that this pump is pumping about 140-150 GPM (pump model F) in the specs: http://www.staritepool.com/specs/pool_maxepro_specs.htm at 20 feet head but I only have about 6 feet of head but lots of pipe from draw to the filter and back to another waterfall. So even if I only use 120 GPM that would translate into 7200 GPH or a little less than the pond volume. But the cost to get that volume seems out of sight if the lady from Merrimac, NH gets 5600 GPH for only 20 bucks a month. Something is definately wrong here.
I think I need to speak with a pond pump specialist and get some advice as to what to do.
Fred
PS while I'm at it here's a shot of all my electrical controls in my gazebo island for timers, low voltage transformers etc. I hid the whole mess. :-)
http://www.staritepool.com/pdf/S691(1-19-04).PDF
is the link I tried to post for the manual of my pump. Can't one point to pdf files here?
fred
I guess not. Let me try to post the link in plain English for cut and paste, then add www. in front:
staritepool.com/pdf/S691(1-19-04).PDF
I'm no expert, but I do recall reading in several different sources that swimming pool pumps are not the best choice for a pond. While that pump you have sounds like top of the line for a swimming pool, you would probably be better off going for an external pump designed for ponds. The cost of a new pump would pay for itself in a couple months in your electric bill.
Here's a quote I found regarding swimming pool pumps for ponds.
"First, a koi pond should not be plumbed like a swimming pool. A swimming pool uses a low volume, high pressure water system: Small pipes. Big pumps. Your pond should be low pressure, high volume, use pipe with an inside diameter of at least 2" going to the pump, and 1 1/2" to 2" or even greater diameter leaving the pump.
Low pressure, high volume is better achieved with a smaller pump than with the ones normally associated with swimming pools and spas. Realize, too, that the pump should run 24 hours a day. For most applications, if your pump requirement is greater than one-quarter horsepower, you probably have a plumbing or filter problem which should be rectified. In addition, the right pump, properly plumbed, can save 50 percent or more per month in electricity over the wrong one: "
here's the link if you want to read more. http://www.aquaart.com/pumps.html
Christina,
you've been a big help leading me to that site. I hired these guys who do water features for the most part in large developments around club houses etc. They didn't know from ponds and I directed as best I could. The blind leading the blind so to speak. They had some open time and gave me a good price to keep their people busy but the whole thing was rushed without me being able to really research all aspects of the construction. Like I expected them to know about pumps as I knew nothing in that direction. Most things I did OK as I followed Skippy's advice but they didn't say much about a pump. I think they recommended only submerged pumps. I wanted an out of pool pump and my contractor didn't think submersibles would last anyway. I can see where my pump will have to be changed lest I go bankrupt feeding he electric company.
:-) I can see that after my first bill. I have 2" pipe in and out of the present pump so that is OK. Maybe with a new pump I can work some UV lights into the mix. I'll contact AquaArt next week and discuss this with them.
Fred
Good move! (Submersibles last just as long as above ground pumps.)