Frequently Asked Questions

Pumps

Why do i need a Pump?
Ponds require water movement to maintain a healthy, well-balanced pond or to create an impressive water feature. Moving water can offer benefits to any type of water feature in the form of recirculation, aeration, and ornamentation. The best way to move water in a pond is by installing a pump. Even if your pond is solely ornamental, a pump will be required to prevent stagnation, inhibit algae growth, inhibit insect pests, and to power a decorative water display. Stagnant water tends to have a distinctive, unpleasant scent, which is generally undesirable for an ornamental pond. Streams, waterfalls, fountains, and spitters all require a pump.

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What's so special about pond pumps?
Pond pumps are designed to run continuously, have lower power consumption than pool or sump pumps, are compact and submersible.

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Are pond pumps safe?
Yes, pond pumps have been around for many years without problems or safety concerns and we would not be allowed to sell them if they weren’t safe. As a safety precaution we always recommend a safety switch be installed on the house.

Also that all water based electrical equipment should be unplugged before water gardeners immerse any part of their body in the water or clean a filter or UV Light.

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Do i need an electrician to install my pump?
No, not at all, they are a standard electrical product that needs to be plugged into a weatherproof switch if being used outdoors.

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Are there different types of pond pumps?
Yes, depending on your needs there are several application specific pumps available such as fountain, water feature and filtration pumps

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Why can't I use my old swimming pool pump?
We do not recommend it, as most pool pumps are not rated to run continuously, have more moving parts and have very high power consumption therefore very high running costs.

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How much do pond pumps cost to run?
Pond pumps have a very low power consumption and therefore cost very little to run. As a general guide for every watt of power they will cost roughly $1 a watt per year to run 24 hours, 7 days a week. Eg. 80 watts = $80 per year in running costs. This is an approximation only and will vary between areas. Please check with your local power authority for confirmation.

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Are pond pumps noisy?
High quality pumps such as Oase are silent. Mid range pumps such as Eden are very quiet but as you go down in price the noisier a pump becomes. Some pumps can be easily heard in a shop display but sometimes the noise can be hidden by surrounding sounds. Ask your retailer how noisy the pump is before you buy and remember the rule of thumb – the cheaper the pump the noisier it is likely to be.

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Do i need to clean my pond pump?
Yes, all pond pumps require maintenance and cleaning from time to time depending on the water quality. Pumps with pre filters will require more maintenance as the filters do clog up easily and restrict the performance of the pump. Always ask your retailer to show you how to clean the pump before you buy it.

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Can i run my pump outside of the pond?
Some pumps can but we recommend using them as they were designed – submersed in water. This will enable the pump to run at a cooler temperature. Pumps that can be run outside of the pond will need to be situated below the water level and be gravity fed as no pond pump can suck water upwards. Most of the Oase range of pumps can be run out of the pond but ask your retailer before purchasing to make sure.

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How do i clean my pump?
For pumps with pre filters you will need to remove the pre filter from the front of the pump, rinse out the filter and also check and clean the impellor inside the pump. For those pumps with a cage design like Oase, you will need to wipe any leaves or build up off the cage and open the cage and check the pump and impellor every now and then. Always ask your retailer to show you how to clean the pump before you buy it.

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Will my pump keep the water clean?
No, it will definitely help by turning over and oxygenating the water but at some point you will need the help of filtration or treatments to keep your water clean. The sponge filters that are found on some pumps are not capable of keeping water clean, they are only there to protect the moving impellor from particle damage.

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Can i use my pump in salt water?
No, as a general rule. The majority of pond pumps on the market cannot be used in salt water as the salt builds up on the impellor which can cause damage to both the pump and impellor and this would not be covered under warranty. You would have to specifically ask for a pump that is rated to be used in salt water such as our Eden range of pumps.

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How many hours a day should I run my pump?
You should always run your pump 24/7 to ensure good water quality and prevent stagnant water which will allow mosquito’s to breed. This is especially important if you have fish in your pond as stopping the circulation will reduce oxygen levels in the pond and may lead to fish kills.

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My pump isnt working, what should i do?
First turn off the power, then check the pump and impellor and clean if necessary. If it is still not working or damaged then return the pump to your place of purchase and have them check it. If your retailer cannot fix the pump then return it to Clearpond to be assessed for repairs or warranty.

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Can i repair my pond pump?
If it is a damaged impellor, yes you can purchase another one and replace this but otherwise you would not be able to fix any other problems that may occur and it is best to return it to your place of purchase to be assessed and repaired if possible buy our qualified technicians. Attempting repairs yourself will void the warranty.

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I don't want to see the cord coming out of my pond, how can i hide it?
If the cord cannot be concealed using the natural materials around the pond such as rocks and garden beds, you can use products such as the Oase Tradux which is a cable transition that allows you to pass the cable through the wall of the pond with a water proof seal rather than over the edge. The Oase Tradux does this without the need to cut the plug off the pump.

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Can I cut the cord on my pump?
We allow plugs to be cut and replaced if necessary, but for safety and warranty purposes we do not allow you to shorten the cord. We recommend a qualified electrician performs any electrical work but do not permit shortening of cords even if done by an electrician.

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What happens if i forget to top up my water feature and my pump runs dry?
This will depend on whether your pump has a thermal safety switch or not. Quality pumps such as Oase will have a thermal safety switch built in, this is a safety mechanism that will turn the pump off and protect it if it overheats. Pumps without a thermal safety switch will traditionally burn themselves out when they are run dry and overheat, once this occurs you will notice a warping of the pump at which point the pumps will no longer work, are irrepairable and would not be covered under warranty.

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Why do pond pumps vary so much in price?
With price comes quality, the more expensive pumps such as Oase will have more features and benefits such as thermal safety switches, lower power consumption, silence, reliability and reduced maintenance through the use of cages rather than foam pre filters all backed by a longer warranty period. The cheaper pond pumps are traditionally very basic, have higher power consumption, are less reliable and have a shorter warranty. Generally speaking, European pumps such as Oase (Germany) and Eden (Italy) are made to higher quality standards than Asian pumps. “You get what you pay for”.

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What should i consider when buying a pump?
- The application. - Running costs. - Submersible or External running. - Safety of a thermal safety switch. - Maintenance - Quiet/Silent - Reliability - Extended Warranty

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What is so special about Oase pond pumps?
Oase (Germany) are the world leader’s in pond technology, their pumps and other pond products are scientifically tested and proven prior to release on the market so you can be safe in the knowledge that they work and are reliable. The main benefits of the Oase pumps are, lowest power consumption on the market, they’re silent, have a thermal safety switch to prevent overheating, they’re application specific, require little maintenance and come with a 5 year warranty including the impellor.

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How do i select a pond pump?
The question is largely dependent on your needs, you must decide whether the pump will be used for filtration, a water feature or to decorate a pond with a fountain. Once you have established the application of the pump you will then need to determine the size of the pump you require, this is best done by visiting one of our Oase dealers to get the right advice.

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What does head height mean?
Head height is the maximum height to which a pump can push water, at this height the pump will only produce a trickle.

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Does the hose affect the pump?
Yes, the larger the hose you use the more flow you will allow the pump to produce, the smaller the hose the more friction loss or restriction you place on the pump and the less water you will produce.

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What type of hose should i use?
The best hose to use is Clearpond’s Pondflex Black hose which is a black corrugated, flexible, non kink hose which comes in a range of sizes from 13mm through to 76mm.

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Will the pump harm my fish?
Definitely not, a pump will actually help improve the health of your fish by turning over the water and improving the water quality in your pond.

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Can I use my pump in chlorinated water?
No, pond pumps cannot be used in chlorine as the chlorine calcifies on the impellor which can cause damage to both the pump and impellor and will void any warranty claim. Pump friendly water treatments such as Clearpond Feature Clean will have the same effect as chlorine without damaging the pump.

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Can I hard wire my pump into the power supply?
Yes you can but remember you will always need to remove the pump from the pond for cleaning, repair or replacement so always keep this in mind when installing pumps or any pond equipment. Always make your equipment easy to remove.

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