Solar powered small pond pump

[iluvmybike]

Thinking of getting one to save cost of current mains powered one. It is only a very small pond - about 4 ft x 3ft. Any pointers as to a reliable make that won't be too costly?

 

[night cycler]

I cannot answer your specific question. In theory it is a good idea. However, the solar powered lights I see in gardens always seem to be very dim. My point is that even a small electric pump motor is going to need more juice than what a light bulb needs. I think you would need a decent enough solar panel.

Have you thought about making a small windmill, and rigging it up to the pump in some way? I made a windmill using a part from a flymo for the sail rotation, and a motor cycle wheel axil mounted in 2 small plumber block bearings for the house to rotate on.

 

[Ridgeway]

What is the pump doing ?

LPH, watts etc used would be required to know how much juice you’ll need and therefore size of solar panel. Keeping in mind it will only run during the day, is that an issue ?

 

[icowden]

This is a good article:
https://aquariumstoredepot.com/blogs/news/best-solar-powered-pond-pump

The main considerations are that the pump won't run at night unless you spend money on some sort of battery storage, and that you are going to have to find somewhere to put a fairly large solar panel.

 

[derrick]

Fitted a couple of cheap one's a year ago. Still working fine.

 

[night cycler]

OP,

Is the pump to airate the pond for fish? Or, is it to pump water around as a feature?

You can get a plug in timer so you save on elecfruc that way. If it is required for fish maybe on for 30 minutes and off for 2 hours. If it is for a feature maybe on from 10am to 6pm only

 

[iluvmybike]

No fish - we just like hearing the sound of trickling water when out in the garden. The pond is made from an old plastic water tank only about 2 ft deep and 3x2ft square. A solar panel could be mounted on the nearby shed roof which is south facing so good sunlight except early morning. Doesn't need to run at night.

 

[fossyant]

Just needs to be powerful enough to shift the water. I can't imagine a pump uses much power TBH.

 

[iluvmybike]

Just trying to save every penny of electric we can - lots of things are always on standby etc so it mounts up - our bill goes up next month from £87 per month to almost twice that. The rise in the State Pension this year is nowhere near enough to cover all the increases in everything so we'll save when we can and try to minimse our footprint where we can - hence the question about a solar powered pump

 

[icowden]

Sounds like a solar pump would be ideal for your situation.

https://www.primrose.co.uk/water-features/solar-water-features?type=34846

This place has them from £15.99 upwards. I'd decide how powerful a pump you need (you should be able to check what your existing pump is and get a similar spec) and then look at the reviews

 

[midlife]

We had a floating pond thing that was about the size of a side plate with a solar powered sprinkle affair. Was OK in sunlight and made the waterfall sound. Cheap as chips if I remember

 

[cheys03]

quick, easy and cheap option - play this on your phone

View: https://youtu.be/IvjMgVS6kng

job done

 

[night cycler]

@iluvmybike
What set up did you end up getting?

 

[iluvmybike]

@iluvmybike
What set up did you end up getting?

I haven't as yet - busy planning a possible revamp in th garden - so we may put in a wildlife friendly pond so we'd not really need a pump for that. Or we might build a different water feature... can't decide! Thanks for asking

 

[night cycler]

Ok. Let us know how you get on with the garden project. I'm currently revamping my back garden. It can be time consuming, and in my case labour intensive due to digging footings out and all that follows. I don't currently have a water feature at this but I like the idea.