Solar Pond Pump

Solar Power Pond Pump Buying Tips

A Solar Pond Pump can provide oxygen to your pond fish and serenity to your garden landscape. Tips for buying solar powered pond pumps.

Solar Water Pumps

Choose the right solar power pond pump for the job.

One solar pond pump does not fit all applications. The pump you choose will depend upon several factors and on how you intend to use it. Some solar powered pond pumps are designed for ponds that hold aquatic life, like fish, frogs etc. while others are better suited to fountain sprays and waterfalls.

If you're new to solar a solar power pond project is a great way to get your feet wet. Because most oxygenation, circulation or fountain applications require only a panel/pump/cable system it's easy and relatively inexpensive to get set up. These basic systems pump water only when the sun shines but require fewer components, cost less and need less maintenance than other solar applications.

Solar Pond Pump Applications

• Pond Oxygenation for plant and fish health. Make sure the pump is designed for aquatic life.
• Circulation of pond water to discourage hatching of mosquitoes.
• Inhibit algae growth.
• Fountain display.
• Waterfall feature
• Irrigation ~ Distributing pond water over gardens, trees and other landscape features.

Advantages of a Solar Pond Pump

• No energy cost to run.
• Longer life than AC pumps.
• You can use a smaller DC pump (1/2 hp DC pump will replace a 1 hp AC pump).
• Solar powered pond pumps are designed to work with solar panels. Although you can run an AC pump with solar you'd need to double the amount of available wattage to get similar results.
• Environmentally benign.

Disadvantages of a Solar Pond Pump

• Solar powered pond pumps are more expensive than AC pumps.
• A solar pump has a lower flow capability than an AC pump.
• Without the addition of batteries and control equipment a solar system will function only when the sun is shining.

Size Your Solar Pond Pump

Some applications require more velocity...more velocity requires more power. Match your solar panel to the pump. Although neither the pump nor the panel are cheap acquisitions they can be expected to last for many years with minimal maintenance and no energy expense.

Simple oxygenation and circulation can be achieved with lower velocity while a spouting fountain will need a larger pump and panel. Size the system so that that the highest load the panel can achieve can not overcharge and damage your pump... or add a flow control valve which will prevent overloading.

Solar Pond Pump Buying Tips

• Shop around - prices for the same solar pond pumps vary by hundreds of dollars depending where you buy them.
• When buying online calculate shipping costs as part of the price of the pump.
• Remember that the company will quote a "best case scenario" value when advertising spray height and GPH capacities. Which means, sunny location, mid day, ideal latitude.
• If your pond will be a home for fish and other aquatic life ensure that the pump you choose has a screen or other barrier that prevents the fish from being sucked into the workings which can damage the pump ~ the fish don't like it much either.
• If you want the pump to push the water through a filter, add more power.
• When adding a fountain spout to a solar power pond pump system that doesn't have battery backup choose a spray pattern that looks good even at times when it's not fully powered. A jet type fountain loses height when power to the pump falls off but can still maintain a lovely fountain look. Bell types lose their bell shape and are not attractive at times when pump velocity decreases.

Solar Pond Pump Maintenance

• Open the pump occasionally (or if you notice a reduction in water movement) to clear accumulated debris from the workings.
• The solar panel should be wiped free of dust, bird droppings and other matter periodically. Use a damp cloth then wipe dry with a soft dry cloth for a streak free surface that allows the sun uninterupted access.
• If the panel is submerged beneath the water the clarity of the water and mineral deposits that accumulate over time will effect the functionality of the pump.

Many kits are available on the market that combine a pump with a panel

A solar powered pond pump (DC pump) is very efficiently designed and will require a smaller solar panel to run it than an AC pump of the same size would require. It is possible to run an AC pump on solar energy but it's very impractical. The energy collected by the solar panels is DC energy and in order to power an AC pump the DC energy must first be routed through an inverter that will convert it to AC, adding another component and complicating an otherwise simple system.

~ Cost Estimates ~

Expect to spend between $75 and $500 USD for a solar power pond pump and panel combination suitable for a back yard pond. For larger displays you can spend thousands of dollars (the sky's the limit) and small floating fountains can be had for under $50.

Prices are all over the map, even when looking at identical systems so shop carefully for the best deals. Here are some examples.

For small ponds you can get a 3 Watt Solar Powered Water Fountain Pump for under $70.00.

Pump and 5W panel costs under $150 USD

For ponds bigger than 2 feet deep by 4 feet in diameter choose a pond pump with more serious power. Nautilus 70 combined with a 10W panel have displayed sale prices under $200.00 up to as much as $400.00 US. Under ideal conditions spray height can reach 2 meters.

Nautilus 140 combined with a 20 watt solar panel. On sale for $300.00 US up to $530.00 Spray height can reach 3 meters.

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