How do you stop a pond pump from getting clogged?

Just a quick video where I talk about the different ways that I prevent my pond pumps from becoming blocked.

[paull.]

I never thought about the pond being drained if there is a leak. Will have to elevate my pump, thanks!

[paulc]

I built a pond last year and followed all your ideas. It's working and looking great, thanks Kev. The only issue I was having was this one and I've tried many methods for keeping the pump from clogging particularly when a Casuarina is growing close to the pond and is always dropping its fine leaves. I'm finding my method now means I'm only cleaning minimal debris once a month. I created a wide rock wall, (with vaious sized rocks), around the pump bucket which catches a lot of debris then I fitted a course thick filter around the rim of the bucket to catch any fine material. I have the pump sitting in a 20 litre bucket, (with holes drilled in it as you suggested), with nothing wrapped around pump and no filter material in the bucket. I have a cover on the bucket. I get minimal material in the bucket and maximum flow. Thanks again, cheers

[eltonblackley]

I recently converted to a Bog Filter with great success. The pump I use is Davey DynaPond 7000. It is placed above the bottom of the pond by around 50mm. This is the second pump of this type as the older one lasted ten years of constant running.
However thinking I was smart I replaced it with a Pond One Manta Ray Magnetic Drive pump. I found its performance not up to spec and the motor lasted about 9 months.
Hence I paid extra and brought a pump that will give good service.
I think the answer is to have the pump off the bottom.
Really enjoy your videos Learn so much from them.

[zzman]

My pump came with a mesh bag you put the pump in. Does a good job and just have to occasionally rinse the bag off to clean any sticking debris.

[andrewmacfall]

You my friend are a legend…. i love your ponds work and especially your explanations. Thank you

[notmars]

I can’t wait to try this fix. Thank you!

[sweetkoiyo]

Hi Kev. Wrapping the floss around the pump is like having an EZ Bio filter. Bravo! Brilliant.

[MandyJane]

Those are great ideas! I am currently using the burrito method on my pump, but I've ordered some bigger pieces of course filter sponge and I was thinking about using a plastic milk crate to make a pre-filter I can set the pump down inside of. I also have tons of empty plant pots, and I didn't even think about using one of those. It might be easier than the milk crate. I need to find a way to keep the snails out, but they lay eggs on everything and the tiny ones get inside everything, then they grow up there and die. I love snails, but I am beginning to think about feeding them to my chickens. lol

[michealadderley]

Another good video that will help people as all of yours have, I'm making alterations to my pond this year and will be adding a intake bay skimmer using an olive type barrel similar to yours on the dream pond, bit to risky weather conditions ATM in UK to move my koi out into swimming pool while work is carried out and bigger liner installed,

[nccrousefamilychannel]

Great video. One technique I’ve used is to set the pump on a timer that turns the pump off periodically (like 5 minutes of every hour) which allows the material that has collected on the filter (which would clog it) to be released back into the pond.

[johnbarr]

Great video Kev, I picked up some great ideas from it, especially the overflow box set up . Thanks....

[kateeveritt]

I use a mesh bag with drawstring made for pond pumps. They’re available from Amazon and work brilliantly.

[hfestion.]

❤with this video you solved a very big problem for me. thank you very much❤

[CowleysShiz]

Its a great tip this, after watching this video, i welded a cylinder frame together in work, that slots over the filter basket of my pump, then cable tied a filter sponge sheet around it. It was an absolute treat so thanks for that 👍

[cravena-chat]

Latest issue is water temperature.. trout like cold and summer gives me grief. Maybe a feature on how to keep temps up or down may be handy. Keep up the life bud. Your doing great work

[cravena-chat]

Great content. I check out your builds with interest and have followed some ideas. I placed my big pump in a milk crate with rocks on the bottom to keep pump up of the bottom. It still blocked fairly quick. So now i put the whole thing in a large hessian bag. Its been a few weeks now might be ok, we will see

[MrMilord]

Hi, really informative thanks! Could you advise me about what pond vac to use to clean the bottom of a bog filter, rounf the water inlet pipe?

[silicondave]

I have had good luck with Beckett brand submersible pond pumps. They have have a cone with sponge that goes infront of the water inlet. Also possible to use the housing screws to mount a larger pre filter than what it comes with. Same general idea as my other cartridge filter. Filter media inside 4 in drain pipe. connected to the pump. Similar to your setup at 5 min mark.
Thanks for the watch. Make a great weekend !

[ARTificialDreams]

My best working pond was a pond with an overflow into a large gravelarea with many plants (basically a 'gravel'-river going though the garden with many reed and big plants growing like crazy) where the aim is to slow the water (!) and absorb all debrie from the pond. At the end of this, there is a pump pumping it back when the water reached a a certain height. Basically there was a tide in the gravel area to supply air to the roots to my plants that way. The pump pumped the water back into a high elevated waterwall area, which on timer backwards flushed and cleaned the pump area. With this setup, there is no risk that the pond or waterwall would empty or overflow in times of draught or overspill or pumpmalfunction. The only maintenance I had was to trim and prune the prolific growth in the gravel area. Which is something I like to do while working in my garden as sparetime. You can easily upscale this idea and consider pardt of the garden as 'gravelarea' and basically you have a permaculture watersystem with integrated pond.

[jeffreydickson]

A simple method I use on the pump that recirculates water in my hydroponic garden circuit is simply to enclosed the pump in a one gallon paint strainer bag. Simple, Cheap, easily replaceable and lasts a season. washable if you are really frugal. Not sure about ponp application but almost no cost to give it a try.