I'm building a pond that uses raceway theory to raise a few fish, just for fun.

The pump will need to move around 14,400-28,000 gallons/day.
The head will be 10 feet.
I'd like it to be somewhat quiet.
I'd like it to be EXTREMELY reliable and low maintenance.

I can provide any type of electrical service necessary. The electrician is coming out next week.

Any suggestions?

Bruce, can you explain that in a little more detail for a newbe like me, and maybe others that might be interested?

Thanks!

Bruce look at these SRAC fact sheets and see if they help.

https://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm/event/CategoryDetails/whichcategory/24/

Raceway theory is "Keep the water fresh and moving". Basically it's high-level replacement rates.

Is the suction (inlet to the pump) flooded?

In addition to that, what are the dimensions, depth, proximity to current pond and I assume you're using the water from your existing pond?

Such as, being pumped in one end of the raceway and exiting back in to your existing pond, via a below surface screened outlet?

Thanks, I'm just trying to get a mental image of your idea.

PS - sorry to get off-topic

Can you reduce the head and use air to move the water instead? Would save you a lot on energy costs and would aerate the water at the same time.

Pumping water through a raceway is very inefficient not to mention how much water is used.

If you're using the lake how about a floating raceway using a linear air pump you can barely hear?

I might be not understanding this perfectly.

I'm saying "yes", but I'm not sure how else it could be done. I just assumed there would be an inlet hose suspended off the end of my dock. I was planning on drawing water that was three feet or so below the surface.

That is correct.

Possibly, but I'd still have to replace the water periodically. I've considered this possibility.

Bruce, do I have this right?

3' suction to the pump (this rules out using a submersible pump).

10' elevation rise past the pump.

up to 28,000 gallons per day (19 gpm or 1166 gph).

I would look into the specs of the shallow well pumps. Put it in an enclosure at the pond, use some sound deadening material and make sure there is plenty of ventilation for keeping the motor cool. Lowes, Menards, Home Depot.

If your raceway is eight or nine feet up from the lake an airlift is not an option.

JKB is the man to ask about efficient water pumps...

Looks like Scott (Esshup) knows a bit about it too.

Just browsing pumps. Looks like any of the 1/2 hp self priming centrifugal pumps would be more than adequate. May need a foot valve on some. I didn't look at any Chinese stuff

I would go with mag drive for reliability. Here's an example: http://www.iwakiamerica.com/products/SMX.htm

I'm not suggesting you buy this, it's just an example.

You could also hang a submersible pump off your dock, but you'll need one that has a continuous duty cycle (means it can run 100% of the time) They do make submersible pumps for Aquaculture/Irrigation that you can just drop in a river or lake, but they are a bit pricy.

What I would do here is too complicated for a short term setup. If it's gonna run for years and needs to be as energy efficient as possible as well as reliable, then I have other considerations.

Sounds like fun tho!

A submersible pond pump hanging off your dock would be the easiest thing.

I've used sump pumps mounted inside a five gallon bucket, that I got from a local big box store to drain my ponds. Doubt they are rated for continuous use and may not be very efficient though. JKB?

Stoney Creek Equipment Company, an advertiser on the site, has a line of pumps as does Pentair/AES.

Any of the pumps rated for continuous use for waterfalls in Koi ponds would work.

Cecil, we're a distributor for Stoney Creek, and that's the first place that I looked for pump specs. None of the pumps (non submersible as Bruce said it was 3' from the water to the pump) were small enough for Bruces needs. All pumped way more water than what he needs.

Completely unrelated post here but thank you for mentioning the raceway system. Explained a question I have long had about why a series of ponds was named what it was in a place that I hunt. Always baffled me.

Yeah, those are just for temporary applications. Not something you need to be reliable.

I'm really liking those Iwaki pumps tho. Two of the 1HP pumps, 22X and 44Y would only require a fraction of the consumed watts to pull off Bruce's gig, as the 1/2HP would be going balls to the wall.

The charts most post are for fairly decent estimation. If it's a real project, then the flood gates of info will open.

Too many inquiring minds on the internet that muck up the works.

I would like to see that 98.1% efficient single phase motor.

I guess I missed the part about it had to be non-submersible. IMHO non-submersible is not the way to go if one wants a quiet pump.

That's why I suggested a shallow well pump. In places where they still have shallow 2" wells, some houses have the pump and bladder tank in the basement. They're pretty durn quiet.

JKB, I'll show you the pump. No guarantees that it IS 98.1% tho.....

All this discussion is good for me. It makes me seriously consider all possibilities. I'm even thinking of having horizontal circulation in the pond, then using a gas transfer pump to empty it, then refill it twice a month. I won't have very high fish density in it. It would sure save me money...and I'm not sure it would add to the overall maintenance requirements.

Bruce,

You mentioned a fishing thing where kids could fish. Are you sure the fish would be receptive in a tank/raceway situation? I've seen fish that won't bite in those situations and get spooky when people get around the tank. Especially fish that are not used to confinement.

I figured at 70 feet long, 14 feet wide and 3 feet deep, the fish would be unaware of our presence.

Bruce,

What kind of monsters do you plan to raise in there?

I thought maybe big trout in the fall/winter/spring would be a blast for my nephews and nieces to catch!

So this may be a long term setup then?

I think It would be great! Be fun for you to catch too

Why not just stock them in the lake in the fall? Very easy to catch as you know. Ice fishing for trout is a blast too. If you want to keep rhem near your pier just feed them.

You're right. I'll bet I would not be able to resist the occasional cast into a trout pond.

Yes, the intent is to make it a permanent feature. If you PM me your cell number sometime, JKB I could text you some of the photos and videos of the site.

I think it's more about trying new things and not being so blah on that everything is in one puddle. Hey, I got Trout here, let's do this, bass are that way! Kinda thing.

You do the same thing with your ponds Cecil. This fish here, that one there...

Bruce,

My apologies if I sounded negative. That was not my intention. I have a tendency to play devil's advocate at times.

Why not just post the pics here? I'm not much into texting.

A gal (Mia) use to have my cell number. It took a couple years before all the phone calls and text's went away. Oh yeah, I've talked to police, social services, child care, doctors offices, grandmas, jealous boyfriend (who was going to track me down) and numerous others. One dude sent a selfie saying, "Hey Mia, baby, look at what your missing" It was a pretty gross picture.

Fortunately, it's all cleared up.

Cecil, I didn't think you sounded negative at all! Actually you are one of the biggest reasons I frequent this forum. You've given me dozens of great ideas--and often the best ideas start with a devil's advocate.

Yeah, those 3 ??? were really negative

I was reponding to your post I found puzzling. Apparently you and I are on totally different wave lengths.

Thanks Bruce.

Cute Pump:


Should handle Bruce's needs quite handily. It's a Honda Submersible, and reasonably priced.

And that float doubles as a ping pong paddle when not in use!

I mentioned to Bruce that he should follow everything you say

He does.

What is that red paddle thingie?

A float switch

Watch your language, young man.

A float switch. DR. SIR.

I see you haven't read the manual.

Just un-clip it when you drop it in the water. When your quarry is empty, it will shut the pump off.

Read the manual? What's a manual?

Reading the manual is the last resort. It's translated from Chinese anyway so doesn't make much sense.

Do not forget to read the 17 pages of safety information with key tips like "Do not plug the unit in while you, the unit and the plug are completely submersed in water".

And don't put the plastic bag it was wrapped in over your head or you might suffocate! Thank God I was warned about that!

Extremely funny!!

Oh, my gosh. Cecil, that might be my best belly-laugh on the forum in years.

Well Bruce,
The manual is the first thing I look at while investigating a product. I know the manufacturer of the Honda pump, which is a world class pump manufacturer, that supplies to the commercial/industrial/municipal markets.

Honda-USA picked up a couple of their pumps to market to the general consumer, but these are still high quality pumps.

Then,
I compare. Still reading manuals and tech info and bit of number crunching.

The same in a comparable Grundfos pump will get the job done several hours quicker, reducing electric costs, but the pump is about 50% higher in cost. That is well below the budget you mentioned, and the Grundfos has double the warranty.

A dock mounted, high quality, self priming centrifugal with all the crap on a line starter would blow your budget.

OK, you can all poke fun now!

Phil,

No ones poking fun ay you if that's what you think. We're actually poking fun at ourselves for not being as knowledgeable as yourself.

I'm a huge fan of Honda motors. I invested in a heavy duty trash pump 14 years ago, and that thing is an absolute monster! Never breaks down even though I don't think I ever got around to reading the manual. I know...I'm a bad boy.

...and I've never minded paying more for quality.

What's a Grundfo?

....and I hope this isn't one of those "What's a Henweigh?" things...

I've fallen for that too many times.

Grundfos is a brand of pump/pump electronics. They are very popular and reliable up here as far as water well pumps go.

Why not just use your trash pump?

A ~20,000 gallon refill every two weeks or so would be cheesecake with a trash pump. Ya already have it!

Quit being so logical and practical!!!!

ZK50A-1235A----USD45/PCS,EXW(speed-control)

Via Post,the shipping freight is about USD15
cnzkf@szzkjd.com

This is an outstanding pump from China

I am using it in my unit, ganged X 2

Total: 1300 gph and below 80 watts, can be solar powered

I run two of these in my pond

http://www.sumppumpsdirect.com/Red-Lion-RL-SC33V-Sump-Pump/p7574.html

They run into a two inch and run about 2500 gallons per hour at ten foot of head. That about 120,000 gallons in 24 hours. I run one in the winter and two in the summer.

Cheers Don.

What ya using it for?

yea what ya doing it fir

I have a fresh water spring fed creek that passes by our pond. There is about 300 acres of run off and tiled land that is fed into this creek.

This fresh water is really exchanged into the pond then out the overflow. I guess what I am thinking a raceway pond is. The water is nice and cold in the summer and mixed with our ponds water.

Attached is a picture of our pond and you can see the creek. This creek starts at the red circle. It runs most all the year but August some years the spring drys up. Last year it did. If you look close at the picture you can see the trenches for the hydro going from the house to the pond and the trench from the creek to the waterfall and the over flow back to the creek. The cool water dumps into the 12 foot end then needs to flow over the center ridge to the deeper end then out the over flow at the surface that is generally warm water.

If you look really close you can see a bridge we have over the creek. My parents bought the farm next to us so I built this bridge for the boys so they didn't need to walk on the road to go to grandma and grandpas house. My oldest son was over visiting grandma when this was taken. He drove the tractor over you can see the orange cab in the drive next to dads truck.

The 120,000 gallons a day is a pile of water and may be over kill, but the extra mass of fish I can raise is much more for the size of the pond. Once I do get a large mass of fish in the pond I need to be on top of it if the power gos out. Our back up generator needs to be ready.

Cheers Don.