Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam well pump for pond?

I have been looking around for pond pumps and am wondering if a typical submersible well pump would work okay for continuous operation? I will have a good 30 feet of lift and it seems most 'pond pumps' can't deal with that.
Thanks
RK

whats yer purpose for pumping? water for use outside the pond or for pond water circulation?

i would not think typical submersibles (the type installed in water wells) would be able to handle much silt or debris. the impellers are easily broken or stuck from use in dirty water.

if for pond water circulation it is much easier and cheaper to pump air. if for use outside pond, you need a pump that can handle sediment or debris laden water (i.e. trash pump).

thats my feeble 2c, lets see what anyone else has to say.

I don't have a stream or any natural water to feed my potential pond [ I have a river but it's 30 feet lower than my property ] other than whatever the water table itself is. One thing I have learned in my first 24hrs on this very informative sight is just the evaporation and seepage alone in a 2.5 acre pond is a tremendous amount of water. So... looks like I need a well that can produce a constant 12 GPM. That might prove to be not realistic let alone the constant electric usage. I do however see a lot of ponds in the immediate area so I have some hope that the area has a natural high water table. I wonder if just sticking a 3" piece of PVC down in the ground and watch what the water level stays at naturally would give an accurate indication of how the pond level would be or would that not be accurate because it's not exposed to wind ect? Also not sure if a common 1/2 hp deep well pump could handle running potentially 24/7. Or if my wallet would be prepared for the electric bill!!
RK

RK, Maybe in the beginning it might be better to start smaller, say a half acre pond, if things go well after a few years you could enlarge it, especially considering you have a dozer & backhoe already.
You can do and learn alot with the smaller pond.

Yea that's a good point. No test like an actual test!
RK