Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Controlling unwanted plants Trash pump vs Diaphragm pump for FA

I am thinking of using one of those two pumps to try and mechanically remove FA mats from my pond. I have read and been advised a trash pump could potentially be used, but after talking to pump guy, was advised diaphragm pump would be better suited. Anyone with experience?

I don't think a trash pump would work that well to get rid of FA, at least in the way I am thinking. If you are trying to get rid of the mats that are floating on the surface, everytime the suction hose gets above water it will break the seal and have to prime again. Harder on the pump and time consuming.

Can't say about the diaphragm pump, no experience with those.

I thought I had read somewhere on PB about someone posting a youtube video, showing a trash pump being used for FA mat removal? Anyone come across that thread?

Here's a youtube video about algae removal with a pump. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M2LlLQfVaI
They don't show their pump, but they show that it is possible with the right pump.

How about a shredder sewage pump? Reducing the volume of the FA while pumping it out on the bank or into trailer might work well...

Here is another way to 'mechanically' removed FA....

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A trash pump would be better IMO. You will need a collector under floats to gather the FA and get it close to the constantly submerged suction hose, similar to your swimmers..lol

You'll also want to pump the discharge water/FA into something like 1/4"-3/8" hardware cloth to prevent the FA from just washing right back into the pond. Or lose water/FA over the back side of the pond....

Perhaps you could call Randy Johnson with Iowa DNR special permits and get an approval to stock Tilapia.....

This is the video I was citing in previous post, thanks DG. I will reach out to these guys, see if it's commercially available and cost.

Good tip, Rainman! Thanks! I had researched using tilapia, and it would probably be part of the long term control plan, even though I'll have to restock seasonally. Right now, I'm working on getting my aeration system ordered and then placed. THEN I plan to go after the FA more aggressively. Just didn't want to kill off too much at once, and potentially screw the pooch on my DO levels..

I love the idea of pumping it out like that, but my research into pumps shows a fairly pricey investment. The video doesn't clearly show it, but my suspicion is they modified either a trash or diaphragm pump with some mechanical shredding, to reduce the FA volume. Slick concept. If they could hit a price point that typical pondmeisters could swallow, I bet it would be VERY popular..

I don't understand why a normal trash pump wouldn't work, but I'm one of the least mechanically inclined dudes on the forum, admittedly. So, why wouldn't a trash pump work? They are designed to move solids, yes?

I'm with you, mechanically speaking. From reading/researching them, full trash pumps are rated for semisolids, up to an inch or so, depending on the motor size. So I don't doubt they would be able to pull the FA mat through them, unless a large clump gets sucked in. It just may be hard to control how much of a mat it sucks up, and how it behaves inside the pump. I was thinking of renting one, to experiment...

I think a trash pump would work, as long as you kept the intake hose underwater. Trash pumps operate centrifugally, in that they do not create a "vacuum" of sorts....they often need to be primed before use, and if the intake gets a big enough gulp of air, they may lose their prime.

Diaphragm pumps work by flexing a membrane back and forth. This lets them create a vacuum, irregardless of whether or not the intake hose is submerged. No prime needed. They would probably work better at removing surface material, but I'm not sure how fast they work when compared to a similarly sized trash pump.

I think a 90 degree attachment, or elbow, to the end of the trash pump hose might let the end remain submerged, while the FA is sucked down vertically. Maybe this would work smoother than gulping air at the surface.

Is there a concern you are going to suck out a whole bunch of fry that may be feeding on the organisms in the FA?