Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Trash Pump Question

Hello...I was wondering if anyone could tell me if a trash pump can pump slurry beach sand (watery sand)....Not dry sand of course by soupy beach sand..Thanks.

If it could, I expect it would be hard on the pump.

As it turns out, it can...."muddy" sand doesn't work well...but watery sand works fine with a trash pump.

Trash pumps with cast iron impellers will scar aluminum pump housings and make it almost impossible to prime the pump if sand or mud goes through it for an extended period of time. Lift ability numbers also drop. My 3" Honda pump is on it's third pump because of it, and that's at around $175 a pop.

Are you trying to dredge?

If so, there are several threads in Pond Boss on that.

Further, there is an entire industry built around using sand from water pits. I bet their purpose built pumps are excellent at handling a slurry of sand and water.

You might see what configurations they run in that industry and see if you can create a smaller DIY version?

Yes, but you have to watch that you don't overload the pump and slow down the water volume/speed in the hose. The hose WILL plug up with sand and it's not fun to move. I ripped apart a 25 or 30 foot 3" diameter suction hose picking it up with an excavator and a sling to try and get it unplugged (sand). Also the pump will have a short life due to the abrasive qualities of the large volume of sand.