Page 18 - AFD Pond Owners Handbook
P. 18

Pump Electrical Set-up
                                                                  TOP 10 METHODS TO                                                 and Maintenance
                                                            BALANCE YOUR ECOSYSTEM                                                  Electrical
                                                                                                                                      Please read the following guidelines
                                                            Aquascape Beneficial Bacteria:   Cover the water surface of the pond     for  proper  pump  installation  and
                                                         1                                                                          performance. Failure to follow these
                                                            Contains bacteria and enzymes that   by planting water lilies. Lily pads
                                                            are specifically blended to be   float on the top of the pond,            guidelines  may  void  the  pump’s
                                                            effective at reducing sludge,   shading the water.                      liability warranty.
                                                            uneaten fish food, fish waste, and                                                It is required that a ground fault
                                                            excess nutrients that cause poor   5  Physical Removal: Physically remove   circuit  interrupter  (GFCI)  be
                                                            water quality and clarity. Blended   clumps of string algae if it begins to   installed for the water feature by
                                                            and tested to produce maximum   overtake the pond. Pull or cut away        a qualified electrician.
                                                            results in ornamental ponds.   the algae where it is attached. Think          It  is  recommended  that  a
                                                                                         of it as “weeding the pond.”                  dedicated  outlet  be  provided  for
                                                                         ™
                                                                                ™
                                                         2  Aquascape EcoBlast : EcoBlast                                              the water feature.
                                                            is Aquascape’s #1 treatment for   6  Koi: Adding koi over 10 inches in        Please have the electrician refer to
                                                            breaking down debris. It is   length will greatly reduce string            the pump’s electrical specifications
                                                            fast-acting and works on contact.    algae. The koi, if not overfed, will   for the proper electrical operating
                                                            It is not temperature sensitive    graze on the string algae in the        range  of  the  pump.  The  pump
                                                            and can be used during cold   pond. Only feed the fish what they            will  need  to  be  run  within  these
                                                            temperatures. Safe for fish.   can consume within a few minutes.            electrical  parameters  to  ensure
                                                                                         Fish food that is not eaten by fish            proper  pump  performance  and
                                                            Aquascape S.A.B. : This is formulated   will decompose in the pond and     best possible lifespan.
                                                                      ™
                                                         3  to help reduce pond maintenance and   increase nutrient levels.               Electrical  testing  should  also   voltage  and  amperage  supplying
                                                            promote the growth of beneficial                                            be  completed  under  full  load  at   the pump may be affected, causing
                                                            bacteria and enzymes. S.A.B.    7  Fix Leaks: Tap water can have           the  outlet.  Make  sure  all  other   performance  problems  with  the
                                                                              ™
                                                            will assist in the breakdown and   an abundance of nutrients in it.        electrical  devices  that  will  be   pump, and possibly reducing the
                                                            reduction of debris in the stream,   Continually adding large quantities   in used in and around the water   pump’s lifespan.
                                                            waterfalls, and pond.        of tap water to compensate for a              feature  are  plugged  in  and  in
                                                                                         leak can actually promote algae               operation during full load testing  Maintenance
                      your fish, you may need to use a UV   4  Plants: Since plants directly   growth. Fix leaks when they are          phase.  The pump should still fall   Proper maintenance of the water
                      filter in order to clear up your water.   compete with algae for nutrients   discovered.                          within the minimum and maximum   feature  will  also  ensure  the  best
                      A  UV  sterilizer  kills  a  lot  of  things   and sunlight, they are probably the                               voltage and ideal amperage range   p    e l b i s s o  s e f i l  p a    n    f o  h t    e  p u m      . p
                      –  parasites,  beneficial  bacteria,   most important addition to your   8  Control Run-Off: Never use lawn       during full load testing.    Please  make  sure  to  consider
                      insects, and most other microscopic   pond. Add a wide variety of plants    fertilizer or insecticides on trees        Hardwiring   the   pumps   is   the following:
                      organisms living in the water.        to your pond. This not only creates    around your pond or on areas of     not   recommended   due   to       Do not allow the filters to become
                        However,  the  UV  filter  is  totally   a natural look, but also will help   your property that will drain toward   complications   caused   when   e g g o l c  d   h t i w   d  e  a   s i r b  n  e s   d  i d  m e      . t n  Winter Care
                      ineffective  when  it  comes  to  string   reduce the algae in different    your pond. Lawn fertilizer and       servicing or replacing the pump.    Conduct  regular  cleaning  and   If you shut your pond down during
                      algae  and  may  even  inadvertently   areas of your pond.         insecticides will cause large algae              Please   have   the   qualified   seasonal  maintenance  according   the  winter  season  we  recommend
                      promote an increasingly larger string                              blooms, as well as severely threaten          electrician  contact  the  water   to your owner’s manual.  removing  the  pump  from  the  filter
                      algae bloom.                          Place water hyacinth and water lettuce   the aquatic life inside your pond.  feature  installer  or  place  of       Keep  water  flowing  freely  to  the   and  storing  in  a  bucket  of  water  in
                                                            in your BIOFALLS  Filter. These floating                                    purchase  with  any  questions   pump  by  routinely  cleaning  the   a  frost  free  location.  The  water  will
                                                                      ®
                                                            plants reproduce rapidly, using up   Remove Debris: Keep your pond free
                      The Natural Way                                                 9  of debris. Don’t let the skimmer              related  to  the  pumps  electrical   skimmer  debris  net  and  filter   help  maintain  the  life  of  the  seals
                        Mother  Nature’s  prescription  for   enormous amounts of nutrients. A stick   debris net overfill with leaves.   requirements. Improperly installed   mat.  Be  sure  to  maintain  proper   on the pump while in storage. Please
                      algae control is simple – make sure   placed across the front of the   Decaying debris in the skimmer will       and/or faulty electrical causing the   w    h t   n i   l e v e l   r e t a    e  w      . e r u t a e f   r e t a  note  that  the  pump,  depending  on
                                                                 ®
                      you  have  a  balanced  ecosystem!    BIOFALLS  Filter will prevent the plants   contribute to unwanted nutrients.  pump to fail will void the pump’s    Avoid  allowing  the  pump  to  run   how long it has been out of operation
                      Many  pond  problems  are  symptoms   from flowing over the front of the                                          2 year limited liability warranty.  dry  or  operate  in  low  water  level   over the winter may need to be “kick-
                      of  imbalances.  There  are  several   waterfalls and into the pond.  Have Patience: It takes time for                                           situations.                 started.” To test, plug the pump into
                      products  that  can  help  keep  your   Plenty of bog and marginal plants   10  the bacteria to establish itself and   Extension Cord              Inspect and remove large debris,   the electrical outlet prior to installing
                                                                                                                                                                                                   the  pump  back  in  the  skimmer  and
                                                                                                                                                                       such  as  mulch,  sticks,  small
                      pond in balance, in case it needs a
                                                                                                                                       Extension  cords  should  only  be
    Maintenance       little boost. We like to refer to them   such as cattails and iris take up large   benefit to your pond. In general, a        used to test the pump in the new   pebbles,  etc  from  the  bottom  of   visually inspect if the pump’s impeller   Maintenance


                                                                                         colonize to the point of being a
                                                            should be added to the pond. Plants
                                                                                                                                                                                                   is spinning. If the pump’s impeller does
                      as complements to Mother Nature.
                                                                                                                                       water feature.
                                                                                                                                                                       the  Skimmer,  Snorkel   Vault,  or
                                                                                                                                                                                        ™
                                                                                         new pond can take anywhere from
                                                            quantities of nutrients. They are hardy
                                                                                                                                       Using an extension cord, especially
                                                                                                                                                                                                   not start spinning on its own unplug
                                                                                                                                                                       sump basin in order to prevent the
                                                                                         two to six weeks for the bacteria
                                                            and will be back each spring to help
                                                                                                                                       one over 25 feet long, may cause
                                                                                         population to reach this point.
                                                            you balance your pond.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   similar device to assist the impeller.
                                                                                                                                       irregular power to the pump. The   pump from becoming clogged and   the pump and use a screw driver or
                                                                                                                                                                       possibly damaged.
       18  The Pond Owner’s Handbook                                                      www.afdpondsnj.com                     www.afdpondsnj.com                                                                      The Pond Owner’s Handbook  19
   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23