Use home sump pump for a pond?

[kumdoalan]

I have to get an underwater pump for my new indoor pond.
The pond is 8x5x2.5
It's not all that big of an indoor pond compared to many others I have seen on this website.

the problem is that i have been looking at new underwater pumps for ponds at Lowels and Manard's and they are about $100.00 for a good one.

But on the other hand, I already i have a left over household sump pump just sitting here doing nothing.

Does anyone ever hear of guys who connect a real home-type sump pump to their ponds?

Do they use too much power?
Too much money to run?$$

 

[Dr Joe]

Sump pumps are not designed to be run 24/7 so they wear out fast and they run hot so they will transfer this heat to the pond water.

Find the wattage or current usage on the pump label and calculate the cost to run with one of these calculators (your cost per kw/h is on your electric bill or you can just call the power company for the info).

http://www.handymath.com/cgi-bin/electric.cgi?submit=Entry

http://www.super-grow.biz/Electricity.jsp

Check out...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90014

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95965

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90151

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47137

Dr Joe

.

 

[camrsz]

I use a little giant sump pump for my aquarium pump. It has been running for almost 4 years straight. I went from running multiple HOB and a canister to just the one sump pump and didnt notice any real change in the power bill. But I believe little giant to make a quality pump. So if you buy a "cheap" pump it might not perform as well.

edit I do agree it runs warm. But my heaters do not need to run much to keep the water between 75-80*

 

[kumdoalan]

camrsz...
Not that you bring up the "Little Giant" pump.

The truth is that the reason I have this one pump left over is that the float for it got stuck and I flooded my basement.
I was so ticked-off at that pump I replaced it.

So I went and got a Little Giant with an "inside the pump" on/off foat design.
That was ten years ago and that same Little Giant is still going strong.

And thats why I have had this other home sump pump sitting around with nothing to do.
I kept it around because I wanted to have a back-up pump should the little giant break, but in 10 years it has not had any problems.

 

[camrsz]

This was actualy a back up pump as well. When i was shopping for an aquarium pump I could not find one that would even come close to being strong enough, with out costing a fortune. So I said screw it and just decided to use this sump pump. I have no complaints. It pushes more then enough water through 30+ feet of pipe.

 

[kumdoalan]

later tonight I will try to post a photo so you can see the pump Im talking about...

 

[Nic]

I use a little giant sump pump for my aquarium pump. It has been running for almost 4 years straight. I went from running multiple HOB and a canister to just the one sump pump and didnt notice any real change in the power bill. But I believe little giant to make a quality pump. So if you buy a "cheap" pump it might not perform as well.

edit I do agree it runs warm. But my heaters do not need to run much to keep the water between 75-80*

i used that one but lil giant rates that for continuous duty..... most other sump pumps cant handle it...