Maintanence - Water Feature pumps

Pump maintenance (Super Pond branded - HJ Models)

Water feature pumps are recommended for use in clear water.   This means the area (sump or pond) where the water is being pumped from needs to be free from debris.  

Most water feature pumps have a sponge that reduces the amount of debris, silt or particulates from entering the impellor.  This does not filter the water, it on collects particles in the water to reduce them being sucked into the impellor.

Because of this sponge it is imperative that the pump be maintained regularly.

Pump maintenance needs to be a regular event, we even suggest putting a notation in your calendar as a reminder.

It is simple, and with regular checking it can alleviate any pump performance problems caused by blockages or worn parts.

Suggestion:  Place your pump on an elevated flat surface preferably terracotta or plastic (concrete/cement blocks NOT recommended).  This will help reduce the pumping of sludge and debris that cause wear on the impellor and shaft.

String algae, sludge algae and blanket weed can also inhibit the impellors performance causing additional wear on the shaft. This wear will mean you will have to regularly maintain your pump and replace worn impellors and shafts. 

Pond sludge, floating particulates and algae can be dealt with using ECOPOND products.

These steps can be mirrored to most pond pumps on the market, the hardest part is figuring out how to get the casing undone...

Please remember to unplug your pump before beginning any maintenance.

Remove the pump from the pond by the casing, NOT the cord!  Pulling a waterlogged pump by the cord can fracture the wiring inside the cord.

Step 1

Remove the casing by pulling away from the motor.

The sponge is located inside the casing.  Remove and rinse sponge until the water runs clear.  DO NOT wring out the sponge as this will damage it.  Over time the sponge will need to be replaced.

The sponge is not a filter, it's purpose is to trap debris, silt and particulates so they are not sucked into the impellor.  It is recommended that the sponge not be removed.  If removed small particulates may build up in the impellor and cause damage to the shaft or impellor.

If your sponge needs constant cleaning due to large amounts of debris or algae build up we suggest the following:

• Cover the water area or sump to reduce dust, particulates or leaves from getting in.
• Do not put plants into the sump
• If you have algae problems regularly dose with Eco Pond Water Feature Clear (Eco Pond Range)

Alternatively you may need to upgrade to a pond pump that may be better suited to outdoor or dirty water pumping.

Step 2

Twist the impellor cover anti-clockwise until free from the locking tabs.

Remove the cover to view the impellor. 

Step 3

The impellor can be removed from the motor.  As it works on a magnetic system the impellor may need some force to remove.

The impellor must be kept a straight when being removed to reduce damage to the impellor shaft.

IMPELLOR SHAFTS ARE MADE FROM EITHER STAINLESS STEEL OR ARE CERAMIC. 

Our HJ range of pumps have ceramic shafts.  These shafts wear slower than the stainless steel shafts, however are more suseptible to breakage.

Check the impellor and shaft for wear or damage.  If either are worn, damaged or broken they will need to be replaced.

Rinse out the internal impellor housing, impellor and re-assemble.

Step 4

Before re-assembling your pump it is good practice to lubricate all o-rings with Vaseline.  This make it easier to re-assemble the parts and reduces wear on the o-ring from drying out and cracking.

SUGGESTION:

Lubricate the O-rings of any current or new pond products.  This will prolong the life of your o-rings and make dis-mantling of your products alot easier.