Plant Gardens 101

When I started in the waterfall and pond design & construction business in January of 1982, I was asking the same question. I had a slight advantage over most when it came to answering the question, “Which pump do I use?”

I came out of the energy conservation field, so I was already savvy about energy consumption topics.

It was a challenge in the seventies, when I was trying to convince people that they should buy the Mitsubishi compact fluorescent bulb to save energy. This was the first of its kind and it retailed for $12 to $14. Its lumen or light output was equal to a 60-watt incandescent bulb, which sold for $ .60 in most stores. I needed to convince the engineer at Betty Ford Hospital that a $12, 12-watt bulb would save the facility $35,000 a year in electrical costs. I did so, and it did! (more…)

To Keep in Mind Using a Hydroponics Air Pump

Instructions for setting up your single or dual air pump

Warning: To guard against injury, basic safety precautions should be observed including the following

· To avoid possible electric shock special care should be taken since water is employed in the use of this air pump equipment. Do not attempt to repair by yourself. Return to an authorized service facility for help repairing this appliance.

· If you’re air pump should accidentally fall into the water do not reach for it. First unplug it and then retrieve it. If electrical components of the air pump get wet, unplug the appliance immediately.

· Carefully examine the air pump after installation. It should not be plugged in if there is water on parts not intended to be wet.

· Do not operate the air pump if it has a damaged cord or plug, or if it is malfunctioning, or has been dropped or damaged in any manner at all. (more…)

Solar Pumps and Solar Lights for Ponds

As the president of a company that sells a lot of fountain pumps, and who also receives a lot of OEM inquiries, I’ve been around the block on solar pumps. They seem like such a great idea. No wiring needed! No electric bill! I tried to sell solar pumps to major fountain manufacturers but never got a sample to one of them that could pass muster.

Many customers believe that we are just too lazy to try solar, or we don’t want to cut into a 110-volt market that is already doing well. But the truth of the matter is that solar still runs into quite a few problems, not the least of which has been, in my experience, not enough sunlight!

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When replacing a fountain pump or choosing a new one, first there are some key terms to keep in mind:

“Head” : This is the maximum vertical lift of the pump. For example, a 6′ head means the pump is rated to pump water up to 6 feet high. Note, however, that at 6 feet the pump would be providing very little water, with gallons per hour around zero. So if you need to pump, say, 200 gph at 72″, you will probably need about a 300-600 gallon per hour pump to do the job. See a “pump curve” for the amount of water pumped to various heights. Major pump manufacturers like Cal Pump, Fountain Tech pumps, and others, include pump curves on their boxes, brochures, or other literature. You should take a good look. (more…)