Waterfall woes

[Shane]

Hi folks! Does anyone have an easier means to keep a self-contained waterfall unclogged? We got one a while back and now it seems it needs to be pulled up and out to get at the pump every other week to get it going again. It's taking away time from my bonsais and developing my Japanese garden. Wish I could use drain cleaner, but that'd kill the birds ...oh and the kids.
Cheers S.

[Mojo Moyogi]

Filtration?

Cheers,
Mojo

[Jarrod]

Lift the pump intake up as high as possible with out risking damaging the pump.

[kcpoole]

Make sure the intake is not on the bottom of the pond, and put as filter on it

Ken

[bodhidharma]

I have a large pond with a waterfall with the same problem and finally went for an out of water pump and a stop valve filter.

[Shane]

To clarify, it is an external pump for a prefab waterfall; I forget the brand. I'm not able to move the intake, which is from the bottom pool. Jarrod, what does lifting the pump achieve? Need to find a better filter to attach over the intake.

[bodhidharma]

Sounds like you need a stop valve at the intake.

[squizzy]

If you cant move the intake maybe extend the intake with an elbow so that the water is drawn fom a more shallow point in the catchment and in addition put a screen filter on the end of it????

Squizz

[Shane]

Sounds like an idea Squizzy. Perhaps there's some kind of aquarium filter available that would do it.

[Nathan]

For my filter for my pond, I have put a secondary filter around the intake pretty much a wire box with a course mesh that sits around the intake, it only take a few minutes pull it out and give it a quick hose if I notice the pressure start to drop, before this I had to clean the intake filter weekly now it is about every two weeks for the mesh box and every 6 to 8 weeks for the intake filter.

[Shane]

Thanks Nathan,
I think I've seen them on ebay.

[Shane]

Went to the local aquarium yesterday and picked up sponge filters, cleaned the waterfall of sediment and algae, adjusted the flow controls and it's running much better now. Should invest in some water lillies soon. Also moved two of my benches to create more room in the backyard; miss being able to see all my trees at a single glance already.