Do Solar-Powered Pond Pumps Work?

Madison, WI

We have a small 3-ft diameter wok-type container we'd like to turn into a garden pond. The plan is to place the wok into a slightly larger round container and put the water pump in the larger container. We'd like to use a solar-powered pond pump, but have been told that they don't work. Has anyone used the newer solar-powered pumps? Do they work? I thought I could purchase the donut-shaped mosquito dunks to keep mosquitoes from breeding in the pond when the pump isn't running. Thanks for your help!

Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom

Hi denis, the answers are, YES and NO, these are a great way to get a water feature within the garden for people who cant get electricity outdoors, so the YES part is, it really all depends on, a) the amount of water you plan to pump, and size of pump, b) the amount of sunshine you can get to shine on the solar panel, and c) would you be happy with no water movement on days where the sun did not shine and work the pump. The NO bit is, they can be unreliable for some of the reasons that I have mentioned, however, if I were you, I would get along to either the librery to look for some books on Small water features/ponds etc OR a garden center that specialises in water plants/ponds etc. I know there are lots of sites on the net that will offer you much more detailed advice, but bare in mind, they want to sell you a pump, you really need to speak with someone who actally knows how they work and the size of pump for the size of your container, I can only go on some people I know who have tried them out themselves, most were disapointed with the expectations they had, but another couple were happy that something actually moved, plus there are so many new things on the market now that I feel sure you would find something to enjoy water movement, it atracts so much new wildlife into your garden that you could become hooked. Good Luck. WeeNel.

Madison, WI

Thanks for your response WeeNel. This was my first post on Dave's Garden. I don't know the amount of the water the wok holds, but I will call the nursery that sold it to me or go online to seek the info from the manufacturer. I am not in need of a full-blown fountain as the effect I am looking for would look more like one a Japanese infinity tub where the water gently flows over the edges into a slightly larger tub. You know, that gentle meditative look. Still, the pump would have to be submersed in the larger container below the wok so it would have to be able to pump up approximately 1-1/2 to 2 feet in order to rise to the water's surface.

I will call a few companies that sell the pumps on the Internet. If I end up trying one, I will post the results in case anyone else is interested. Although it would be nice, I don't want to use any more electricity than I need, and a garden pump isn't a necessity! If the solar pump won't work I can always put in a few aquatic plants. Thanks again, WeeNel.

Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom

Go for a pump, the sound of babbling water is so restfull, you cant imitate it with anything else, be a shame if you bought the container specially for this purpose, not to at least try it out, good luck, Weenel.

Valley Village, CA

i agree there, nothing better than sitting in your back yard and listening to the sound of a running pond on a nice summer night!

Houston, TX(Zone 9b)

I agree with the yes and no. Also, be sure to get one that has the battery back-up. That way it will store energy and can run for a short amount of time without the sun shining on it. This is definitely one of those time where you get what you pay for. I just replaced my pump and panel with a more expensive one (about $130) after going through a couple of cheap ones. They worked, but only for about 6-9 months each. Hope this one will be better. The panel is larger and it seems to store power for longer periods. There is a website that selss all types of solar products and that is where I purchased this last pump/panel from. You can find some on Ebay, but it will be hit and miss (and a lot of them do not have the battery back-up).

Personally, for my situation, I really like the solar option and will continue to use it even if I have to replace it ever couple of years. Running electricity to my fountain is not an option and besides, this is free, so I don't have to worry about adding to the electric bill.

Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom

Shuggins, you raise some real good points, so glad you are talking from experience as a lot of people get so dissapointed with their water features, large and small, I just hope Denise will send us in a picture of the pond/pool when he has it finnished so we can all admire it, good luck with you new pump, WeeNel.

AEO Solar Panel & Water Pump KIT makes an ideal choice for various garden projects like pond circulation, fountains, aquaculture, aquariums, solar education, greenhouses, boating, etc.It includes a 10-watt solar panel along with a 2 pin waterproof connector. Unlike many other solar pond pumps, this one is easy to setup and use. All you have to do is simply plug it in and turn it on.

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