Question for the Pond Experts - Can I reduce Flow?
 

My pond pump is too powerful. I tried a smaller pump and it puts out too little. My current pump is creating a waterfall that is almost like Niagra and way too loud.

I'm wondering if it will damage the pump for me to add an in-line ball valve where I can adjust the water pressure.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Vern

Maybe put a T in the line to the waterfall and direct the second line back into the pond?

Yea, diverter T with an orifice in one of the output lines. Maybe make a simple flow control.

I like the above idea of a diverter valve. If it's a valve then you can "tune" it as 1990C4S said.
The only other thing that I could think of which may be problematic would be adjusting the voltage or current to the pump. I know that in some circumstances reduced voltage or current will slow something down without causing issues, but then in other cases, it can harm equipment. I'm not sure how to determine if your pump is the former or latter.

Why not just a valve on the line?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726234995.jpg

Putting a PWM on the power circuit may be able to do that for you, though I think they only work w/ DC stuff... all I know about 'letrissity is that it is to be respected 'cause it can kill you ded

Would a valve that limits flow stress the motor with backpressure?

Not sure, but we do this everyday with a well or lake pump.

I got a "B" in fluid dynamics. from memory, you won't hurt your pump. I remember everything you add downstream of the pump will add friction. elbows, T's, length of pipe. you could T it off and run a secondary outlet underwater somewhere for added current.

I think if you choke it off with a ball valve type thing, the water exiting that valve will increase in velocity (velocity = flow/area - I think). might be even more noise and excitement.

Agreed, reducing aperture will increase pressure/speed.

There you have it, a man speaking from experience. This sounds like the way to go. (assuming pressure/speed increase isn't a problem).

I nothing but .....when using the sprinkler with my lake pump I adjust the height by closing my valve a bit.

simple. speed controller on motor.

The greater the head pressure, the harder the pump has to work.

At the very least, throttling the line will use more electricity because the pump is working harder.

Working harder means more heat, which will shorten the motor's life. Significantly? That would be up to you.

Worst case scenario is the flow is so restricted, there isn't enough water flowing through the pump to keep the motor cool. That will cost ya.

Adding a tee and a line back to the pond with a valve in it that would control the bypass flow would be the best option.

If it's purpose is to put O2 into the water and clean it up, consider an aeration diffuser system instead of sprinkler fountain.
Makes more sense to move air instead of water.

This is what I got and will install this weekend. I'm thinking I only need to restrict by about 25% and this will be the easiest solution. Time will tell if it's hard on the motor but they are not extremely expensive - about $150

I have an air pump and a diffuser. This pump is recirculating the pond water to a filter and then back to the pond via waterfall. If the ball valve doesn't work (i.e., increasing pressure & sound) then I will divert the water to another area of the pond. I already have two 1.5" lines feeding the waterfall and moving one of them to feed directly into the pond is an easy fix. If I go that route, I have simply added a shutoff valve and that is no big.

That's what I was thinking (in much less detail). Seems to me that the best solution is to be able to vary the pump volume/time (why I was thinking about vary the voltage/current) (AKA "speed controller on motor" as Rusty Heap said).

pick your wattage.......... $30.

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ac+motor+speed+controller&crid=2ZVMV8FVREFI7&s prefix=ac+motor+speed+controlle%2Caps%2C194&ref=nb _sb_noss_2

Restricting the discharge flow will reduce
the load on the motor.
At deadhead conditions, the HP requirement
it at it's very lowest.

But it can also cause low-flow recirculation
in the impeller.
That causes hydraulic turbulence and vibration
and could reduce the life of the bearings and impeller.
But on a low-energy pond pump
it probably wouldn't be that big of a deal.
As mentioned above, the best way to do it would be
to reduce the speed of the pump.

For my waterfall, I have a catchment basin of 30 gallons. The filter discharges into the basin, then the overflow creates the waterfall.

That's how mine works also...except my basin is about 5 gals.

My Project is currently in the layout phase.......still placing and angling ponds setting elevations.

Scored a cool LARGE fiberglass waterfall off craigslist for up on the deck, then cascading through several ponds to recirc.






http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726423367.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726424332.jpg. My 550 at the Salem Pond. :cool:

What sort of water pump does your 550 use? :D

^^^ It must have the Porsche diverter valve in it. :D

Reducing flow reduces power consumption.

In our systems we reduce flow by:
Bypass with valve - pump puts out 100% flow but some bypasses back through pump.
Valve after pump - increases pressure drop of system decreasing overall flow.
VFD - varies pump speed electrically

Sometimes we use all 3 depending on application.
In your application, valve after pump.
Make sure you keep it cracked about halfway.

Well, I have updated my pond situation. I added a ball valve to slightly restrict the flow. This did not have any effect on the pressure at the waterfall because the restriction is increasing the pressure to the inlet of my biological filter, but the output is just a gravity feed once the water level reaches a certain point. A couple of pics below:

From Pond Pump>to Anti-backflow valve> to Flow Control Ball Valve> to UV Filter> to Biological Filter> to Waterfall. Pond is on other side of the fence. The valve is only restricted 25-30%

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726511369.jpg

My Baby Pond:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1726511561.jpg