Equipment Review and Discussion :: Beckett pond pump

[laurapa]

I think last time I tried to post this it didn't work. So I'm trying again.

I just bought a Beckett pond pump for the DIY filter I'm working on. I'm going to make a "drip" filter (I found the idea on a thread here somewhere). The pump is supposed to pull water from the bottom of the tank up to the filter, which is suspended above the tank. Gravity pulls water through the filter media and dumps it out from the bottom of the filter back into the tank.

Here's a link to the pump I bought: http://www.amazon.com/Beckett-7060110-210gph-Small-Pond/dp/B00002N8GS

The specs say it will pump 210gph if it's 1' under water and will pump 190gph if it is 2' under water. I figure my tank height will be somewhere in between.

So. Did I make a good choice? Will this brand of filter get filled up with turtle gunk and stop working, or will it be easy to clean? Will it pump what it says it will pump? Any parts my turtle can get caught in?

[marisa]

It's not a brand of filter, it's a brand of pump. I've seen them sold at places like Home Depot, have never used one. You probably should put a prefilter on it to help keep debris from getting into the pump (which can clog it eventually and affect the motor's performance).

I don't know if you made a good choice, since how well everything works also depends on the filter. The greater the head (the height the pump has to pump the water), the lower the GPH.

[laurapa]

Yeah, brand of pump. That's what I meant. I'm making the filter myself.

I am starting to wonder if I should have bought a slightly bigger pump. I failed to take into account the added height that it would have to pump the water to the top of the filter. Not just the top of the tank. Hmmmm...

So...prefilter. I'll look around the forum for discussions on prefilters before I ask how to make one here!

Thanks for your help!