fish and fountain setup

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I have a 20 gallon barrel setup outside. It came with a fountain pump
that is rated 600 GPH, I know it sounds excessive, but it also came
with a valve to adjust output.

Two days ago, I added two small comet/feeder fish, they are doing well
and now exploring more areas but mostly near the bottom looking for
food, they never come up to the surface.

I am having the fountain running 24/7 as it is a water feature, also
for aeration and filtration. My question: is does it bother the
fishes with the fountain pump splashing up top and the sponge filter is
on the bottom? I found them sleeping on the bottom and not getting
sucked to the intake so I guess the speed I selected is OK. I started
putting a few large river rocks on both sides of the sponge, so they
have something to swim over, and break potential turbulence. I have a
upside down pot with a cutout set up as a house they love hiding in it.

I am not sure if it is because I can see better, but when I turn off
they pump they seem more active and out exploring. I have turned the
pump to more of a twickle instead of bubbler until I get some answers.


Can I set the pump higher now, or when they get bigger?

Does it shorted the life of the pump to restrict it's output and would
it also generate more heat?

Thanks

[Elaine T]

wrote:
> I have a 20 gallon barrel setup outside. It came with a fountain pump
> that is rated 600 GPH, I know it sounds excessive, but it also came
> with a valve to adjust output.

I have a 350 GPH pump running THREE half-barrels at a 2 foot head, and I
still have to restrict it. Unless you're shooting an eight foot high
fountain into the air, your pump is way too big.

> Two days ago, I added two small comet/feeder fish, they are doing well
> and now exploring more areas but mostly near the bottom looking for
> food, they never come up to the surface.
>
> I am having the fountain running 24/7 as it is a water feature, also
> for aeration and filtration. My question: is does it bother the
> fishes with the fountain pump splashing up top and the sponge filter is
> on the bottom? I found them sleeping on the bottom and not getting
> sucked to the intake so I guess the speed I selected is OK. I started
> putting a few large river rocks on both sides of the sponge, so they
> have something to swim over, and break potential turbulence. I have a
> upside down pot with a cutout set up as a house they love hiding in it.

My goldies like places with splashing. They often hang out under the
spillways. I think they like the cooler, better oxygenated water. I
wonder if your goldfish are hanging out in the pot because there is less
current in there. Mine rarely "sleep on the bottom" so I'm not sure
yours are as content as you think.

> I am not sure if it is because I can see better, but when I turn off
> they pump they seem more active and out exploring. I have turned the
> pump to more of a twickle instead of bubbler until I get some answers.
>
> Can I set the pump higher now, or when they get bigger?

600 gph will always be too much for goldfish in a 20 gallon half barrel.
You need to measure the head (waterfall height from the pump) and
see what your pump rating is at that height. Restrict the flow from
there until you're under 200 gph. I'd personally shoot for around 100
gph for one barrel. I think I have about 200 gph running through my 3
barrels.

> Does it shorted the life of the pump to restrict it's output and would
> it also generate more heat?

The info that came with my Pondmaster pump says nothing either way. I
wish manufacturers would address this question in their owners manuals.
I'm restricting the outflow on mine figuring it isn't too different
from setting the pump up to pump against a head.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

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I don't think my pump can shoot 8 foot high, I think it might be a
little overrated about the GPH, it only draws 34 watts.

If you have 3 barrels and I assume your fishes are at the bottom
barrel, where the pump is? Or is it the middle one?

If your pump is set at 200 GPH, you are still displacing 200 GPH on
each barrel, isn't it? Is it much different than I run my pump turned
down to 200 GPH, except my volume of water is less and means my water
more oxygenated, but turbulence wise (on the bottom barrel) should be
the similar to your bottom barrel.

What I meant is that my fishes will hide when I look into the water,
they seem to be getting more active after the initial transplant shock.
Just don't go to the surface at all. My mosquito fish does.

I don't see plants an dead leaves being sucked into the filter, so it's
not like a hurricane in the pond. I am going to see if I can get a
smaller fountain pump soon.

PS. I might setup a 2nd barrel with a sprout too, how do you keep the
fish from one barrel from pouring into the other? Do you have some
kind of net on the sprout?

[Elaine T]

wrote:
> I don't think my pump can shoot 8 foot high, I think it might be a
> little overrated about the GPH, it only draws 34 watts.
>
> If you have 3 barrels and I assume your fishes are at the bottom
> barrel, where the pump is? Or is it the middle one?
>
> If your pump is set at 200 GPH, you are still displacing 200 GPH on
> each barrel, isn't it? Is it much different than I run my pump turned
> down to 200 GPH, except my volume of water is less and means my water
> more oxygenated, but turbulence wise (on the bottom barrel) should be
> the similar to your bottom barrel.
>
> What I meant is that my fishes will hide when I look into the water,
> they seem to be getting more active after the initial transplant shock.
> Just don't go to the surface at all. My mosquito fish does.
>
> I don't see plants an dead leaves being sucked into the filter, so it's
> not like a hurricane in the pond. I am going to see if I can get a
> smaller fountain pump soon.
>
> PS. I might setup a 2nd barrel with a sprout too, how do you keep the
> fish from one barrel from pouring into the other? Do you have some
> kind of net on the sprout?
>
I have three barrels linked together with spillways. The pump is in the
bottom, and it pumps to the highest one. The water returns to the
bottom by gravity. I cut up a plastic plant basket into pieces of
plastic mesh to keep the fish in, and there are different fish in all
three levels of the pond. Definately go for a second barrel - I love
the look of my three!

My barrels are about 25 gal, so I'm pumping about 200 gph across 75
gallons. You're probably right that the turbulance is similar, but I
need the higher flow rate to move 75 gallons through the filter a couple
of times an hour. You're getting 5x turnover with 100 gph, so why
stress your fish? I also have water hyacinth and water lettuce with
huge root systems that provide a lot of shelter from the current should
the fish need it.

Your water is probably not any more oxygenated than mine. Water reaches
its oxygen carrying capacity fairly easily when the surface is disturbed
by a spillway, fountain, or waterfall and then is adequately mixed.
More turbulence really only keeps you from seeing into the water as
well. Remember, an airstone can oxygenate 20 gallons just fine.

Is there any model information on your pump? Perhaps you can Google on
the model number and find the flow rate. Out of curiosity, is it big?
My 350 gph pump is about 2.5" or 3" tall. Fountain pumps with lower
flow are often smaller.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Geezer From The Freezer]

What would concern me more is 20gallons and 2 comets!! Way to small!
Also if its outside 20gallons of water will swing wildly in temperature
and will affect your fishs health!

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Hi, I am considering the two barrel setup
how high should I position the top barrel than the bottom one? Is it
necessary to use an extra piece of brick to shim it at an angle so
water will pour out?

Thanks

[[email protected]]

I have added a 2nd barrel today with a water fall sprout.
The sounds is so much better and so is the visibility than a bubbler
fountain! I can finally see my fishes without turning the pump off.

Despite I had to rearrange the plants etc, they don't mind my hand at
all, after everything is done they are actively eating and exploring
again.

The temperature change should be less drastic now.

I think the 2 comets are happier in my barrel than ending up in another
pet's mouth, or crowded with another 50 fish in a small tank at the
store.

[Geezer From The Freezer]

wrote:
>
> I have added a 2nd barrel today with a water fall sprout.
> The sounds is so much better and so is the visibility than a bubbler
> fountain! I can finally see my fishes without turning the pump off.
>
> Despite I had to rearrange the plants etc, they don't mind my hand at
> all, after everything is done they are actively eating and exploring
> again.
>
> The temperature change should be less drastic now.
>
> I think the 2 comets are happier in my barrel than ending up in another
> pet's mouth, or crowded with another 50 fish in a small tank at the
> store.

Sounds good! :)