We all know that solar energy has been established to be a great alternative to electricity as power supply. Since a pond is usually located outdoors, some ingenious designer made solar-powered pond pumps. Here are a few tips on buying this type of pump for your ponds.

There are do-it-yourself kits for these pumps in the market. You can buy the solar panels and the pump on separate occasions and assembled them by yourself. But if your pond is as large as 1000 gallons or more in capacity, you have to purchase a garden fountain installation.

Solar pumps, just like any other pond pump, bear water from the pond to the level of the fountain or waterfall allowing the water to fall freely back into the pond. This cycle helps the oxygenation of the water thereby preventing the proliferation of mosquitoes & microorganisms and keeps the water from getting stale. Sometimes part of the pumps operation is to bring in fresh water from another source.

The solar-powered pump system is divided into 3 main parts, the pump, the piping system, & the solar panels. Choosing the right pump for your pond can become a cumbersome chore. The next paragraphs will help you decide.

First, find out how many gallons your pond holds. Then you must also know the rate of water flow to be generated in order to keep the body of water aerated. Usually a flow of 130 up to 140 gallons per hour is a sufficient rate.

Make sure you have the wattage and voltage data required of the pump that is indicated for a pond with such capacity as yours.

Then obtain the distance between the fountain and the pump for this is very essential. This distance is directly proportional to the rate of water flow. Supply this information to the resident expert in the fountain supply dealer where you plan to get the pump. Their pretty much experienced in these kinds of things and would be happy to help you.

Be sure to supply a backup battery for energy storage so that your fountain can run even if the sun is not shining, such as an outdoor party held at night.

Select a perfect location for your solar power panels so it can catch the most solar rays. A great location would be at the roof where there aren't any obstructions from trees and other lofty structures. However, a ground location is going to do as long as no shadows fall on them throughout the day.