Robyn,

I have a CAO pump/filter all in one - 600 gph. It is a 10" high, round unit where the water flows into the unit from small, virticle slits in the sides and shoots out from the top at 600 gph. I am afraid that some baby tadpoles and insects will get sucked into the side slits of the pump-filter unit. can i place the unit in a bucket of gravel - or would this frustraite, or strain it? the guy at the store said i shouldn't but wasn't certain. if i put a plastic screen over the slits, would this also frustrate the pump? how about puting the pump in a bucket and putting a screen over the top of the bucket - im not too intellegent, but I think yet that this would strain/not strain the pump as much as if i put the screen directly over the holes.

steve

I've done a number of things with my pumps. The big one I put in a large plant pot with holes and cut pieces of filter material and make a cylinder around the pump with top and bottom too (4 pieces). I squirt it off weekly. My smaller pump I put in a smaller holed pot with a piece of floss (filter material) and then I put the whole thing into a "sweater bag" sold to wash things that are delicate in the dryer. I've gotten them from CVS, Weis, etc. You can buy those or "lingerie bags" or other mesh laundry bags to put over pumps. They are zippered. You just zipper them up and leave only the plug and plumbing sticking out where the zipper ends. This doesn't strain the pump IF the pressure is over a large area. Never put on a bag that has itty bitty holes as it will clog daily. Never just cover the inlet if it's a small inlet as it will clog right away. You want to use materials with holes that are as big as possible but still keep out tadpoles, fish, leaves, etc.

-My pump says not to operate below 42 degrees fahren.? do you think that i can keep it under the ice during the winter?

-Secondly, do you think that granite pea-gravel from Lowe's safe for aquatic life?

-Lastly, I'm sorry im not really able to understand exactly your recommendation for keeping fry/tadpoles out of my pump-filter all in one unit. Its a 600gph unit with holes (actually: slits) all the way around the cylindrical body. Can I emerse it in a bucket of stones and gravel. If not, can I put it in that laundry bag you spoke of as long as the holes are not microscopic - if i do, then will i have to keep cleaning the bag - maybe i can get a type of plastic, hard mesh to keep the pump in.

I'm not familiar with your pump, what brand and kind is it? I run my OASE Nautilus 60 under ice.

Granite pea gravel and most pea gravels are fine for pond use. Just rinse the dust/sand off first if you can.

You can put the pump into a bucket of gravel if you want but the gravel will need cleaning regularly and that may not be that easy. You can put the pump into a laundry bag like I do. Mine are nylon with zippers. Get the white ones. My mother bought a dark blue one but I'm afraid it would leach the color. I first set the pump in square plant pots that are full of holes. That's similiar to using hard mesh as you said. Then, I wrap the pump in some filter material but not fully (so it doesn't clog). Then, for the smaller pump, I put into into the mesh laundry bag.