A glossary of some terms we may use here at Creative Pumps when discussing Ponds, Pumps and Water.
A
Acid: Having a pH of less than 7 (neutral). Water treatment
Alkaline: Having a pH greater than 7 (neutral). Water treatment
Aeration, pond: To expose the pond water to air to increase the oxygen levels. Waterfalls, fountains and aerator nozzles all contribute to increasing the water oxygen level. Pond Air Pumps
Algae: Lower forms of plant life that has been in existence for millions of years. Thriving in sunlight, nutrient rich water and warmth. Water treatment
Algaecide: A substance used to kill or inhibit the growth of algae. However, must be fish, plant and filter safe Water treatment
Alkalinity: The alkali concentration or alkaline quality of an alkali-containing substance. Water treatment
Ammonia: Lethal to livestock. Should always be kept at zero. Produced from fish waste, dead plant matter, dead livestock and uneaten food. Water treatment
B
Bacteria: Microscopic organisms that reproduce rapidly under the right conditions. Can be either detrimental or beneficial to ponds. Water treatment
Biological: Affecting life or living organisms. Water treatment
Biological Filters: Filters that, by harbouring beneficial bacteria, convert harmful nitrites into useful nitrates while cleaning the water of algae and debris. Filter choices
Bio-Media: Medium that provides surface area and good adhesion of nitrifying bacteria with a bio-filter. Bio-Media
Blanket Weed or String Algae: Fibrous green strands of 'cotton wool' like algae. Grows rapidly by utilising excess nutrients in ponds. Water treatment
C
Capping: Tiles, pavers, stone etc used to finish the top of water features and around ponds.
Cascading Sheet Descent Spillways: Water walls with water trickling down the wall - not a blade of water projecting out from the wall - Spillways
D
Duty Cycle: of a pump is the relationship between the running time and the stationary (off) time, based on one hour.
For example; pond pumps are rated 24/7 (run 24 hours a day 7 days a week) which is a 100% duty cycle.
Other pumps, such as bilge pumps or sump pumps may have a duty cycle of only 10% which means they can run for 6 minutes in one hour with 54 minutes cooling time. Exceeding the duty cycle limitations will reduce the operating life of the pump.
The difference in the duty cycle is a reflection of the performance, a sump pump produces a high volume with a high pumping head, a pond pump produces a large volume flow with low head, therefore requiring much less energy, it has less heat and can be cooled by the pond water allowing 100% duty cycle.
F
Filter: Filters are units designed to clean and clear water. There are two main types used for ponds, mechanical and biological. The filter can be located either in-pond or external, out of pond filters can be either gravity or pressure types, with pressure being the most common. Filter choices
Flocculate: To form lumps or masses. Water treatment and Filter choices
Flood Suction: The pump inlet is located below water level so that the water flows freely into the inlet.
Flow rate: The volume of water to be circulated throughout the pond system, measured in litres per hour (lph).
Fountain: A decorative structure, that issues a flow or jet of water.
Fountain Head: A nozzle that creates jet or steam of water. Available in a variety of shapes and patterns. Fountain heads
Friction Loss: The amount of head (pressure) required to move the water through the hoses and fittings. This must be allowed for when selecting a suitable pump for the pond. See our calculator
Fungus: Parasitic plants lacking chlorophyll, leaves, true stems and roots that reproduce by spores.
G
Geyser: A column of water ejected into the air from a pump. Fountain heads
Green Water Algae: Commonly called 'Pea Soup' - Caused by excess algae this is a dramatic imbalance of the pond's micro-organisms. Water treatment
Gravity feed: The pump inlet is located below water level so that the water flows freely into the inlet.
H
H.D.P.E: High-density polyethylene, used in many items including pre-formed plastic ponds
Head: A measure of pumping pressure. 10 metres head = 1 Bar at 20°C More information on head heights
Head Height: The maximum height that the pump can lift water up vertically, ie the point at which water ceases to flow. Link
I
Impellor: A rotating device (normally on a shaft) inside a pump used to force water through the pump. In most cases a magnet is also attached Spare Parts
L
Low Voltage Pump: 12V and 24V, usually alternating current (AC) solar pumps are normally direct current (DC)
M
Marginal Plants: Aquatic plants that live in the shallow areas around the edge of a pond.
N
Nitrate: NO3. Large macronutrient used by plants for food. Levels over 50mg per litre will encourage algae. Water treatment
Nitrite: NO2. Lethal to fish and other pond life. Nitrate poisoning causes fish to gasp at water surface. Water treatment
Nozzle: Pump attachment such as a fountain head that creates various water patterns and assists in aeration of the pond water.
O
Organisms: An individual form of life, such as a plant, animal, bacterium, protist, or fungus; a body made up of organs, organelles, or other parts that work together to carry on the various processes of life. Water treatment and Filters
Oxygenating: To produce oxygen in water.
Oxygenating Plants: Plants that emit oxygen into the pond water during photosynthesis.
P
Parasite: An animal or plant that lives in or on another and from which it obtains nourishment.
pH: A measure of how acid or alkaline your pond water is, with 7 being neutral. The acceptable range for pond water is between 6.5 and 8.5 with 7.5 being the ideal for the health of your livestock. Water treatment
Photosynthesis: The process in green plants and certain other organisms where carbohydrates are synthesized from carbon dioxide and water using light as an energy source. Most forms of photosynthesis release oxygen as a by-product.
Pond Liner: Membrane material used in freeform pond construction to waterproof the pond cavity. Pond liners
Pond Vacuum: A device that sucks sludge and debris from the bottom of a pond. Vacuum cleaners
Ponds - Fibreglass: Pre-formed ponds constructed to look as natural as possible that come in a range of varying shapes and sizes.
Ponds: Rigid: Pre-formed pond units that come in varying shapes and sizes. We recommend flexible pond liner
Projecting Sheet Spillway: Manifold Box Spillway that projects a sheet of water into the pond as a decorative effect (see sheer descent spillway). Spillways
Pump: A mechanical device that generates water pressure so the pond water can be circulated for filtration and decorative uses. Pumps are made in varying styles such as, filter, waterfall / stream, feature, or general purpose
Pump Cage: A device that restricts the size of solids from entering a submersible pump.
S
Sheet Descent or Cascading Spillway: Manifold box used to create an even sheet of water that runs down the wall. Spillways
Sheer Descent Spillway: Also know as projecting sheet. Manifold box used to create a 'solid sheet of water that projects out from the wall. Spillways
Skimmer: A device that removes leaves and other debris from the pond surface. Skimmers
Sludge: Organic matter and waste product build up at the bottom of a pond. Water treatment and Sludge vacuum cleaners
Solar Panel: A device that produces electricity from sunlight by photo-voltaic action. Solar pumps
Spiral Hose: Reinforced hose designed to maintain its shape and minimise the friction loss that degrades pond pump performance, especially in bends. Hoses, Tubes and Fittings
Spitter: A nozzle that produces a solid stream of water.
T
Test Strip: Water test strips that measure the most important levels of water quality, acidity, hardness, nitrites and nitrates. Water treatment
U
UV-C or U.V. Clarifier: Unit that uses ultra-violet light from a special lamp to kill algae and other microscopic organisms as water passes through it, thus 'sterilising' the water. UV clarifiers
Underlay: A high density fabric used under pond liner to protect it from puncture. Sometimes called geotextile. Also assists with installation of liner. Pond Underlay
V
Volume: The amount of water contained in a pond or water feature, usually measured in litres. Multiply length x width x depth in metres and multiply the result by 1000 to give the volume in litres.
W
Water Lilies: Attractive aquatic flowering plants.
Water treatment: Chemicals and/or natural products, possibly liquid or granule form, used to maintain optimum water quality, often formulated to be suitable for pond aquatic life. Water treatment