Take Care Of Your Pump

Today, after pruning some plants, I noticed that one of pumps was not working. In aquaponics, this is a big deal. Although there are a lot of things required for an aquaponic system to work properly, the pump is one of the most important. The pump is the heart of every aquaponic installation, not only to clean the water for the fish, but also to water the plants (this depends on what system you have).

There are many ways to make an aquaponic system, but the easiest ones can be made with submergible pump. This things seem to go on forever, use little electricity and are small and cute. However, their main drawback is that they need some maintenance. Maintenance, you say? Aren’t these things maintenance free? Well, in their intended use, maybe. However, since those pumps will be submerged in fertilized water, things change. No matter what you do, there will be some algae that will develop in your pump. You see, these pumps where made to make a continuous flow on fountains and pools, where water is supposed to be “cured” with bleach or any other disinfectant.

In an aquaponic system, bacteria covers everything with slime (which is a good thing) but also encourages growth of algae. This is why you will have to clean your pump a little more often, but, unless you use some strange and sophisticated thing, it will only take you a couple of minutes.

Your aquaponic system can have a lot of different types and brands of pumps, but most of them are very similar. To clean your pump, just remember some things:

• Plan correctly. Try to do it early in the morning or when the sun is not shining so hard. You plants will not get their scheduled watering, so be careful.
• Use soft tools. Although you can scrape everything with some metallic cool tool, most of the pumps are made of plastic and you can break the seals

I clean mine once every month, although my aquaponic tank can keep going for more. It’s just my schedule. Since you will have different circumstances than me, you just will have to see. Wait for a month and take a look at your pump. Just be sure to monitor that before it clogs.

Your fish (and plants) will appreciate it. You have to keep checking, but that’s aquaponics for you.

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