How to Save Energy with your Pond: The Best Pond Energy Saving Tips
Pond filter systems run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so your energy bill can take a hit when running and maintaining a garden pond.
Whether you're looking for ways to cut down your bills or reduce your carbon footprint, choosing energy-efficient technologies for your pond can help.
This article shares our best energy-saving tips to help you run your pond more efficiently. Read on for our best tips and tricks, including how to aerate your pond without electricity and our favourite energy-efficient pond pumps and filters!
Table of Contents
- Are ponds expensive to run?
- Do pond filters use a lot of electricity?
- How to calculate pond running costs
- How can I filter my pond without electricity?
- How do you oxygenate a pond without electricity?
- Can fish live in a pond without a pump?
- How to keep your pond clean without electricity
- Energy-efficient pond pumps
- Make your pond energy efficient with Pond Planet
Firstly, are ponds expensive to run?
The cost of running a pond depends on the pond type.
For instance, wildlife ponds, or ponds with no fish, don't require running water to aerate and oxygenise the pond, so no electricity or equipment is needed. As such, no running costs are incurred. Eco ponds are also inexpensive to run, as they almost run themselves!
Wildlife ponds and eco ponds are fantastic if you want to enjoy the benefits of a garden pond without increasing your energy bill. They attract nature and make a beautiful focal point in your garden.
You can add a water feature to your wildlife pond, such as a pond waterfall, without experiencing high energy costs. Water features can be set to run for only a few hours a day and don't require a large pump, which keeps their running cost very low.
On the other hand, large fish ponds require a lot more equipment and energy to run. Fish need oxygen, so a pond pump is needed to aerate and oxygenise the water. It's also important that the pond's water quality is kept high, so a filter is essential. Both of these facilities require electricity and thus contribute to your energy bill.
With this in mind, it's important to consider the intentions you have for your pond when deciding on the right pond for you. Different pond types require different levels of electricity and thus differ when it comes to running costs.
However, pond equipment and technology have become much more efficient over the years, and there are plenty of ways to cut back on energy – even if you're running a large fish pond. This article covers some of the best energy-saving tips to help.
Do pond pumps and filters use a lot of electricity?
Pond pumps and filters have become much more efficient over recent years. However, it is inevitable that the process of filtering and moving large volumes of water will always require power to some extent.
Additionally, pond pumps and filter systems run year-round, 24 hours a day, meaning their electricity usage can be high. However, your pond's electricity consumption depends on various factors, including the size of your pond and your device's flow rate.
You can check the amount of electricity required by your pond equipment to function by looking at the wattage level of your device: The higher the wattage, the more expensive it is to run. Generally, every 100 watts of power consumption equals 46p a day, which is approximately £166.00 yearly.
At Pond Planet, we offer pond pumps and filters in various sizes to suit your needs, so you can easily find a suitable filter to help efficiently run your pond. We also offer a selection of pond pump and filter kits, which are compatible and optimally matched pond pumps and filters, paired together to offer the best performance for your pond.
How to calculate pond running costs
There is no one size fits all solution when calculating pond running costs. There are various factors to consider, including the size of your pond and pump and your pump's overall flow rate. With this in mind, it is good practice to know how to calculate your specific pond running costs.
To work out your pond's approximate daily running cost, multiply the cost of electricity from your supplier by the kilowatt of your pond pump. Then, multiply your answer by 24 to reflect a full 24 hours' usage.
For example, if you have a 100w pond pump and your supplier charges 0.12 pence, your equation would look like this: £0.12 x 0.100kW x 24 = £0.29 per day.
How can I filter my pond without electricity?
You can filter a pond without electricity. However, it is not recommended if you have pond fish. Fish produce a lot of waste which, if not filtered efficiently, becomes toxic to your fish and other aquatic life.
Fish also require plenty of oxygen to survive; if this is not provided, they will become very sick and die. However, if you want to filter a wildlife pond or a pond with no fish, you can effectively filter your pond without electricity using pond plants.
Pond plants help create a healthy, thriving ecosystem in your pond: They help filter your pond water and excess nutrients and prevent common pond problems, including algae overgrowth.
However, it is important to note that your pond does not develop a balanced ecosystem overnight. Depending on the current condition of your pond, it can take months, or even years, until a healthy ecosystem is established – but this doesn't mean you can't enjoy your pond in the meantime!
At Pond Planet, we have a great selection of plants to help you bring your pond to life, including deep water plants and oxygenating pond plants. Our blog on the different types of pond plants tells you everything you need to know about the different plants for your pond and how and where to plant them to create a thriving environment.
We also offer a wide selection of pond test kits, so you can check the pH of your pond and identify any imbalances before they become an issue.
How do you oxygenate a pond without electricity?
Whether you have a fish or not, it's important to oxygenate and aerate your pond as it helps to introduce natural beneficial bacteria to the water and thus break down harmful waste.
To oxygenate your pond without electricity, you can use solar-powered items like solar-powered fountains and pumps.
They will aerate the pond and introduce healthy bacteria, which will help to filter your pond in the long run. However, it is important to note that whilst solar-powered devices are great for reducing your carbon footprint, their reduced capacity makes them unsuitable for a fish pond.
Solar-powered features are a fantastic choice for smaller garden ponds or when used to help support a larger pond's existing aeration system. As they are solar-powered, they can also be placed anywhere you like around your pond, allowing you full freedom with your creative design!
Can fish live in a pond without a pump?
Fish need oxygen to survive. Without it, they will quickly get sick and die, so a pond pump is essential if you want to keep fish in your pond.
Pond pumps also provide aeration, which encourages beneficial bacteria to grow. Good bacteria are crucial to your water's health and help create a healthy ecosystem where your fish can thrive.
How to keep your pond clean without electricity: Tips and tricks
Good water quality is crucial to the fish's health and other aquatic life in your pond. Below, we've covered some energy-saving tips and tricks to help keep your pond clean.
Don't overstock your pond
Adding too many fish to your pond, or allowing your fish to breed excessively, can be extremely toxic to your pond and pond life. Fish produce a lot of waste which causes the water to get dirty, and your pond filter may struggle to filter the pond if there is too much waste. This leaves your fish at risk of harmful water quality and other diseases.
As fish waste breaks down, it creates a gas that lowers the pond's oxygen levels. With this in mind, it won't be long before you have a big problem on your hands.
To avoid harming your pond life and keep your pond water clean, clear, and healthy, avoid overstocking your pond. It's also important to not overfeed your fish, as this can contribute to waste!
Treat algae and other pond problems with care
Algae is not only unsightly but also harmful to your pond. It is known to deplete the oxygen levels in your pond, so it's vital to treat algae before it becomes a problem.
If you're unsure how to treat an algae problem properly, our blog on how to get rid of algae in a pond tells you everything you need to know! After reading, you can find all the equipment you need to combat algae in our collections, including UV clarifiers, pond treatments and nets.
Energy-efficient pond pumps
At Pond Planet, we have a fantastic range of energy-efficient pond pumps to help you run your pond whilst saving energy.
Of course, there are various types of pumps to choose from. If you're unsure which pump is best for your pond, check out our blog on how to choose the best pump for your pond.
The Oase Eco pumps
The Oase Eco pumps are some of the best on the market. They are renowned for being reliable, durable and energy efficient. They also offer great value for money in terms of running costs.
At Pond Planet, we have various Oase models for you to shop, including the Oase AquaMax Eco Classic, Oase AquaMax Eco Premium, Oase Aquarius Premium Eco, and Oase Fountain Set Eco.
Whether you want to reduce your energy bill or carbon footprint, an Oase Eco pump is a great choice for your pond.
Energy efficient pumps for larger set-ups
If you're looking for an economical, energy-efficient pump for a larger pond, the Laguna Max Flo and Powerjet pumps are a great choice. They are extremely economical in terms of power usage without compromising performance or durability.
Oase Bitron Eco UVC units are also suitable for larger ponds, as they have an eco control system for maximum energy efficiency. This can save you up to 50% on your energy usage! The eco mode options save up to 525kg CO² per year, depending on the model.
Energy-saving tips for pond lighting
When it comes to lighting your pond, there are many ways to do so efficiently.
At Pond Planet, we offer various energy-efficient pond lights to help. For instance, our Oase LunAqua LED lights require less than 10w to run, compared to halogen bulbs which require 60w.
Our range offers various LED light styles by popular brands, including lights that can be submerged under-water, meaning that you don't need to compromise style or aesthetics to light your pond efficiently!
Make your pond energy efficient with Pond Planet
There are many reasons why you might want to improve your pond's energy efficiency, from saving money on your bills to reducing your carbon footprint. No matter the reason, we're here to help.
In recent years, pond technology has evolved and improved, from energy-efficient pond pumps, filters, and lights to new methods of filtering your pond without electricity.
However, there are many things to consider when moving towards more energy-efficient methods. For instance, if you have a large population of fish, natural methods of aeration and oxygenation will not be enough to allow your fish and other pond inhabitants to thrive.
However, with the help of our energy-saving tips guide, you have all the information you need to make the right choices for your pond!
Looking for more natural ways to filter your pond? Shop our range of pond snails and freshwater mussels! They feed off the debris and help to keep your pond water healthy and clear.