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How to install a pond pump

Bunnings team member placing a pump into a small pond surrounded by pebbles

Overview

Installing a pond pump is an easy D.I.Y. project that can completely transform the look and feel in your garden. This step-by-step guide shows you what you need to do before you get started and how to get the correct water-flow rate through your pump.

Tools and materials

Tools

Materials

Steps

1Attach the fittings

Before you install your pond pump, make sure that you have access to an outdoor power point that has been installed by a qualified electrician. The power point needs to be close enough to the pond so that the electrical cable on the pump can reach it.

DIY Step Image - How to install a pond pump . Blob storage upload.

2Attach the fittings

Before you put the pump in the pond, attach the feet to the bottom of it. These will secure the pump to the bottom of the pond and stop it from moving around. Screw the connector for the fountain kit into the top of the pond pump. 
DIY Step Image - How to install a pond pump . Blob storage upload.

3Put the pump in the pond

Put the pump into your chosen location inside the pond, on a clean and stable surface. Make sure that the pump can be easily reached because you will need to take it out to regularly clean the filter.  If the pump is sitting too deep in the pond you might need to sit it on a brick, so that it's at the right height. 
DIY Step Image - How to install a pond pump . Blob storage upload.

4Test the water-flow rate

After the pump has been put in the pond, at the right height, turn it on to test the water-flow rate. If it's too high, the flow rate can be adjusted on the pump. Alternatively, you can attach one of the nozzles from the fountain kit to get the desired flow rate and the look that you want. Depending on the height of the nozzle, you may not need to sit the pump on a brick.

DIY Step Image - How to install a pond pump . Blob storage upload.

5Cover the power cord

To make your finished project look professional, cover the electrical cable leading from the pump to the power point. If you have ornamental rocks around your pond, put them on top of the electrical cable to hide it. You can also dig a shallow trench in the soil, put the electrical cable in it and then cover that over with soil.
DIY Step Image - How to install a pond pump . Blob storage upload.
Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.