Irrigating raised bed garden with pond water.

[boggen]

i would have to disagree with you LD1 about the need for a positive displacement pump. i can see your point, of wanting good amount of pressure.

there are different types of centrifuge pumps.

pond pumps = low pressure and high gallons per hour of water. they are made to run 24/7/365 days a year. so water is constantly moving for fish.

utility pumps = higher pressure with lower amount of gallons per hour of water. they are meant to be ran for couple hours and then turned off to allowed to cool down, they generally use more electricity vs pond pumps. due to motors. or i might be able to say the pressure they create. they are also not made to run for long periods of time. due to heat build up within the pump.

if this was about choosing a pump for a pond to provide water movement for filtration and fish, it would be geared for needing a pond pump. but in this case it would be for watering a garden, and this is were the utility style pumps come into play. and most sump pumps and trash pumps can be classified as utility pumps. due to they produce higher pressure and less flow rate.

i would say a positive displacement pumps would be better suited for hyd pumps on tractors and hyd motors on implements.

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your not going to see actual pressure, until ya get into bigger pumps. such as well pumps, and when you get into them bigger pumps. folks tend to go with some sort of "well tank" and low / high pressure switch. set at approx 25 to 40psi. the well tank and pressure switch, allows for the pump to not run constantly. and allows the pump to cool down. ((helps extend the life of the pump and at same time save on the electrical bill due to pump not needing to run every time you turn on a faucet or turn on a garden hose. and allows you to shut off water, without damaging the pump))

 

[LD1]

Even the utility pumps produce less than desirable results with a NOZZLE in my experience.

That is the key. They all will work just fine with an open hose. But a centrifigual pump by nature cannot build much pressure at all.

This Pump, Sewage, 1/2 HP - Submersible Sewage Pumps - Sump, Effluent and Sewage - Pumps : Grainger Industrial Supply

Is the exact pump I have for my rain barrels. Reduced with a series of bell reducers (for less turbulent flow) and even it doesnt perform well with a nozzle. It is about like having a well producing 20psi

But NO nozzle, and it will flow just as fast as my spigot taped into the city water line.

 

[BeeferMan]

Why make it complicated?

Cheap sump pump that has a standard hose fitting on the outlet. Put it in a submerged five gallon bucket to keep it out of the muck and mud.

 

[redharley]

I agree with last poster keep it simple and cheap. I use my pool cover pump about $60 new with 50 ft 5/8 hose with spray nozel will water a larger garden with no problem.Only catch is getting 110 volts of power [don't know how feasble that is]