How hard is it to set up a running water feature?

[Snadger]

Just bought a house with a large garden that gently slopes down to the house.
Was thinking about creating a small babbling brook maybe half a metre wide that would meander down about 20 metres of garden with a windy path following its course which would evenyually finish in a small pond next to the patio.
I would like the water to emamnate from the ground at the top, resembling a spring and probably cross the stream with the path at some stage.
Would a central heating pump that I am planning on liberating from the house when I put in a condensing boiler have the b*lls to cope with the flow?

[roitelet]

Don't know how difficult that would be Snadger. The only comment I would make is, have you thought of the evaporation. You would need a pretty large reservoir to cope with that amount of moving water.

[Snadger]

Don't know how difficult that would be Snadger. The only comment I would make is, have you thought of the evaporation. You would need a pretty large reservoir to cope with that amount of moving water.

I'll just have to dig a deep pond then!

[Glutton4...]

Most people have trouble with waterfalls and rills, due to evaporation, or ice. Or both. Make sure your pump will work all winter, whatever temperature, or remove it when the temperature falls, and re-install it in the spring.

As for construction, you do need a big 'sump' and also make sure you don't lose any water through capillary action.

Have you had a 'google' yet?

[fishpond]

HI Snadger
Central heating pumps are okay for pumping on the level, but they are no good for lifting water (not a lot of umph---technical term)
Imho (and I have a similar setup)
You need to work out the head of water you will be pumping against.ie from water surface of bottom pond to top pond/water feature.
Take into account any bends/restriction of pipework.
Study manufacturers claims for galls/litres an hour and head that can be pumped, and take with a large pinch of salt
Depends on whether you are going to be keeping fish as to whether you will be running it 24/7-----in which case you need to look at wattage of pump.
Use an inpond pump (I use a Aquamax 12000 eco(130/80 watts for that particular arrangement with a 5 foot lift)into a filter.
Run 1.5"/2" flexi hose burried(but not too deep that you cannot get to it if needed), with something over the top to stop it getting crushed if its walked on.
Hope this helps

P.S I do not have anything to do with this company I just love their pumps(most of the time)

[Bigmallly]

Just an added thought, would a waterbutt pump do the job as the one I have can pump up to 11 metres high (apparently).

[Dekzion]

Snadger,
Fish pond is right, A Central Heating pump is called a 'circulating pump' 'cos thats what it does, it's got no lifting power it just pushes water around on the level.
Have you thought about Solar powering your stream? leaving a pump running is going to heft the eleccy bill up as well.
There's a lot of low voltage pumps about now-adays especially from the east.
A Good Google is whats required here I think
And I saw somewhere the other day that you can get a solution to add to water features that stop it from freezing, they said it was harmless to fishes and birds so I might try it in my fountain, if I can find it again.