Solar powered filter?

[Mvjnz]

Does anyone use solar power to run their pond filters? I thought it would be kewl to do that.. a cord would have to be pretty long and go across the garden, so that's a bit of a hassle...

If anyone uses solar power, what kind of unit do you use, where did you get it (if you're in Aus) and how much was it?

I'd only need a very small one, as my pond is only 200 litres and only needs a small filter...

[Algenco]

never heard of one

[cocoa_pleco]

ive heard of them, but solar is sometimes a bit unpredictable, i would wait until someone who has had good experince with one to post

[houie925]

Small solar power systems are generally not great quality and are unpredictable. A large professionally installed system is a good long term investment(especially in areas like mine where the power pays for anything you feed into the grid) but takes quite a few years to start paying dividends. I've seen solar powered pumps that could power a filter but don't have the specs, I seem to recall them being submersible pumps far larger than you would need for a 200 liter pond.

[Fishesses]

Any new ideas on this?

I'm heading out today on errands and will look around at what's available locally.

We have a sturdy plastic wash tub that a friend was using as a small pond like thing. Some plants and a few gold fish is what he kept in it. He had a plug in pump but, we don't want to run cord.

[Fishesses]

No dice. No solar powered pumps or filters at Lowes, Home Depot, Ace or a local garden and pond shop. Not even any solar panels.

So anyway. What if I got a deep cycle battery, rigged the pump to it and a solar panel to the battery? Maybe a solar trickle charger to the battery? There are DIY instructions on the web but, I ain't a 'lectrician.

The search continues.

I did get an amazing deal on broken tile. Free! And it's not even broken. :19:

[lg0815]

heres a couple
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=20262
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15815
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14715

[AABatteries]

If you're wanting to rig up a DIY solar system, then you might want to have a bit a electrical knowledge and know how to do wiring. Those solar systems posted are just pumps, not filters. So, you would need to do DIY for a filter.