EHEIM PLAY pond fountain pump, 870 to 3,200 L/h

The four models have round-number names, which are not their flow rates. The PLAY 1000 delivers 870 litres per hour, the 1500 delivers 1,200, the 2500 delivers 2,300 and the 3500 delivers 3,200. The difference matters when you size a stream or a waterfall from a target flow rate. The maximum head follows the same scale, from 1.2 m on the smallest to 2.9 m on the largest: this is the height at which the flow drops to zero, and the closer the nozzle or outlet is to this limit, the weaker the water comes out.

The two small models share a 143 x 101 x 109 mm housing, which fits in a basin or a small preformed pond. The PLAY 2500 and 3500 have a larger housing, measuring 189 x 135 x 140 mm, and their pressure of 240 and 290 mbar, against 120 and 145 mbar for the small ones, lets them feed a taller jet or a longer stream. For a basin or a pond under 2 m, a discreet jet is enough, and the PLAY 1000 or 1500 keeps it from spilling out of the water feature. On a pond several metres across, a low jet can no longer be seen from your house, and the PLAY 2500 or 3500 then gives a taller jet.

A fountain often runs from morning to night throughout the warm season, so its consumption is best judged over time. The PLAY 1000 draws 9 W, the 1500 draws 15, the 2500 draws 38 and the 3500 draws 55. Over 6 months of continuous running, that comes to about 39 kWh for the smallest and 241 kWh for the largest. Going from the 1500 to the 2500 multiplies the power by 2.5 for a flow rate increased by less than 2, so a timer that runs the fountain only during the day saves you more on the larger models.

The 10 m cable plugs into an outdoor socket protected by a residual current device (RCD) rated at 30 mA or less, and positioned higher than the pond water level. Form a loop below the socket, so that any water running along the cable drips onto the ground instead of reaching the plug. If you add an extension lead, it must be rated for outdoor use. The cable cannot be replaced: if it is damaged, the whole pump has to be replaced, which is why it is worth routing it where garden tools cannot reach it.

The second outlet of the tube connects to a 1/2, 3/4 or 1 inch pipe using the supplied set of fittings. Cut the stepped end to the diameter of your pipe with a saw, screw it onto the bypass, then secure the pipe with a clip. A spiral pipe keeps its shape in bends and does not get crushed under the stones of a rockery. You can also connect this outlet to the inlet of a pond filter, and the fountain then feeds the filtration at the same time as it animates the surface.

The head of your stream should stay well below the maximum height of the model, since the available flow decreases as the height to be cleared increases, and it is also shared between the nozzle and the pipe. For a stream head 1 m above the water, the PLAY 1500, limited to 1.4 m, delivers only a small part of its flow there, whereas the PLAY 2500, whose maximum height reaches 2.4 m, keeps a healthy flow. If the stream matters more to you than the jet, partly close the nozzle valve to send more water towards the pipe.

When the jet weakens, unplug the pump and take it out of the pond. The nozzle and the tube unscrew and can be rinsed under running water. The housing opens by pressing its two side clips: you remove the cover, take the pump out of its compartment, then rinse the housing under the tap. The impeller is then taken out in turn to be cleaned, without any hard object or harsh product. On the PLAY 1500, 2500 and 3500, a thermal protection cuts the motor in case of overheating: let the pump cool for about an hour before plugging it back in.

Switch off the fountain before the first frosts. Take the pump out of the pond, clean it, then store it somewhere frost-free, preferably in a bucket filled with water, which avoids starting difficulties in spring. The plug, however, stays dry. In spring, simply put the pump back on its support, refit the tube and the nozzle, and plug it in again. The pump is guaranteed for 3 years.