PULACO 160 GPH Small Submersible Water Pump

The PULACO FR-PPU12-120 is a compact submersible water pump rated at 160GPH on 10Watt. It has a flow valve and a maximum lift of 4.0ft, and it ships with 3.3 ft of silicone tubing. PULACO lists it for medium fish tanks, small ponds, fountains, aquaponics and similar projects.

What a small pump is good for

• Adding circulation in a tank with dead spots.
• Running a DIY filter, such as a bucket or top-mounted trickle filter.
• Feeding a small fountain or water feature.
• Moving water in an aquaponic grow bed.

Flow and lift

160GPH is the open-flow figure with no height to push against. As you raise the outlet, flow drops until it reaches zero at 4.0ft. For a tabletop fountain or a DIY sump return of a foot or two, it has enough push. For anything taller, look at bigger models like the PULACO 400 GPH pump.

Adjusting it

The flow valve lets you turn the pump down. That is useful in small tanks where full output would toss fish around. Start low and work up.

Cleaning

The pump comes apart without tools. Pop off the front cover, pull out the impeller, and rinse everything in old tank water. Do this whenever flow drops; debris in the intake is the usual cause. A pre-filter sponge over the intake, like the AQUANEAT pre-filter sponges, keeps fry and shrimp out and cuts how often you clean it.

About the tubing

The included tubing is soft silicone. If it arrives with kinks from packing, PULACO suggests stretching it and laying it flat for a few hours so it relaxes.

Safety

Always keep the pump fully underwater while running, since running dry wears it out quickly. Add a drip loop in the power cord so water cannot follow it into the outlet.