BrewThruYou
Well-Known Member
I had a hard time figuring out how to connect a pond pump to my wort chiller for a quick swap, so I thought I'd provide this basic rundown. I was impatient and bought the pond pump from Lowe's, but Harbor Freight has some much cheaper options.
Parts List I Used:
Submersible Pond Pump 330gph - $39.99 - Lowe's Item #206234 I used a 330gph Lowe's pond pump, but recommend checking out slightly more powerful options like the 640gph Harbor Freight one.
Metal Quick Disconnect Set (Male + Female) - $6.28 - Lowe's Item #228724
Metal Female Quick Disconnect - $3.27 - Lowe's Item #37759
Male Metal Hose Repair w/ Clamp - $3.48 - Lowe's Item #93156
2' Vinyl Tubing 5/8" ID, 3/4" OD - maybe $1.00 for 2 feet
1st Step - Assembling Pond Pump Output
Picture above is the pump with the included plastic barb attached to the tubing I bought at Lowe's. The other end of the tubing attaches to the barb of the metal male hose repair piece. Then you'll want to screw that piece to one of the female quick disconnects. In the picture, it's unscrewed.
2nd Step - Assembling Wort Chiller Input
Pretty simple step. Since I have a wort chiller with the garden hose adaptor and not garden hose fittings, I just screw the male disconnect into the garden hose fitting.
Basically, you have two female quick disconnects - one on your faucet (it screws right onto your faucet adaptor) and then another one at the pump. The lone male quick disconnect is the wort chiller input. This allows you to swap the input from the faucet tap water to the pond pump very quickly. So after tap water takes my wort down under 100°, I swap the wort chiller input from the faucet to the pond pump and then move my tubing into the MLT to recirculate ice water.
I used my 10G Rubbermaid MLT to hold the ice water for recirculation, but any kind of tub or bucket should work.
Parts List I Used:
Submersible Pond Pump 330gph - $39.99 - Lowe's Item #206234 I used a 330gph Lowe's pond pump, but recommend checking out slightly more powerful options like the 640gph Harbor Freight one.
Metal Quick Disconnect Set (Male + Female) - $6.28 - Lowe's Item #228724
Metal Female Quick Disconnect - $3.27 - Lowe's Item #37759
Male Metal Hose Repair w/ Clamp - $3.48 - Lowe's Item #93156
2' Vinyl Tubing 5/8" ID, 3/4" OD - maybe $1.00 for 2 feet
1st Step - Assembling Pond Pump Output
Picture above is the pump with the included plastic barb attached to the tubing I bought at Lowe's. The other end of the tubing attaches to the barb of the metal male hose repair piece. Then you'll want to screw that piece to one of the female quick disconnects. In the picture, it's unscrewed.
2nd Step - Assembling Wort Chiller Input
Pretty simple step. Since I have a wort chiller with the garden hose adaptor and not garden hose fittings, I just screw the male disconnect into the garden hose fitting.
Basically, you have two female quick disconnects - one on your faucet (it screws right onto your faucet adaptor) and then another one at the pump. The lone male quick disconnect is the wort chiller input. This allows you to swap the input from the faucet tap water to the pond pump very quickly. So after tap water takes my wort down under 100°, I swap the wort chiller input from the faucet to the pond pump and then move my tubing into the MLT to recirculate ice water.
I used my 10G Rubbermaid MLT to hold the ice water for recirculation, but any kind of tub or bucket should work.