SOBO Eco Amphibious 4000 – 24V DC Pond Pump, 4000 L/h, 30W

The 4000 sits in the sweet spot of this range for an average garden koi pond — enough flow to turn over a few thousand litres an hour through a filter, on a draw of just 30 watts. Since the pump runs continuously, that low wattage is the whole point: it is what the pump costs you every month, not the shelf price.

Ten speeds, not one

The supplied control panel gives ten power settings, so you match the pump to the filter rather than strangling a fixed-speed pump with a valve. Dialling the speed down genuinely cuts consumption; a part-closed valve just wastes it. Feeding mode pauses the pump for 15 minutes and resumes automatically after 60, so pellets are not dragged off before the fish get them.

24 V motor, 220 V supply

The motor is 24 V DC — low voltage in the water, which is the safety argument for the design. The included power supply converts from standard 220 V mains, so installation is a plug and a cable. True sine wave frequency conversion with a 6T sensor gives smooth speed control rather than crude stepping.

Reading the flow and head figures — important

The 4000 L/h and 4.5 m figures do not occur together. Flow is quoted at zero head, outlet level with the water surface. The 4.5 m figure is the shut-off head: at that height flow is zero. Output declines steadily in between, so size on the flow you need at your actual lift height.

Pipe diameter matters as much as pump choice — narrow pipe adds friction loss and costs you both flow and lift. On a long run, increase the pipe size before you increase the pump.

Specifications

• Maximum flow: 4000 L/h at zero head
• Maximum lift (shut-off head): 4.5 m, at which flow is zero
• Power consumption: 30 W
• Motor: 24 V DC, pure copper winding
• Power supply: 220 V AC input, included
• Speed settings: 10-stage selector
• Feeding mode: 15 min pause, 60 min auto-resume
• Shaft: ceramic core and sleeve
• Protection: waterless (dry-run) damage protection
• Water types: fresh and salt water

In or out of the water

Fully submersible, and equally able to be dry mounted outside the pond. A pump in a dry chamber is easier to service and avoids the silt that shortens pump life.