Alpine Eco-Sphere 4100 Pump

$274.99
SKU
PUR4100

One of our favorite small magnetic-drive submersible pumps! It is extremely energy efficient, providing reliable pumping in a small package.

Available in 6 sizes:

  • Alpine Eco-Sphere 1400: 982 gph at 5' of head pressure
  • Alpine Eco-Sphere 2800: 1806 gph at 5' of head pressure
  • Alpine Eco-Sphere 4100: 2761 gph at 5' of head pressure
  • Alpine Eco-Sphere 2000-5400: ADJUSTABLE from 2000 gph to 5400 gph at 0' - comes with controller.

Features

  • Amazingly energy efficient. Uses much less electricity than even other 'energy efficient' pumps.

  • Similar to the Alpine Eco-Twist Pumps, except made in a different casing where water is drawn in from the top. Great for placing direct in a pond.

  • Lower energy usage will eventually pay for the entire cost of the pump in energy savings.

  • Twist feature allows the outlet to be rotated to whatever angle is convenient.

  • Oil-free, magnetic-drive motor for long-term, efficient use.

  • 3 year warranty


The Alpine Eco-Sphere pumps (4 models/sizes in total) are the latest technology available from Alpine. The Eco-Sphere pumps are small, dependable, energy efficient pumps that have a couple new features over their tried and true Alpine Cyclone series.

The Alpine Eco-Sphere has a unique body and shape that draws water in from the top of the pump. This makes it great for applications where people want to skip using a skimmer and place a pump right in the bottom of the pond. With the intake coming off the top, it means that muck and other debris on the bottom of the pond won't be sucked into the pump like a normal submersible pump.

The Alpine Eco-Sphere pumps are magnetic drive pumps which work great in situations of low to medium head. If you have a higher head situation (such as a high waterfall or stream, a direct drive pump will likely give you more power. However, for most standard pond applications, the Eco-Sphere pumps will give you much higher energy efficiency.

For example, the 3000 model uses only 80 watts of power. The older Cyclone 3100, which gives a similar amount of flow, uses 276 Watts! This is a massive savings in electricity and equates to around a $17 savings every single month! This is assuming you pay the average of $0.12 per kwh. Many places like Hawaii pay much more than this. Over a year, that's a savings of over $200 which pretty much covers the cost of the pump.

The Alpine Eco-Sphere pumps are magnetic driven pumps, which means instead of a straight drive shaft from the motor to the impeller (like the Shinmaywa submersible pumps), the pump makes use of magnets to turn the impeller, which allows the motor to be fully encased in its own housing, which greatly reduces the likelihood of the motor leaking anything into the water.  One disadvantage of mag pumps is that they tend to loose their flow rate quicker as head pressure increase compared to traditional direct drive pumps.    

Depending on how much flow you need will determine which pump size you'll want to purchase. In order to know the flow rate of the pump, you'll first need to know how much head pressure you have on your system. As the head pressure increases, the flow rate will decrease. For example, having a 5' high waterfall will add 5' of head and will give you slightly less flow than if you had a 2' high waterfall. For more information on how to calculate the head pressure of your pond system, please see our page on Calculating Head Pressure.   

Pump Flow Rate (GPH) vs. Head Pressure

Pump Model 0' of head     5' of head   10' of head   15' of head   20' of head  
1400 1400 GHP       982 GPH       348 GPH       0 GPH       0 GPH      
2800 2800 GHP       1806 GPH       1014 GPH       0 GPH       0 GPH      
4100 4100 GHP       2761 GPH       1494 GPH       617 GPH       0 GPH      
5400 5400 GHP       3672 GPH       2469 GPH       1624 GPH       0 GPH      
                                

Looking for a pump with more, or less flow?  Please see our page here on pump recommendations. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this pump use a magnetic drive or a direct drive motor system?

This pump is a magnetic driven pump, which while being more energy efficient, tends to lose flow faster as the head pressure increases (when compared to direct drive pumps).  If your system contains minimal head pressure, then a mag pump is a good choice.  However, if you have a decent amount of head pressure, you may find a mag driven pump to become less powerful more quickly.  Be sure to find out the head pressure of your system, and consult the chart above to see if this pump is the right fit for your pond application.

How big of a pump do I need?

We have written a page on choosing the right pond water pump, please have a look here, which will help you decide what size pump is right for your pond.

Will this pump work for a powering a waterfall?

Yes, up to a certain size.  Keep in mind that the larger your waterfall, the larger the pump you will need!  But also keep in mind that the larger the waterfall is, the more power draw will be required, which in turn raises your electrical bill.  Another thing to remember is the higher your waterfall, the more head pressure will be present, requiring a more powerful pump to push the water up hill.  

Should I get a submersible or an external pump?

As you may know, submersible pumps are submersed in the water, and external pumps are placed outside the pond.  In general, most people start with a submersible pump and then move to an external pump if there is a good reason to do so.  For example, external pumps are available in larger sizes for higher flow rates.  Also, external pumps are easier to access since they are outside the pond.  However, this also brings potential disadvantages such as louder noise in addition to having to conseal the pump in the landscaping.  The advantate of the Alpine Cyclone is that it can be used as both!  So if your needs change in the future, this pump is a very flexible option.  To learn more, please see our page on choosing a pond pump.

More Information
SKU PUR4100
Gallons per Hour (GPH) 4100 GPH
Horse Power (HP) /
Max Head 20'
Inlet no inlet for submersible, 2" MPT if used as external
Outlet 2" MPT, also includes adapters for 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2" FPT
Watts (W) 145 WATTS
Voltage (V) 120 Volts
Dimensions All Sizes: 13" x 12" x 6"
Cord Length 33'
Warranty 3 years