I've been using a Harbor Freight pump for a bit now and really am liking it... plus a good price. For most submersible pumps you actually don't want the pump sitting on the very bottom since they can clog quickly from larger debris which you will need to net out by hand. That means putting it up on a brick or something else. It should indicate on the instructions the height off the bottom it should be positioned. Also look for one that can “handle” solids… meaning it will puree items pulled in. Regardless though if a few decent sized leaves sink down and make it to the intake grill… it will still block up and potentially burn you motor.

The other option is to make a prefilter box around the pump and you won’t need to worry about raising it from the bottom. My pond is a bit larger then yours and I ended up putting my pump into a black egg crate on it’s side cutting out any plasitic to allow the output hose. Then get a mesh clothes bag… or mesh sports bag to wrap the whole egg crate and filter. The mesh will filter out any large things from getting to your pump. The mesh bag then synches down tight around the box. I got a cheap one at Dicks Sporting goods. If you get a black egg crate and black mesh bag…. The whole thing blends in nicely at the bottom.

Thanks for your quick response. I already have a prefilter setup.I made a filter box out of a small plastic tote with a snap on lid.I put the pump in ,cover it with lava rocks and then put a thick layer of quilt batting on top .I drilled holes in it for the tubing and cord and more holes for water flow .It works very well for filtering the water but little bits of plant matter get in and clog the intake strainer on the pump.Its not quite such a big deal as I only have to clean it every 2 or 3 months in the warmer months.I am going to try your bag method.Thanks so very much!

Sounds like you have a pretty good set-up if you're only having to clean out your pump intake every couple of months. I had a similar sized pond when I started out. I buried my OASE 1200 gph in a mesh laundry bag filled with bio balls, cinched the draw string and stuck it in a black milk crate. That served as my primary filter until adding a BioFalls filter a couple of years later.

They have really improved the efficiency of pond pumps. I replaced a 15 yo OASE 2700 gph pump with a 3000 gph one that uses 40% less electricity. My electric bill dropped $10 a month; well worth the higher initial investment, IMO.