The sizes in the range are the 2500, 3500, 5500, 8500, 11500, 14500 and 17500 and the maximum head height, which is the height that the pumps will pump up to is 3.3 metres on the largest pump which is the 17500.

We opened up a 3500 to have a look and write this review, and below is our thoughts and observations..

What's in the box?

When you open the box the first thing you see are the Oase instructions, which are neatly packed in and in a sealed bag keeping them safe. This is also where you will find the extended guarantee slip, which you send off to Oase to get a 5 year guarantee from them. They respond to this with a certificate with the date of purchase and shows when the guarantee will expire. If you do not send off the form you still get a 3 year guarantee from purchase date though, but it's definitely worth sending it, especially as it's free.

The pump itself it pretty much assembled, all you need to do is open up the sealed bag which contains your hosetails, which you are given two of, one has a ball joint so that it can move around slightly and the other is a rigid hosetail. In this bag you also get seals for the hosetails and 2 hose clips which is very handy as most suppliers do not offer this.

Complying with building regulations

The pump itself comes with a 10 metre / 33 foot length of electrical cable which is the standard for pond pumps in the UK now but no plug attached, as any item which is intended for outdoor use as a permanent fixture and will come into contact with water cannot be sold with a plug fitted. This is to conform with Part P of the Building Regulations 2000.

Easy opening and maintenance

To get inside the cage there are two screws underneath the front of it which can be removed and then you just push the clip and lift the cage, inside you will find the main pump body which does feel very sturdy, something we’d expect from Oase. The ease of opening this cage though means that maintenance is going to be very easy, and to be honest due to it’s solids handling capability it’s not often you will need to clean it out.

When you are putting the cage back together, the cable even has a small guide which stops you from pinching it between the top and bottom and ripping the rubber covering, which has happened to a couple of past customers, so it may seem like something small but it happens to protect your pond in quite a big way.

The conclusion

All in all the pump is alot nicer looking, easier to take apart for maintenance and feeling much better quality than it's predecessor. You may think it's expensive to buy, but with Oase you'll usually find lower running costs and a 5 year guarantee which no other manufacturer offer at present.

If you're interested in this particular size then please see our page for the Aquamax Eco Classic 3500 or for the full range see our page for Oase Pond Pumps.