How to choose a pond pump
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Whether you have a preformed pond or a liner pond, a pond pump is a paramount component of any water feature, because without a pond pump there will be no water movement, which could result in mosquitoes and other unwanted pests breeding in it. If you choose the wrong pond pump, your water will either not flow the way you desire, or you may have insufficient flow to filter your water and/or feed your waterfall. Therefore, it is worth taking the time to choose the proper pond pump to suite your needs.
What kind of pond pumps are available?
Pond pumps are available in both submersible and external (out-of-pond) models. For the smaller pond (up to 1000 gallons of water), a submersible pump is the more economical and practical option. Submersible pond pumps can be placed directly in the pond and require relatively little installation. They are free of distracting noise, and for smaller ponds, can easily be utilized to drain your pond (if you hook up a hose to the output flow). In the old days, the main disadvantage of submersible pond pumps was that the pump seal could rupture and release oil coolant into the water. However, this is not the case nowadays, because newer pumps are magnetic-driven, and no longer require coolant. "Mag-driven" pumps are slightly more expensive, but they have the added advantage of consuming less electricity, operating more quietly, and being more reliable over long-term use than direct-drive pond pumps.
How are pond pumps sized?
Pond pumps are sized by gallons per hour (GPH) output at one foot of lift or height. Larger capacity pumps are rated by horsepower (HP). Manufacturers offer charts that break down the power of each size pump according to incremental heights of one foot. Some companies label pond pumps by GPH while others assign letter or number designations that require cross-referencing to charts.
How do I know what kind of pump I need?
To determine the correct submersible pond pump for your water garden, you should determine your pond's volume. It is recommended that you circulate your pond's water once at least every 2 hours. Hence, your pump should have a GPH (gallons per hour) rating of at least half of your pond size.
For example, if you had a 1000 gallon pond, then you will require a 500 GPH pond pump.
Green Tip:
Reduce energy consumption by unplugging any electronics that you don't use often.
If you have fish, or accessories such as fountains or waterfalls/streams, you should account for this be getting a larger pump (preferably one size larger). The general rule of thumb is that you should double the pump's capacity if you are planning to add fish.
Calculating the proper pump for waterfalls is a bit trickier, because waterfall pumps are rated by both GPH and maximum waterfall height. To estimate your waterfall's height, you must measure the vertical height from the top of your pump to the top of your waterfall or stream. In addition, you must add another foot of height or lift for every 10 feet of hosing you will be using (this will allow for loss of volume from resistance within the hose). To calculate the required pump GPH, a general rule of thumb is that each inch of width of the channel will require an extra 100 GPH. For example, if your stream or waterfall spillway will be 10 inches wide, you will need a pumpthat produces an excess flow of 1000 GPH at your waterfall's height.
Pond Pump Sizing Chart
| Pond Size (gallons) | Minimum Pond Pump Size (for pond circulation only) |
|---|---|
| 30-100 | 50 GPH |
| 100-200 | 100 GPH |
| 200-400 | 200 GPH |
| 400-700 | 350 GPH |
| 700-900 | 450 GPH |
| 900-1100 | 550 GPH |
| 1100-1500 | 750 GPH |
| 1500-2000 | 1000 GPH |
Recommended Tubing Diameter For Pond Pumps (When Connecting To Waterfalls)
- 1/2-inch diameter for flows up to 120 GPH
- 3/4-inch diameter for flows up to 350 GPH
- 1-inch diameter for flows up to 1000 GPH
- 1 1/4 inch for flows up to 1500 GPH
- 1 1/2 inch for flows up to 3000 GPH
Specifications for Statuary Pond Pumps
- These pond pumps can produce a small amount of water circulation, however, they are more suitable for statues and spitters.
| Pond Pump Model | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extrema | IDRA | Nova | Micra Plus | Micra | Mi-Mouse | |
| Tubing | 3/4" | 1/2" | 1/2" | 1/2" | 1/2" | 1/2" |
| Head | 7.25" | 7" | 4.8' | 3.2' | 1.8' | 1.6' |
| Watts | 28 | 22 | 9.6 | 7.8 | 6.1 | 6 |
| GPH at 0' | 660 | 306 | 178 | 158 | 90 | 82 |
| GPH at 1' | 580 | 296 | 165 | 118 | 50 | 42 |
| GPH at 2' | 520 | 270 | 140 | 78 | - | - |
| GPH at 4' | 420 | 210 | 80 | - | - | - |
| GPH at 6' | 260 | 150 | - | - | - | - |
| Please read down the columns for different model specifications. | ||||||
Specifications for Super Flo Pond Pump Kits
- Super Flo pond pump kits include a sponge pre-filter to trap large particles, fountain heads for increased water aeration, and built-in support for waterfalls and out-take filters.
- Extra filtration can be added by using the Super Flo Mechanical and Biological Filter add-on unit.
| Pond Pump Model | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | 1300 | 2000 | 3000 | 4000 | 5000 | 6000 | |
| Head | 4.8' | 7' | 7.3' | 8' | 9.5' | 11' | 15' |
| Watts | 8.3 | 23 | 28 | 43 | 59 | 90 | 120 |
| GPH at 0' height | 200 | 306 | 500 | 792 | 990 | 1100 | 1585 |
| GPH at 1' height | 165 | 296 | 490 | 772 | 970 | 990 | 1335 |
| GPH at 2' height | 140 | 270 | 460 | 752 | 940 | 960 | 1290 |
| GPH at 4' height | 80 | 210 | 400 | 690 | 880 | 900 | 1210 |
| GPH at 6' height | - | 150 | 340 | 630 | 820 | 840 | 1140 |
| GPH at 8' height | - | - | 100 | 250 | 390 | 640 | 810 |
| GPH at 10' height | - | - | - | - | 210 | 380 | 520 |
| GPH at 14' height | - | - | - | - | - | - | 240 |
| Please read down the columns for different model specifications. | |||||||
Specifications for all Ultra Flo Pond Pumps
- The UltraFlo pond pump kit offers increased water aeration which makes it ideal for applications that require increased water oxygenation levels (E.g. fish ponds and hydroponics). The pump utilizes an unique air/water air mix system to effectively increase the oxygen concentration in your pond.
- Filter cleaning not required! The low-maintenance, mag-driven Ultraflo pond pump contains a sealed unit with a large enclosure that prevents debris from getting around the water intake.
Pond Pump Model |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | 1700 | 2600 | 4000 | |
| Tubing | 3/4" | 1" | 1" | 1" |
| Head | 4.8' | 6.6' | 9.5' | 10' |
| Watts | 11.5 | 30 | 33 | 44 |
| GPH at 0' | 200 | 440 | 660 | 1018 |
| GPH at 1' | 165 | 400 | 640 | 980 |
| GPH at 2' | 140 | 340 | 600 | 920 |
| GPH at 4' | 80 | 200 | 540 | 860 |
| GPH at 6' | - | 60 | 400 | 780 |
| GPH at 8' | - | - | 200 | 370 |
Specifications for SICCE Master DW Waterfall/Cascade Pond Pumps
Master DW is a prestigious range of pond pumps which have been designed for medium to large ponds, for partially dirty water, to create waterfalls, and to use in conjunction with external filters.
| Pond Pump Model | ||
|---|---|---|
| Master DW 8000 | Master DW 10500 | |
| Watts | 150 | 250 |
| GPH at 0m height | 2100 | 2780 |
| GPH at 1m height | 1980 | 2690 |
| GPH at 2m height | 1850 | 2590 |
| GPH at 3m height | 1640 | 2430 |
| GPH at 4m height | 1320 | 2300 |
| GPH at 5m heigh | 1050 | 2110 |
| GPH at 6m height | - | 1850 |
| GPH at 7m height | - | 1580 |
| GPH at 8m height | - | 1190 |
| GPH at 9m height | - | 550 |
| Please read down the columns for different model specifications. | ||
Specifications for Algreen MaxFlo Waterfall Pond Pumps
MaxFlo is a powerful line of waterfall pumps designed for large ponds.
| Waterfall Pump Model | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MaxFlo 9,000 | MaxFlo 12,000 | MaxFlo 16,000 | MaxFlo 20,000 | |
| Watts | 190 | 270 | 320 | 420 |
| Max. Flow Rate | 2200 GPH | 3200 GPH | 4,000 GPH | 5,000 GPH |
| Max. Flo Height (Head) | 12' | 18' | 19' | 22' |
| Outlet Connection | 1", 1 1/2" | 1", 1 1/2" | 1 1/2" | 1 1/2" |
| Please read down the columns for different model specifications. | ||||
