Getting The Right Pump For Your Pond: How To Choose A Pond Pump?

The pond pump is essential even if you are not planning to have fountains because they are used for oxygenating your pond.

There are certain requirements to keep in mind when choosing a pond pump. The first step is to determine the required flow rate. The minimum flow rate should equal half of your pond volume. This means a pond with 2,000 gallons of water will need a pump to circulate 1,000 gallons per hour (GPH). This is a minimum. It is possible that 1,000 GPH is not enough if your pond will have a waterfall that is more than 10 inches wide. A waterfall requires 100 - 150 GPH per inch of width of the weir (the portion that the water spills over). The pump needs to move enough water to satisfy the needs of the filter and the ultraviolet sterilizer.

The pond's design and purpose is a critical factor in selecting a pump. Submersible water feature pumps are ideally suited for ponds with roughly 200 - 800 gallons of water. These types of pumps are good for small to medium size filters because they connect easily to the submersible filters used in these ponds. Flow rates usually range between 2500 GPH and 4,100 GPH for a larger waterfall pump.

Submersible water feature pumps are generally economical to buy. There are many models of submersible pumps to choose from, and they work well with flow rates around 1,000 GPH or less. Submersible pumps are easier to install than an external pond pump. A submersible pump cannot be repaired so when it wears out it can be disposed of. The other negatives are they can cost more to operate, and often wear out before external pumps. The motors of most submersible pumps are safe to use underwater because they are encased in a resin.

There are so many factors determining how long a good submersible pump will last. Dirty water is a factor, and how often the pump is cleaned is another. If the pump is operated continuously the life span will be shorter.

Submersible pump power can require in 110 or 240 volts, 12 or 24 volts, or solar powered. Solar submersible pumps are great, but they need lots of sun for power. Of course, they won't run at night when your water needs the most oxygenation.

There is an answer for a pond too large for a submersible pump. It is the external pond pump. External pond pumps work for ponds with 1000 gallons of water or more. Flow rates range from 1800 GPH to as high as 7000 GPH. The best external pump will circulate the total volume of the pond at least once per hour.

There are several advantages to an external pond pump. They are more energy efficient, and they usually last longer. Submersible pumps last one year to 18 months.

The external pump can be repaired. Overall, the external pump is nearly always the best buy.

Check all pumps before use.