The pond pump is truly the “heart” of your pond.  They are needed for a variety of functions – from general circulation to powering water features.  The excellent news is there are a wide variety of pond pumps available from very reputable manufacturers.  For just about any use, there will be multiple products available to choose from.  The terrible news is selecting the right pump for your needs can be a very daunting task.  In this article we will provide you with a solid foundation to select the right pump for your pond application.

Uses of Pond Pumps

Pond pumps are used in four main applications:

Pond Circulation:  All ponds require water circulation in order to maintain a healthy aquatic environment and to prevent stagnation.  Even if your pond does not include a water fall, pond filter, or pond fountain, a pump is needed to circulate the water.  Moving water provides oxygenation, prevents thermal layer turnover, reduces algae growth, and prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs on the water surface.

Pond Filters:  A very common pond pump application is for use with pond filters.  In this application the pump provides the water flow through the filter, ensuring the optimal amount of toxin removal. 

Pond Water Features:  If your pond includes a waterfall, pond fountain, or statuary fountain, a pump is required to provide the water flow for the feature.  One of the fantastic aspects of water features is that they provide multiple benefits to your pond’s aquatic environment.  Water features provide not only circulation and aeration, but some also provide filtration – such as a waterfall weir with an integrated filter.

Pond Aerators:  Pond air pumps are a fantastic solution for applications that require oxygenation, but when water flow is undesirable.  The most common pond air pump application is pond winterization.  Used in conjunction with a pond deicer, the air pump provides a constant flow of oxygen and gas exchange to the pond without a flow of water which only makes the pond colder.

Types of Pond Pumps

Submersible Pumps:  Submersible Pond Pumps are installed completely underwater, typically in the deepest part of the pond.  This class of pump is generally suited for smaller ponds, or for water features requiring less that 4,000 GPH.  The main benefit of a submersible pumps is that they are visually unobtrusive and run very quietly.  They are also very simple to install, just make sure the cord length is sufficient for your needs. The downsides to a submersible pond pump is that they must be frequently removed from the pond for cleaning and maintenance.  They also generally cost more to operate than an external pond pump, although there have been some significant improvements recently in submersible pump energy efficiency.

External Pumps:  As their name implies, External Pond Pumps are designed to be installed outside of the pond, or “in-line”.   External pond pumps are a better choice for medium to larger ponds.  They can handle greater water flows (4,000 to 10,000 GPH) and are less costly to operate.  Other benefits of an external pump include ease of maintenance, longer average life, and the ability to replace parts as external pumps are not encased in resin like a submersible pump.  On the downside, an external pump takes more time and effort to install, they must be camouflaged from view, and they are generally more expensive than submersible pond pumps.

Direct Drive Pumps:  Direct Drive Pond Pumps are more common to external pumps as they have the ability to draw water toward them.  Direct drive pumps are appropriate for applications which require a significant amount of head height – such as pumping water upslope for a waterfall.  They are generally more costly to operate than a magnetic drive pond pump, but in many cases they are the only choice when a substantial amount of water flow is needed.  If you are purchasing a submersible direct drive pump, be sure that it is oil free, as leaking oil can harm pond fish and aquatic plants.

Magnetic Drive Pumps:  Magnetic Dive Pond Pumps (or Mag Drive Pumps) are usually designed as submersible pumps as most are unable to draw water into the pump.  The power is made through an electromagnetic field which turns the impeller.  Their main benefit is energy efficiency and a longer useful life.  In addition, Mag Drive pond pumps are simple to repair as typically all that is needed is a magnetic shaft and impeller (the only moving parts).  The downsides are they cannot provide sufficient water flow for high head applications, and they are slightly more expensive than direct drive pond pumps.  In general, if you do not have a high head requirement and are looking for a submersible pump, the magnetic drive pond pump is the best choice.

Air Pumps:  Air Pond Pumps do not provide any water flow.  They draw air into the pump then diffuse it into small bubbles.  Air pumps are most commonly used for pond winterization as they provide oxygenation and gas exchange without providing water flow.

Choosing the Right Size Pond Pump

To choose the right size pond pump, first determine the proper application category: 1) Filtration and Recirculation; or 2) Water Features.

Filtration and Recirculation:  The general rule of thumb for filtration and recirculation applications is the pump should turn the pond water over a minimum of once every two hours, and ideally once an hour.  For example, if your pond is 3,000 gallons the ideal pump size is 3,000 GPH, but not less than 1,500 GPH. My personal preference is to always err on the high end of the range.  A pump’s flow can always be slightly restricted, but never increased.  Also, make sure your pump is the right size for your pond filter’s specifications. 

Water Features:  Choosing the right pump size for a water feature is a bit more involved.  The first step is to determine how much water flow you need at the discharge point of the water feature itself.  Let’s use a waterfall as an example as this is the most common water feature.  For each inch of waterfall width you need 100 to 150 GPH.  So, if you have a 14” wide waterfall weir you will need 1,400 GPH to 2,100 GPH of water flow over the lip of the weir.

The next step is to calculate the head height.  Head height refers to the approximation of the vertical and horizontal distance the water must travel from the pump to the top of the waterfall.  Horizontal distance is calculated at a 10:1 ratio, while vertical distance is calculated at a 1:1 ratio.  For example, if the horizontal distance from the pond pump to the waterfall is 30’, this equates to 3’ of head height.  If the vertical distance from the pump to the top of the waterfall is 7’, this equates to 7’ of head height.  Therefore, the total head height for this application is 10’.

The last step is to review the manufacturer’s power curve for the type of pump you have selected to determine the appropriate pump size.  Let’s use the Cal Pump Mag Drive as an example.  The PWM3900 model is rated at 4,100 GPH of water flow at the pump discharge, but is rated at 2,280 GPH of water flow at a 10’ head height.  This would be a excellent choice for this particular example.  Remember, it is always better to err on the high end of the GPH range as this will place less strain on the pump.

Let us say that you have chose to build a pond in your back garden and it seems simple enough, all you need to do is dig a hole and fill it with water. Well, not quite, there are a lot of things involved and it needs plotting before building a pond in your back garden, also you will have to reckon about maintenance. If the pond is too close to your home water infiltration can harm the foundation of your home. You need to be careful. What about pond filters and pond pumps which are required if you want to keep your pond clean? Many people who are looking for a pond pump will see that pond pumps are usually divided in two categories: external pond pumps and submersible pond pumps. You will need some vital lake supplies when you choose to build a lake in your back yard. At Garden GB Limited you can buy pond pumps, pond filters or pond lights for this purpose. External pond pumps are required for supplying water for large water features like a large fountain or waterfall. No matter if your pond will need an external pump or submersible pump, the main rule for selecting the appropriate size is the same, to have enough power to circulate the water from the system. Make sure your pond or lake is practical. You do not want to have it full of cool things, just to make it look incredible, make a pond or a lake, but be sure to use your pond supplies, pond filters, pond pumps and or pond supplies and pond pumps. If you have an empty garden to play with, let us say that you delight in plants and you choose to make a garden. This is where the fun starts. You will need to find out how you want your garden to look like. At Garden GB Limited you can choose to decorate your garden as you want, you can add garden lights and filters also ornamental urns, terracotta planters and many other water features so you can make it unique and relaxing. You can also choose to include pond lights and garden lights in your modern garden. So if you want to take out the rubbish at night or to play with your pet, you might like to light the walkways around your house and garage with garden lights. All of these are fantastic reasons to invest in garden lights. Now after you have thought of everything, what will you do with the rest of your garden, you cannot just leave it as it is if you have a cool pond right in the middle, you should plant a few trees, a few flowers and make it look like a sort of getaway, so that when you get home after work you can take a drink outside next to your pond and listen to the water as it passes through your pond pump, is this fantastic or what?Take your time and choose wisely because this relaxing place will become your part of heaven.

People often find that a pond in their backyard landscaping thoughts gives them the kind of gorgeous landscape they want to have often. They also find later on that a backyard pond requires a bit of attention when it comes to cleaning it after it has been installed and built into their landscape plans. Since cleaning a pond may require you to have pond filters installed, this means that you will also need a pond pump to work with your pond filters. A pond pump will also help you keep pond water from stagnating and can even be used with your pond decorative thoughts. When you first choose on a pond pump for your backyard pond, one of the few things you may need to consider is safety. You will need to have a proper and safe outdoor outlet for your pump. Since these things need to run on electricity, make sure that the outdoor outlet you have is one that is similar to bathroom outlets and is capable of automatically breaking the circuit should water come in contact with any open wires or electrical devices that could cause a small circuit. Once safety is assured and you have a proper outdoor outlet for your pump, you can then proceed to finding the right pump for your pond. Some people reason that they don’t need a pond pump for their ponds since they do not have fish that will dirty the pond or they don’t have any artistic additions to their backyard pond that requires the circulation of water that a pump gives. What they don’t know is that whether or not they have these in their ponds, they will still need a pump for their ponds to help keep the pond clean and to use with their standard basket filter that will help keep them from having to clean their pond too often. When choosing a pond pump for your backyard pond, you will need to consider the amount of water that your pump sucks in. The amount of water that your pump sucks is can be calculated at GPH or gallons per hour. You will need to check the GPH of the pump you are installing if you are thinking of using this pump with some of the things that you use in your pond like your waterfall installation or your pond filters. The more water your pump can go in an hour, the more powerful it is and the better it will be in terms of keeping you backyard pond clean and the water from stagnating. Another thing that needs to be considered when you need to install a pond pump for your backyard pond is whether it is situated above the water or underneath the water. Each has its pros and cons that will include the ease of use and the ease of installation each type brings with it. Also included in the list of pros and cons for both types of pumps are the price, the noise factor, and the ease for repairing and maintaining these pumps.

There have been many frequent questions questioned regarding Koi filters as to why some Koi ponds still remain a pea soup colour even with a biological filter installed. It seems that everything is in place yet the desired result of clear, clean healthy water is not being obtained. There are a few factors to observe here that could lead to such an undesirable affect. But before we delve into that issue, I want to point out that even though the most talked about process of biological filtration is the converting of ammonia into nitrate, there is much more going on that should be made aware. Within Koi filters, and also within the pond water, there are a wide array of biological, metabolic and chemical activity taking place, each of which is producing it’s own range of pollutants. This is proceeding as organic waste, predominantly fish faeces, decomposes. The longer this waste is left to decompose, either in the pond water or in the filter, the more these harmful processes are occurring. Without regular cleaning, of both the pond water and the filter, production of numerous DOC (dissolved organic carbon) compounds are left to build steadily, increasing the level of pollutants in the water and in the filter thus increasing, and possible defeating the work of Koi filters in general. One point to take note of is the size of your pond in relation to the size of your filter. To be more exact, the size of surface area within the filter itself. It’s understood that most types of pond filters these days rely on bacterial growth within the filter media we provide in our pond filter chambers. The nitrifying bacteria attach themselves to the filter media producing a slime layer of biofilm. This biofilm contains microorganisms, which feed from the water that passes over them within the filtration system. Now here is where it really gets fascinating. In order for these bacteria to function and feed properly, there has be a sufficient amount of surface area for them to grow plentiful. The media also has to accommodate enough void size, or empty space, for the water to flow over them slower and longer, providing the microorganisms within the biofilm as much time as possible to take in the harmful pollutants contained in the water. We achieve this through Koi filters by using media with adequate SSA (specific surface area) matched with sufficient retention time. If the right combinations of overall filter size, SSA and retention time are not met, then the breakdown of DOC compounds into simpler inorganic compounds also might not be sufficient. If this is the case, then eventually these compounds are incorporated back into living organisms. This insufficient filtering process in turn pumps these intermediate products and organisms back into the pond water, thus supplying algae with endless amounts of nutrients to thrive on. There are numerous varieties of media available for Koi filters, each yielding different results in terms of SSA, for potential biofilm growth, and retention time, the total time water spends flowing over the biofilm. These include foam, gravel, sand, plastic and matting just to name a few. In regards to algae, a pond filter which incorporates UV filtering is preferable as this kills algae in the water passing through the filter. But, keep in mind that this process of filtration only works on green water algae. Blanket weed algae is a different kettle of fish altogether, excuse the pun, and requires other means of eradication as it grows along the sides of the pond and therefore does not pass through Koi filters. If you are experiencing these problems, then it would be a excellent thought to speak with your local pet store or pond specialist to discuss if your filter is sufficient, and if not what can be done about it. It could be a simple matter of either changing the filter media you are using, cleaning your pond and filter on a more regular basis or perhaps even installing a second or larger filter.

Pond is one of the character? Sticas m? Is gorgeous in its own backyard. Regular cleaning FILTRA? N provide appropriate? To remove and clean water their animals dom? Sticos fish. Most? Authorized dealer sources, the water garden? EC proposes the use of pre-filter, filter mechanic, Nico, or filter Biol? Gico. & # 13; Prefilter is the first of l? Nea has FILTRA? N, contains a component? Large particles through? S fiber filter or a sponge? L, before the water rises the pump. Must be cleaned and emptied regularly. The bag, which is deposited in the debris should be emptied regularly to prolong the filter. & # 13; Filter mechanic Nico is a filter? Citrus MEC factor that works? Nico as crystal or resonator cer? Mica. Water is removed from the debris, such as sand, l? Buck org clay or materials? Nicaraguan, but not very fine contaminants from water. & # 13; EST? Biol filter filter? gico consists of a fixed bed mass of rocks, gravel, slag, polyurethane foam or plastic Ora when water flows, and result in a fine layer of macular PEL or beneficial bacteria to grow and cover the bed in the media. These bacteria remove impurities da? Bears pond water. & # 13; FILTRA growing industry? Does not pond and a swimming pool in advance of new models and design? Each? O. New Products FILTRA? N are too excellent and expensive. You need to reckon twice before using any of these filters are expensive to design a pond inherently excellent? Ada, which do not need so FILTRA? N. The water, which is a clear or formal groups, Koi pond, is a filter spec? Ments, which have been installed. & # 13; not have to use bio-filter, which produces beneficial bacteria in the natural pond. Aquatic plants, rocks, plants and other natural around to offer? No excellent place for these bacteria to accumulate in no time. Of course, business-wise, experts suggest the pond? Bio-filter to ensure the growth of beneficial bacteria, it is pure water as possible. Control the diseases the largest fish? You can FILTRA effectively? No seconds? N them. & # 13; comes in Prefilter sponges and fibers and filtration layer, and certainly keep clean water, but irrigation is often necessary to do without the trash. Canister filter to remove toxins and purify water. It m? Sf? Simple to maintain, but not required pond. Water is not consumició? Not human and do not need to be completely clean. & # 13; Another pre-filter is equipped with Algae-Zapper UV light to kill bacteria? Bears. The right plants around the pond and help? Algae grow profitable, although the fish, snails, small? As the water creatures and plants? Balance to prevent algae? Bears dominate? within the pond. & # 13; It is a large number of fish, there are other ways to FILTRA? Does not deal with a bundle of trash from the pond, such as v? Snow or grain. ? For the most? To the backyard pools that can hold about 20 fish? The area average of 6? "x 4? FILTRA? Pond is not that simple. & # 13; If you have a medium-sized pond, or is there a simple way to FILTRA? N using the body-Ora fine plastic mesh, which can not be integrated in the pump sac. Bomb bag is made of the tracer is l? Coupling rows. The pump should be placed in the bag, which are placed in a plastic basket Ora switch. If a large amount of sediments and fallen leaves into a bag and body in a pond should not go together. Fiber coupling using tracer l? Lines in the bag is optional. Shopping FILTRA using the clutch alone? N If there is only one small? Amount of sediment in the pond. & # 13; In the right filter, you should determine its size? Or pond, Location: No, the type of pond, and all living things?. Poblaci? Not a huge fish? M filter? s huge pond. M filter? S peque? Or is it a pond has enough respect? N balance of plants and fish. The right filter is necessary. All? Assistant store? The specialized stores of equipment and the pond water will continue? always a process.