How To Choose The Right Submersible Pond Pump Or Backyard Pond Waterfall Pumps
This Page Will Help You To Select The Right Garden Pond Pump
The aim of this page is to help any pond keeper looking for a pond pump or pond waterfall pump to make the right choice. When you choosing a pond pump for your fish pond or water garden you need to be specific. Making the right choice can become a little bit more complicated if you have a waterfall incorporated into your pond design.
Click here for unbeatable money saving offers on USA Pond Supplies and Pond Keeping Equipment in the UK, Guaranteed.
You need to know 2 important criteria if you incorporate a waterfall as part of your fish pond and are looking for a waterfall pump ...
The distance between the surface of your fish pond and the inlet of the waterfall i.e. the vertical height above the pond surface in feet.
The actual width of the lip of the waterfall i.e. where water flows over. If your waterfall is a cascading waterfall with a series of waterfalls falling onto each other then you will need to measure the width of each and add them together in inches (1 inch = 2.54cm).
Waterfall Pump Selection Table ...
How to use this table … Where the height meets the width is required pump flow rate required. For a wide range of guaranteed Great range of pumps for small to medium sized ponds and waterfalls take a look at Pondmaster Mag-Drive Pumps For Waterfalls ...
| Waterfall Vertical Height measured from surface of pond ... (feet) | |||||||
| 1 ft | 2 ft | 3 ft | 4 ft | 5 ft | 6 ft | ||
| Width Water Overflow (Inches) | 3" | 350 gph | 500 gph | 500 gph | 500 gph | 700 gph | 700 gph |
| 6" | 700 gph | 700 gph | 700 gph | 700 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | |
| 9" | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | |
| 12" | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph | |
Let’s try an example … Your pond waterfall has a vertical height of 3 feet and the overflow lip is 9 inches. You will in this instance be looking for a pond waterfall pump that can pump 1200 gph. The Danner Supreme Mag Drive 1200 is a good choice. If you have a waterfall 24 inches wide and 3 feet high you would need 2 x 1200 gph waterfall pumps. Follow the golden rule of pond keeping “If in doubt go one size bigger”.
NO waterfall pump selection table
You only need to know your pond volume or make estimate of the volume within 80%.
| Volume of Pond in Gallons | |||||
| 300 galls | 500 gallons | 1000 gallons | 1500 gallons | 2000 gallons | 2500 gallons |
| 350 gph | 350 gph | 500 gph | 700 gph | 1200 gph | 1200 gph |
Let’s try an example … You have a garden fish pond with a pond volume of 1250 gallons. The pump must be able to pump 700 gph. A good choice here would be the Danner Supreme Mag Drive 700 gph as colored pink above. Click here for a great range of Pondmaster Mag Drive Submersible Utility Pumps ...
Important Considerations When Selecting The Right Garden Pond Pump
The running cost is far more important to consider than the purchase cost. The wrong choice here could leave you with much more expensive electricity bills than you anticipated.
The tables above will suffice for about 90% of the average small to medium sized garden fish ponds. However if you have a large Koi pond then the following list of factors will need to be understood before making your final decision ...
Calculate correct pond pump head. This depends upon waterfall characteristics mainly. If no waterfall exists pond volume and contents of the garden pond determine specifications for most pond pumps.
Calculate correct pond pump flow rate. This is a function of the waterfall situation and other factors.
Once you have this information you can approach a retailer knowing what you need with confidence.
If you are looking for a backyard water feature pump decide more specifically upon your water feature before deciding upon the garden water feature pumps to select from.
Learn to be aware of some of the dubious retailers out there who will try to sell you the wrong equipment simply to make a few $$$. Under no circumstances should you use a sump pump as a waterfall pump or use a swimming pool pump unless you know specifically why this is a good choice. The major reason is the running cost but there are other factors that come into play, such as the reliability and noise generated.
Click here for unbeatable money saving offers on USA Pond Supplies and Pond Keeping Equipment in the UK, Guaranteed.
