How to choose a pond pump | Fish ponds need pond pumps

How to choose The Right pond pump - the basics

A fish pond or water garden requires certain essentials: Firstly a reliable pond pump; secondly a biological pond filter and thirdly an ultraviolet sterilizer. These three units are normally connected in sequence and will ensure a happy healthy pond environment for some time to come. This article offers advice on how to ensure you choose the correct pond pump, from the myriad on offer. Pond pumps are essential because they provide oxygen; an essential requirement for your koi and other fish. The beneficial bacteria, living in your bio filter also require large amounts of oxygen. However not all pond pumps are as good as one another. For a full list of quality branded products reviewed on this site click Pond Water Pump Reviews for further information.

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Consider the following when selecting the right pond pump

Are you intending to keep koi, gold fish or any other kind of fish in a backyard pond environment. If the answer is yes, then a pond pump is an essential.
You will need to choose a robust model that is capable of handling the size of the pond. A submersible pond pump is often the choice for the majority of pond environments. These in pond pumps are situated in the pond itself, slightly off the pond bottom so as to avoid clogging by debris and other matter.
Many novice pond keepers make the critical mistake of basing their choice of pond pump solely on the cost price. They neglect to consider the actual electricity Costs Of The Garden Pump. This can prove to be a costly long term mistake when you consider that a pond pump needs to run 24/7/365 days a year.
Choose a good quality pond pump from a reputable manufacturer with a proven track record .. look on the internet, read water gardening magazines. You will soon see who the major players are. Products from these manufacturers are designed to last for a long time and are usually sold with good warranties, in the unlikely event of pond pump failure. Cheap pond pumps are usually cheap for a reason ... they are inferior in terms of performance, life span and power consumption.
Water pumps for pond use come in a myriad of shapes and sizes. It is always a good idea to read any available literature, particularly the product information on the pond pump packaging. If you don't quite understand something or need help then don't be afraid to ask the supplier questions. Most reputable retailers won't mind answering any questions you may have.
Always bear in mind that even seasoned pond keepers struggle to make sense of some of the printed information and to make comparisons between various pond pump models. A Pond Pump Curve graph provides a visual picture that will help too make pond pump selection easier. Always be wary of manufacturers whose packaging contains very little detail about the pump product inside.

How to choose a pond pump - other considerations

Pump Volume. This is the term used to describe the maximum amount of water that a pond pump can circulate through the pond environment in a given time e.g. gallons per hour (gph). More to the point it relates to the quantity of pond water that can be pumped against a specific head (pressure or height). This pond pump head is normally measured in feet or meters.
For pond keeping peace of mind always choose a pond pump that includes a warranty, preferably for 2 or more years. A 1 year warranty can be an indication that the pump isn't designed for the vigorous activity required in a garden pond or capable of dealing with debris such as grass, leaves etc.
Do I need a pond pump or a fountain pump? Size is usually an indicator. Pond pumps for outdoor use are larger and are supplied with a longer cord, usually more than 30 feet. Fountain pumps for indoor use or small patio ponds are normally very small with a much shorter length of cord, about 5 feet in length.
A shocking statistic - pond pumps operate using electricity and it is critical to ensure that you don't try to use a pump that is designed for indoor use as the choice of pond-pump for your outdoor fish pond. Read the safety warning on the manufacturers product packaging carefully.

Only buy from a retailer who knows what they are talking about

A reputable supplier will be more than willing to answer any questions that you may have as well as offer advice about product recommendations, pump availability, special offers for that month etc.

When buying from the retailers premises and not on-line always look around, remembering to read the packaging. When you think you may have found the right choice of pond pump for your outdoor pond i.e. a Submersible Garden Pump with a long grounded cord, ask the sales assistant to demonstrate the pump to make sure that it is functioning correctly.

A reputable retailer should always be willing, under the terms of the warranty (check this out) to replace the failed pond pump and replace it with a new one. Failing this he should be able to loan you a similar pump, whilst yours is being repaired (at no cost to you). The pond filter media, housing the beneficial bacteria responsible for converting toxic ammonia and nitrite into nitrates need a constant supply of oxygen.

When choosing a fountain pump or an outdoor fish pond pump consider

You need to know the amount of water, measured in liters or gallons that will be circulating in the pond. This is referred to as the "circulating volume".
If you intend to incorporate a waterfall into your pond system then you need to calculate your Pond Pump Head. However if you only intend to have a pond plus fish then you can work off the circulation volume and fish stocking density.
Calculate the necessary Pump Flow Rate. This again will depend upon whether or not you intend to incorporate a waterfall.
Calculate the energy costs (electricity costs) of the particular pond pump model based on 3 years usage.

Remember that not all fish ponds are the same and consequently neither are all the pond-pump models available. Never use a swimming pool pump as the choice of pond pump for your fish pond or water garden. A Sump Pump is also a bad choice as these pumps don't offer the reliability required to run a pond 24/7/365 days a year.

This site has been designed to provide you with valuable knowledge that will hopefully allow you make an informed choice. If you need further information regarding pond pumps for fish ponds then please follow the links on this page. They lead to pages containing relevant information, diagrams and comparisons.

The internet has in essence created a world shopping store at the press of a few buttons on your pc. Shopping on-line is a very good way of making the correct pond pump choice. It is very easy to make product comparisons, look at product features, see offers of the month.

For a full list of quality branded products reviewed on this site click Pond Water Pump Reviews for further information ...

Click here for unbeatable money saving offers on USA Pond Supplies and Pond Keeping Equipment in the UK, Guaranteed.