Selecting a pump for two types of ponds

Pressurized Filter Ponds

For ponds with a pressurized filter, the water in the pond should circulate once every two hours. So divide the pond gallons by two to get the pump size needed. For example, a 2000-gallon pond would need about a 1000 gallon-per-hour pump.

Biological Pond Filtration

For ponds with other filter systems, such as a skimmer and falls, the water in the pond should circulate about once every hour. Therefore, the pump gallons per hour should come close to the pond volume.

Other Considerations

The second consideration for pump sizing is the distance the pump must move the water. Head height is the term for the vertical distance the pump raises water. The figure at the right shows how, for a typical 700 GPH pump, the gallons-per-hour rate of the pump decreases as the height the pump must raise the water increases.

The maximum flow rate for most pumps is measured at one foot above the pump. When measuring head for submersed pumps, measure up from the surface of the water, not from the depth of the water where the pump is located.

All pumps have a maximum pumping height. This must be considered when choosing a pump for a pond, no matter what the GPH rating it may have. All pumps have a maximum pumping height. This must be considered when choosing a pump for a pond, no matter what the GPH rating it may have.

Courtesy Aquascape Design Incorporated

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