PUMPS

Since the yearly electricity cost to run a typical pond pump often exceeds the cost of the pump, it makes good economic sense to buy an energy-efficient pump. Although we simplify the selection process by stocking only energy-efficient pumps, deciding which pump of the forty we stock is best for your pond can still be confusing. We recommend that you read below to understand the basics of pump selection, and then refer to the submersible and external pump pages to make some preliminary choices. When you are ready to place an order, we will review your selection and to analyze pump flow rates for your project.

Submersible pumps must be fully submerged in water, either in the pond or in an external skimmer box or pump vault. They are almost silent and are very easy to install.

External pumps must be used in a dry location near the pond. They are not as quiet as submersibles and are more difficult to install, but they're more reliable and more efficient. External pumps should always be used with vortex or bead filters.

submersible

external

In-Line pumps draw water through an inlet that permits connection to a hose, making it possible to draw water from a remote location, such as from a slotted pipe manifold.

Utility pumps draw water through slots or holes that screen out large debris. Since the inlet openings may be prone to clogging, utililty pumps are often installed in skimmers or other prefiltering enclosures.

Solids pumps draw water directly through a large, unscreened opening. Since they are designed to pump small debris without clogging, they can be installed directly in ponds without need for prefiltration. However, there is some risk that small fish and frogs will be drawn in along with the debris.

Fountain pumps are a class of utility pump optimized for use with fountainheads. Typically, the entire pump housing is covered with small slots to minimize the chance of clogging either the pump o4 fountainhead. Fountain pumps include Integral low controls and adjustable fountainhead supports.

Axial pumps are a class of utility pump designed for high-flow, low-pressure applications. They are quite large and require large diameter piping.

in-line

utility

solids

fountain

axial

Standard-duty pumps are often made of plastic and are relatively inexpensive. They can be expected to last a few years.

Heavy-duty pumps are usually made of stainless steel and are more expensive. However, they are typically more energy-efficient and can be expected to last many years.

light-duty

heavy-duty

Manual pumps run continuously when power is applied. They are maintenance-free when fully submerged but can overheat and fail if they run dry.

Automatc pumps are turned on and off by an electrical float switch that delivers power when the pump is submerged and interrupts power when the water level is low. Automatic pumps are ideal for use in skimmers and pump vaults, but periodic inspection is required to make certain the float operates properly.

manual

automatic

The following procedure can be used to very roughly estimate the required pump flow rate. When you order, we will perform a more thorough analysis.

1) Calculate the minimum flow rate for filtration:

• pond volume (gal) = 7.5 x average width (ft) x average length (ft) x average depth (ft)
• filtration flow rate (GPH) = 0.5 x pond volume (gal)

2) Calculate the minimum flow rate for the waterfall (or use 0 if there is no waterfall)

• waterfall flow rate (GPH), light flow = 50 GPH x waterfall width (in)
• waterfall flow rate (GPH), average flow = 100 GPH x waterfall width (in)
• waterfall flow rate (GPH), strong flow = 200 GPH x waterfall width (in)

3) The greater of the filtration flow rate and the waterfall flow rate is the minimum pump flow rate. Use the pump specification charts to identify pumps with flows comfortably larger than this minimum rate. However, if the water is to be lifted more than a few feet or pumped a long distance, this procedure will not be accurate and you should call for design assistance.