The pond pump is the heartbeat of all fish ponds. Just like the heart, the pond pump is responsible for the circulation of water in the pond.
One of the major decisions you have to make when setting up a pond is choosing a pond pump. Your choice of the pump can make your mar your entire pond project. The downsides of selecting an ineffective pond pumps range from poor water circulation, inadequate oxygen supply, and very high energy bills.
The pond pump has two primary functions:
- The circulation of water through the pond filter
- The supply of oxygen to the pond
Pond owners who are not informed rely on water fountains as the only supply of oxygen to their ponds. This is so wrong. For you to provide the adequate amount of oxygen to your pond, you need a separate aerator pump.
However, there are several factors you need to consider before you get a pond pump. In this informative piece, we are going to examine these factors comprehensively.
The factors you need to consider before you get that pond pump are:
Flow Rate
This is the first thing you need to seek out before you make that purchase. For small and medium ponds with about 2,000 gallons, you should get a pump with a minimum flow rate of full circulation per hour. If you are setting up a sizeable sized pump of about 5,000 gallons, your pond pump should circulate all the pond water once every two hours. This will help you maintain high-quality pond water.
Also, you need to understand the dynamic head of the pump you want to purchase. You have to make sure that the pump meets the desired flow rate even after meeting resistance caused by the plumbing layout, waterfall, and even your filter. You can get an expert to help you calculate the total dynamic head of your pond.
You should also ensure that the pond pump you want to purchase meets the recommended flow rates of both your UV sterilizer and your pump Filter. Thoroughly review all these units and harmonize their flow rates before you make any purchase.
Pump Type
There are two major kinds of pond pumps available on the market today:
- Submersible pumps
- External pumps
The choice of pump type depends on your preference. However, there are things you should know before you make your decision.
Submersible pumps are better for small, and medium sized ponds with minimal flow rate. This kind of pumps can be easily connected to pressurized pond filters. Submersible pumps have a flow rate of 200GPH for statuary pumps although you can find a 6,000 GPH pump for the waterfall.
Submersible ponds are cheaper and easy to use. They are easy to clean. The downsides of submersible pumps are that they do not last long and can’t be fixed when damaged. This means higher cost of operation in the long run.
Eternal pumps are better for large ponds and water. They have more substantial flow rates, better energy efficiency and overall better for high head applications.
External pumps last longer. A quality external pump can function continuously for about 6 to 8 years before you have to service it. See this guide for more details: https://www.rcworst.com/blog/How-Long-Should-My-Pump-Last
So, depending on the kind of pond you want to set up, you can choose any of these two units. Make sure you always opt for high-quality pumps. This will save you the high cost of operation in the long run.
