Beckett pond pumps

Submersible pumps

Sump pumps & fish ponds

Pump head or pressure?

Pond pumps

Stream or waterfall pumps?

Pump power & kinked pipes

Measuring the flow rate first

Using 2 submersible pumps

Danner 1200 pump

Testing the flow for waterfall

Hozelock pumps

Fountain pump

Water gardening mistakes

Save money - know the pond pump flow, and make the right choice in pumps

In your garden pond, the pond pump flow refers to the amount of water required to give you the waterfall effect you desire.

Guessing is no good here. You need to know the correct pond pump flow and pump head for your application. Not enough flow, and your waterfall will be an obvious disappointment. On the other hand, too much flow will waste your money (in electrical use) and can make for a noisy waterfall that will annoy you and your neighbors. 

When choosing the correct hose for your garden pond, you'll want to select a ribbed hose that not restrict pump flow, especially around bends and curves that are usually required in a pond waterfall application. 

Now, back to pond pump flow. When you're shopping for a pump, you will normally see a maximum pump flow rating on the outside of the pump box. Unfortunately, for most practical purposes, this rating will no do you no good. You need to treat any information on the outside of a pump box with some caution.  This is especially true if you only see the maximum pump flow stated, because this is the amount the pump can supply WITH NO HOSE ATTACHED TO IT.  This is an impractical measurement, for obvious reasons. A good pond pump will always state the volume flow at different heads.

Determining your pump flow rate

A pond pump's flow is the amount of water that will be pumped through your pond system to get the waterfall effect you're looking for. The pump flow must also take into consideration your biofiltration system. If you're operating a pond with a biofilter and no waterfall, a good flow rate for your pump would be about half the pond's volume every hour.  

For example, if your pond has a volume of 2,000 gallons, then you'll want to choose a pump that will circulate between 800 and 1200 gallons per hour. And if you're unsure about your exact volume, it's usually better to chose a pond pump that's one size larger than you think you might need. 

If you are running a waterfall in your garden pond, you'll need to determine the pump head before selecting a pump. As a quick summary, pond pump head is the height (measured from the SURFACE of the water) to the inlet of the waterfall. In other words, this is the height to which the water must be lifted in order to operate the waterfall.

A good idea when operating a waterfall in your garden pond is to run two separate pumps. This will have the added benefit of saving you money in electrical consumption. 

Also see the sump pump article for more information on this topic.

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