Pond Pump Selection

Pond Pump Selection information

The following information will assist you in selecting the correct pump for a variety of water feature applications.

How wide is the biggest waterfall (spillway)?

1500 gph per foot is recommended. You can go as low as1000 gph per foot, if the surface of the waterfall stone is very flat.
If the widest waterfall has an 18” spillway, the you should size the pump for 1500 gph/ft x 1.5’ ft = 2250 gph

How high is the water being pumped above the surface of the bottom pond?

This is only the vertical distance.

What is the length of pipe from the pond to the pump inlet?

For a submersible pump, this is 0. Use the head loss chart to find the feet of friction loss.

What is the length of pipe from the pump to the outlet?

Use the head loss chart to find the feet of friction loss.

What size is the piping?

Remember that pond pumps are designed for high volumes at low pressures. Keep the pipe sizing up. You can lose a significant amount of pump flow and increase costs of operation when you undersize the pipe.

Add up the number of Ells, 45’s and check valves in the piping and use the equivalent length chart to get an equivalent length of pipe.

Total the required pressure to overcome friction losses and elevation to get the Feet of Head, or TDH, required. Add a couple of feet for miscellaneous.

Now you know what performance is required of your pump.
xxxx gph at xx ft of head.

Does the customer prefer an external pump, or a submersible pump?

External?
Is a self priming pump required due to the height of the pump above the water level?
If the pump is only 1’ to 1-1/2’ above the water level, you can get by without a self priming pump. You do need a basket strainer (priming pot).
Yes - look at Sequence self priming pumps
No - look at PSA Puripumps and Sequence
Submersible?
For a water garden, look at Little Giant WG series, Cal Pump PW series, or Oase AquaMax.

If it is a fountain, not a water garden, the Oase Nautilus series or Cal pumps are options.

Use the information provided by the manufacturer to determine the appropriately sized pump. If you are unsure how to read the charts, check with the manufacturer, or a more experienced co worker.

If the pump is being used in a water garden, it needs to run continuously. Energy use will be a factor in pump selection. Calculate the cost to run the pump for a month. Water garden pumps usually clearly list the watts/hour on the box. Usually, a more expensive pump will have a longer warranty and use less energy for the same performance.

Watts/hour x hours running per day x days per month x cost per kilowatt hour (approx. $.15/kilowatt hour) / 1000.

For instance, a 120 watt pump running 24 hours per day would be:
120 x 24 x 30 x .15/1000 = $12.96 per month

Common Issues:

Customer has a concrete fountain with 2 or 3 bowls. Very often the hole through the middle is only big enough for a 1/2 or 3/4” tubing. It will take extra pressure to get much flow through this tubing. The good news is that they usually only run these pumps for short periods of time, so try to sell a pump that has higher pressure, even if it is not as efficient. Look at Cal Pumps and Oase Nautilus.

Customer wants to use smaller piping than you recommend. You need to use the pressure loss charts and the pump charts to show the customer that he will get less water through the smaller piping.

Customer needs a ton of water to make the water feature look good, but he doesn’t have a very big pond and he doesn’t want the pump running all the time. Suggest using a small pump that runs constantly to keep the biological filtration going and a second pump for extra flow when he wants the full effect.

	Pond Pump Selection information The following information will assist you in selecting the correct pump for a variety of water feature applications. How wide is the biggest waterfall (spillway)? 1500 gph per foot is recommended. You can go as low as1000 gph per foot, if the surface of the waterfall stone is very flat. If the widest waterfall has an 18” spillway, the you should size the pump for 1500 gph/ft x 1.5’ ft = 2250 gph How high is the water being pumped above the surface of the bottom pond? This is only the vertical distance. What is the length of pipe from the pond to the pump inlet? For a submersible pump, this is 0. Use the head loss chart to find the feet of friction loss. What is the length of pipe from the pump to the outlet? Use the head loss chart to find the feet of friction loss. What size is the piping? Remember that pond pumps are designed for high volumes at low pressures. Keep the pipe sizing up. You can lose a significant amount of pump flow and increase costs of operation when you undersize the pipe. Add up the number of Ells, 45’s and check valves in the piping and use the equivalent length chart to get an equivalent length of pipe. Total the required pressure to overcome friction losses and elevation to get the Feet of Head, or TDH, required. Add a couple of feet for miscellaneous. Now you know what performance is required of your pump. xxxx gph at xx ft of head. Does the customer prefer an external pump, or a submersible pump? External? Is a self priming pump required due to the height of the pump above the water level? If the pump is only 1’ to 1-1/2’ above the water level, you can get by without a self priming pump. You do need a basket strainer (priming pot). Yes - look at Sequence self priming pumps No - look at PSA Puripumps and Sequence Submersible? For a water garden, look at Little Giant WG series, Cal Pump PW series, or Oase AquaMax. If it is a fountain, not a water garden, the Oase Nautilus series or Cal pumps are options. Use the information provided by the manufacturer to determine the appropriately sized pump. If you are unsure how to read the charts, check with the manufacturer, or a more experienced co worker. If the pump is being used in a water garden, it needs to run continuously. Energy use will be a factor in pump selection. Calculate the cost to run the pump for a month. Water garden pumps usually clearly list the watts/hour on the box. Usually, a more expensive pump will have a longer warranty and use less energy for the same performance. Watts/hour x hours running per day x days per month x cost per kilowatt hour (approx. $.15/kilowatt hour) / 1000. For instance, a 120 watt pump running 24 hours per day would be: 120 x 24 x 30 x .15/1000 = $12.96 per month Common Issues: Customer has a concrete fountain with 2 or 3 bowls. Very often the hole through the middle is only big enough for a 1/2 or 3/4” tubing. It will take extra pressure to get much flow through this tubing. The good news is that they usually only run these pumps for short periods of time, so try to sell a pump that has higher pressure, even if it is not as efficient. Look at Cal Pumps and Oase Nautilus. Customer wants to use smaller piping than you recommend. You need to use the pressure loss charts and the pump charts to show the customer that he will get less water through the smaller piping. Customer needs a ton of water to make the water feature look good, but he doesn’t have a very big pond and he doesn’t want the pump running all the time. Suggest using a small pump that runs constantly to keep the biological filtration going and a second pump for extra flow when he wants the full effect.
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