How to Specify Any Submersible Pond Pump ...
You need to specify 2 items to select the ideal pond pump ...
1. The vertical height of the waterfall inlet above the
water surface of the pond
Refer to this picture. Measure from the pond SURFACE to the waterfall inlet get the height "H" normally referred to as pump head..
Do NOT measure from the bottom of the pond ... measure this in cms and then use the table below.
I suggest you then add 20% of the measured head to allow for what are known as head losses in pipe systems. For example if your pond pump head is 1 metre add 20 cms to get a final pump head of 1.2 metres. You will use this number in your pump selection.
2. Work out the water volume flow rate for a submersible pump when a waterfall is included in pump system ... You need to work out how much water flow is required to give you a nice waterfall which is a function of the width of the waterfall overflow(s).
This is how you determine the pump flow required ...
If the stream section before the waterfall splits into a series of smaller
overflows (see the picture)
add all the mini overflows together
to get the true width in inches. In the case of the picture shown you would add
the width of the first point to the width of the second point. This width is
needed to work out the water flow you will need to specify the submersible pond pump. Now you can
use the table below.
If you have no waterfall then pond pump choice is easier ... see below for simple pond pump choice.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE PUMP PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS WHICH YOU SHOULD USE TO FINALISE YOUR PUMP SELECTION
See table below for summary of all pump types that can be bought online
Waterfall & Pond Pump Selection Table ...
Check where waterfall height meets waterfall width in the table. This is the flow you require to specify your submersible pond and waterfall pump.
| Waterfall Vertical Height (H) measured from surface of pond as in picture above ... (cms) | |||||||
| Height >>>>>>>> | 30 | 60 | 90 | 120 | 150 | 180 | |
| Required Flow Litres per Hour | |||||||
| Width >>>> | 7.5 | 1,325 | 1,900 | 1,900 | 1,900 | 2,650 | 2,650 |
| Water | 15 | 2,650 | 2,650 | 2,650 | 2,650 | 4,500 | 4,500 |
| Overflow cms | 22.5 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 |
| 30 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 | 4,500 | |
Example ... you have a pond with a waterfall 90cm above the pond surface and the overflow is 22.5 cms wide. You will then need a pond pump that will deliver 4500 litres per hour of water at a pumping height (head) of 90 cm. See the box colored yellow above. If you have a waterfall 60 cms wide and 1.2 metres high you would need 2 x 4,500 litre pumps or a single 9,000 litre pump. TIP: always go for one size larger submersible pump if in any doubt ..
Pond Pump Selection ... No Waterfall
If your pond does not have a waterfall and you only want to circulate water through the pond filter then the specification is much easier. Refer to this pond pump selection table below ... NO WATERFALL ... you only need to know your pond volume or make estimate of the volume. It does not matter if you are not perfectly correct
| Volume of garden pond ... (litres) | |||||
| Pond volume litres | 1,000 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 |
| Pump flow rate litres per hour | 500 | 1,000 | 1,500 | 2,500 | 5,000 |
| Example ... you have a pond whose volume is about 3,000 litres. Then a good pump choice would be one that can pump about half of this volume every hour. In this case a pump of 1,500 litres per hour maximum flow would do a good job for you (see box colored pink above). | |||||
On the matter of cost do take note of the pond pump's operating cost .... normally the pond pump operating cost is far more important than the original pump cost and if you should take this electricity cost into account. This is discussed in other pump sections of the site.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE PUMP PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS FOR MOST POPULAR PUMPS... USE THESE PUMP CHARTS TO FINALISE YOUR PUMP SELECTION
Summary of All Pumps Available Online ...
We stock a wide variety of pumps from small indoor fountain pumps to large volume external pond pumps. The table below if a summary of the pump types available
| Pump Main Use | |
| Indoor Fountain Pumps ... short cable, low cost |
 |
| Outdoor fountain pumps with 10 metres cable |
|
| Hydro Mutifunction pumps for use as submersible or inline (ie out of water) pumps. This is the most popular range and you can see individual charts here . |
|
| Superpond series of large waterfall pumps. These pumps handle large volumes at higher heads. |
|
| Dirty water pump |
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| Centrifugal pumps for pumping water in light industrial applications |
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