Pond pumps

[shotgunwilly]

Ive just built a fairly large pond, approximately 4m wide x 3m long and 1.8m deep. I will have a water feature in the form of 3 pots of varying sizes flowing in to each other then in to the pond, but i want to buy a pump that will power the fountain and filter the pond etc, anyone know what is best to do from here?
cheers
shotgunwilly

 

[sissy]

depends on what you want to spend and how much pressure you want for each thing and welcome to the forum

 

[j.w]

willy
If your pond was 2400 gals then I believe you should have at least that large of a pump that will pump 2400 gph or more cuz if you want to use it for a waterfall then it will have to pump a few feet or so off the ground so bigger pump better. If you just want to recirculate the water and nothing else than you could use the same gph as your pond gals. Happy pondering

 

[shotgunwilly]

Thanks for the replies, i guess i just need to circulate the water, but i wanted to site the pump and filter system outside the pond, if this is possible, just for easy maintainence. So the pump would need to be the in line type, but what type of filter system would work with it under pressure?

 

[sissy]

remember the length of the pipe running to each thing will cut down on the gph of the pump .Build your own filter and there are plenty of plans here and on you tube and you can say I did it myself .Really easy to build and a lot cheaper

 

[j.w]

Yep very possible and like sissy said there are lots who build there own filters here and they work just fine. Check out the DIY forum.

 

[zainwahid]

For a pond that size with multiple water features, you’ll want a pump that can handle both pond circulation and enough flow for the fountain. A good rule of thumb is to circulate the entire pond volume once every 2 hours.

Your pond is roughly 21.6 m³ (4 m × 3 m × 1.8 m), so a pump rated around 10–11 m³ per hour is the minimum. Considering the fountain’s height and pipe resistance, stepping up to 15 m³ per hour or more gives you some headroom. Pumps with adjustable flow are especially handy so you can fine-tune the fountain without stressing the system.

A practical tip: calculate the total “head” (vertical lift plus friction losses) and check the pump curve before buying. That ensures your fountain flows smoothly and your filter works efficiently. For hobbyist setups like yours, the Best Pond Pumps From EasyPro range is a solid choice for balancing flow, reliability, and energy efficiency.

In short, slightly oversizing the pump and accounting for head and plumbing losses usually avoids common circulation or fountain issues.

 

[sissy]

get 2 or 3 energy effient pumps , That way if one goes out you have time to get another . I learned that the hard way and now I have 2 laguna pumps in my 5000 gallon pond . I also have a back up just incase . I have had my pumps in the pond now for over 10 years . I hope I don't jinx myself . I have home made spitters in my waterfall pnd and also on the bottom of the pond to keep it clean . I just make up different things to see how they work . So far so good

 

[GBBUDD]

The smaller the pond say 2400 gallons this in my opinion is on the smaller side and I would STRONGLY recommend circulating the ponds numerous a minimum of twice an hour. And a filter rated for twice that size. No manufacture that i am aware of does not estimate how many gallons there pump can accommodate that is not rated under absolute minimum conditions.. meaning there is a very light fish and organic load

Unfortunately this is not what we do on average. 9 out of 8 ponds have way more fish then you would ever see in the wild . Meaning the gallons of water per fish in the wild is probably in the neighborhood ofv10,000 gallons per fish. In our ponds we are lucky inthat number is 200 even though for koi we recommend a 1000 gallons per fish.
Im as equals guilty I have 30 some odd koi but some are getting quite large. The waste they generate is staggering.

Thus the need to imo way over size your flow and filters.

Now anyone who educates them selves about ponds on you tube will see oz ponds and how all his ponds look nice and natural and no giant filters. We thats because he does not load up on fish or feedings.

So to ask what's the answer for my set up needs to supply way more info if your seriously looking for educated answers.
Soon we will have green again and fish darting around .

 

[sissy]

I just use satock tanjks and lava rock in my 2 100 gallon stock tank filters . Nothing fancy . I grew up on a farm and my dad and I built a pond and that was what he used . Last timew I was in NJ i went too the house and the ownr is stilling using the same thing except he went to new 150 gallon rubber stock tanks . He said it works so why change what works . He did add an aerator . I have not been back to the house since my parents sold the farm in 1986 . They bought the farm just before I turned 9 and I am 72 now . I moved from nJ to Va in 2004 when hubby and I retired .