How To Choose The Correct Pond Pump
Choosing a pump for your pond or fountain is a crucial step to ensure you maintain proper water movement. Failure to keep the water adequately circulated can result in stagnation, algae buildup, and mosquitoes. In addition, if you have fish, plants, or other aquatic life in your pond, you must keep the water healthy by evenly distributing the oxygen levels and other nutrients.
Types of Pond Water Pumps
There are two main types of pond water pumps: submersible and external (out-of-pond), also known as centrifugal pumps. Depending on the application, each pump offers specific advantages.
Submersible Pond Pumps
Submersible pumps are designed to be fully submerged underwater at the deepest part of the pond. They are placed directly into your pond or in a skimmer box or pond vault. Submersible pumps range in size from 50 to 5,000 gallons per hour. They are easy to install and are sometimes a more economical solution for smaller ponds (up to 1000 gallons of water). They are also quiet and can also be used to drain your pond. If you have fish or other aquatic life in your pond, you may want to consider a model that does not use oil because there is a danger of the pump seal breaking and oil coolant leaking into the water.
Centrifugal Pond Pumps
External or centrifugal pond pumps are a reliable, energy-efficient option. They are installed in a dry location near your pond. External pond water pumps are suitable for larger ponds (over 1000 gallons). Compared to a submersible pump, they are typically louder and more complicated to install; however, they are easier to maintain.
When selecting a pond pump, it’s essential to keep in mind that pumps have different cord lengths. Ensure the cord is long enough to go through the pond and plugin far away from the water. Some electrical codes specify that the outlet for water features must be at least 6 feet away from the water. Therefore, it is recommended that you avoid using an extension cord. However, if you must use one, make sure it’s suitable for outdoor use and plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) so that it will immediately shut off if there is an overload.
How to Size a Fountain or Pond Pump
Pond pumps are sized by gallons per hour (GPH) at one foot of lift or height. Larger capacity pumps are rated by horsepower (HP). To determine the size pond pump, first, you need to calculate the volume of water in the pond. To calculate the volume of water in gallons, multiply the length x width x average depth x 7.5.
Water Circulation Factors
It is recommended that pond water is circulated at least once per hour. For example, if you have a 500-gallon pond, you need a pump that runs 500 gallons per hour at the discharge height. If your pond has a pressurized filter, you ideally want to turn the water approximately once every two hours. For example, if you have a 1000 gallon pond, you need a pond pump rated at a minimum of 500 GPH. If your pond has a skimmer or waterfall, the water should be turned approximately once every hour. Therefore, if you have an 1800 gallon pond, you will need an 1800 GPH rated pump.
Calculating Head and Lift Height
Two of the most critical measurements in sizing a pond or fountain pump are the maximum head height rating and maximum lift. Head height means the vertical height the pump raises water above the surface of the pond. The pond fountain pump’s top height can lift the water to is called “Maximum Head” or “Max Head.” The “Head” is measured straight up from the water level of the pond. Its length then measures any horizontal/diagonal flow, and 1′ of “Head” added per 10′ of horizontal/diagonal distance. To calculate the lift, you need to measure how far the water in your fountain has to travel from the pump’s location in your rush to the top of the fountain where the water comes out. Then you need to select a pump that lifts higher than that measurement. For example, if that distance is 24”, than you will need a fountain pump that lifts at least 36” tall. The “maximum lift” is the maximum height that the pump will raise the water.
Selecting the Proper Pond Water Pump Tubing
It is also essential to use the correct tubing size because it directly affects the pond pump‘s maximum lift capability. If you use smaller tubing than specified, you will limit the pump’s maximum lift and the amount of water circulated.
Choosing the right pond water pump for your pond or fountain requires careful consideration and a little upfront research. However, doing so will go a long way toward keeping your water clean and healthy and your pump operating efficiently.
Different Water Features for Your Garden
Having water features in the garden adds an entirely different dimension of calm and serenity. Moving or still, water is peaceful to look at. It makes you and your guests feel good over a gathering in the garden. A garden water feature could be as simple as a water pool or a complex mechanism like a waterfall with a fish pond. Here are some of the water features that you can install in your garden.
Fish Ponds
These are small to medium-sized ponds build to fit in your garden. Various varieties of fish can be added to such ponds like goldfish and koi. The critical thing to keep in mind while selecting fishes for a pond is to avoid rival and predatory species. Fish added the colours of nature to your pond. Fish will require life-sustaining mechanisms in your pond, like the supply and circulation of oxygen by installing pumps and filters.
These water features come in different sizes, shapes, and styles. Regardless to say, a fountain adds an extra charm and beauty to your garden. The beautiful sound of water splashing along with its stunning architectural looks makes water fountains a very appealing water feature for the garden. Fountains do come with an increase in the cost of installing mechanisms like pumps for creating a sustainable water flow.
Waterfalls are a prevalent water feature for gardens. Waterfalls can be added to an existing pond or fish pond to make it more appealing. Like fountains, it adds the splashing sound of water to your garden. Waterfall gives a very relaxing and soothing effect on the mind. One can easily relax beside a garden waterfall after a hard day of work and get revitalized. It usually is creating by adding stones and boulders and adding a water flow. Like a fountain, a waterfall requires mechanisms to maintain constant water flow like pumps and filters. Adding a waterfall to a garden pond can also help to keep the water clean as it’s continuously flowing.
Garden Streams
Streams can be easily created in the garden along pathways or around pools. Water streams are normally created as a part of the overall garden water feature and a waterfall and a garden pond. The water from streams is made to flow in a waterfall, which then gets flowed into a garden pond. Different plants can be grown along a stream and garden pond to provide a small natural aquatic habitat for visual aesthetic purposes.
With years of experience, our experts can help you create any water features in your garden customized to your needs.
Best way to Maintain Water Features in Garden
Having water features in your garden, whether small or large, gives an utmost sense of calm and tranquillity. To keep these water features as smooth as possible for a long time, it’s essential to regularly maintain water features in garden like pond, waterfall, fountain.
Water Filters:
Water filters are an essential component of a healthy pond ecosystem. Filters help to process fish waste, uneaten fish food, leaves, and runoff from lawns. It is recommended to choose the right filter right before you start building the water features. If the water features are already built, it is difficult to add a skimmer or bio falls. In such a case, a submersible pond filter can be used. You can check some of our filter products here.
Water cleansing:
If the water is dark in colour, there is a chance that there is a crud at the pond’s bottom. In such a scenario, it is better to do a full-scale cleaning of the pond water. Empty the pond water into the surrounding landscape. With the help of a garden hose, rinse the rocks and gravel. Once the pond is cleaned, you can remove the water pump and fill the pond again.
Plants trimming
Skim and trim the leaves and plants in the garden every week. This helps to keep debris to a minimum. Control the spread of algae. Floating plants limit sunlight allowing to check the growth of algae. Additives can also be used to reduce algae growth.
Regular checks
Conducting regular checks on equipment like pumps and filters to ensure they are free of clogs and debris helps them operate properly. Test the water regularly, especially if you have fish, as excessive amounts of chemicals like ammonia and chlorine can affect their health.
Keep the water moving.
Circulating the water with a pump, waterfall, or fountain will help avoid mosquito larvae from hatching to maintain water hygiene. Moving water also helps to distribute and support the oxygen levels throughout the pond for fish. Install features like small waterfalls or streams which help to keep the circulation of water. For proper circulation, choose the right kind of pump for your pond. We have different collections of water pumps which you can choose from with the help of our experts.
Fluctuations in seasons require different maintenance of ponds. What you do with your pond during this seasonal transition depends mostly on where you live. If your area experiences long periods of freezing weather, you may consider shutting down the water flow or adding a floating de-icer. You can choose to keep water running, but do ensure that an ice dam does not form. Here are a few products to consider, as you plan for seasonal pond care going into the fall and winter months.
Following the above recommendations can easily help you maintain water features in your garden.
Types of fish for garden pond
When you build a garden pond, there are numerous varieties of fish that you can choose from for your pond. You can bring different types of fish together in a garden pond. However, care should be taken to avoid predatory and rival species, as this can easily disturb the balance of your pond culture.
We have compiled a list of some of the top fish species you can use in your pond.
Gobi
The Gobi is also sold as an algae eater. However, this fish species feeds on insects and small snails. The maximum length these fish grow is up to 5 to 6 inches and can easily survive up to 5 years. These fish species prefer clean and freshwater. Hence regular cleaning of the pond would be necessary. This fish lives near the bottom of the pond, often between stones.
Rosette
A Rosette is also called as Golden Rudd. This fish can grow up to lengths of 8 to 14 inches. It has a silver-colored body with red fins. It is a healthy fish and does not require much care. However, the oxygen levels of water and freshness need to be optimum. You may require a filter and oxygen pump to maintain the health level of this fish. Rosette makes for an attractive viewing in the pond and can easily mix with other fish species of its size.
Goldfish
This fish species is the most popular of all the pond fishes. They come in a variety of colours like red, yellow, orange, and white. The maximum size of this fish can reach up to 14 inches. However, fish sizes in one pond can vary a lot. This fish feeds on vegetable food and small aquatic fishes and animals. The best-known goldfish are Sarsa and comet tail. They make for a fantastic viewing experience because of colours and vibrancy.
Koi Carps
In the last few years, keeping Koi Carps in ponds has been a trend. These fishes are native to Japan and hence are also called Japanese Koi. Koi comes in different vibrant colours and may grow up to quite a large size of 28 to 32 inches. These fishes require constant temperature in water and need water to be fresh. They can live a long life by pond fish standards, with some living up to 40 years old. If you are going to keep koi, you need to have a larger pond with 50 to 60 inches in depth.
These are just some of the varieties of pond fish, and there are many more still. Whatever pond fish you choose as part of your garden pond, always remember, taking proper care of fish and ensuring adequate living conditions and diet is most important.
