Pumps

Brand

Determining which brand of pumps can be a little easier when someone recommends one from experience. We have tested and used several of the popular brand pumps and have come to love using the PerformancePro Artesian pumps for all the reasons we all want from a pond pump. Reliable, energy efficient, well made and great customer service from the manufacturer if needed. The pump is not only designed for use on ponds, it is one of the best pumps on the market.

Size

Determining the pump size you need or for your filtering system, or even what is best to handle your water feature can make it tough to determine and decide. Most pumps operate 24/7 for filtering, while the return line from the filter also flows over the water feature. Be sure to add a 3 way valve to be able to divert returning water under the ponds surface. You will find out the many benefits of this 3-way valve when operating your pond. Often, a 2nd pump is plumbed solely to benefit the waterfall or water features when needed and is only operated when entertaining or on the weekends when most are likely to be home. It also serves as a backup pump. Remember, it may take a few days to a week to get a replacement pump shipped to you. Depending on the time of year, this down time can kill off your beneficial bacteria and leave your pond high in ammonia and your fish ill or dieing. One extra pump on hand may be cheaper then your best Koi dieing.

Cost to operate

The cost of running a pump can add up over the years. Amps determines the amount of electricity any electrical devise is going to draw and thus the cost shows up in the monthly electric bill. The key here is - the lower the amps a pump is rated, the less it cost to operate. It is cost effective to buy a better pump that is more efficient which results in savings. The saving will be enough to save hundreds and even thousands of dollars over the years. Pay close attention to amps vs. how much water flow when comparing pumps and brands. Many other brands are higher in amps and pump the same or less then the PerformancePro pumps.

Size of pump or amount of flow

This is very much a complicated issue due to many factors. Some are size of pond, plumbing loss in friction and flow needed for the filtering system and water feature/waterfall.  First the size of the pond determines the amount of turn over needed to achieve the amount required to help keep clean and clear water. The pond water should be pumped through once every one to three hours or better said 1 to 2 times the size of your pond. Closer to once is more optimum since most of us add fish. . 

Then there's the loss of volume due to friction inside the plumbing walls. Don't turn away just yet. It's easier some times to just upgrade to the next size pipe if you haven't gotten to carried away with long plumbing lines and tons of elbows. To reduce the amount of friction when plumbing, be sure to use larger water lines and less elbows. Example; 1 1/2 inch PVC MAX. flow rate is 1,800 GPH... By installing a 2" PVC line, you have doubled the amount of flow rate to 4,800 GPH. Here in lies where most do it yourselfers (DIY) make the biggest mistakes. To achieve less resistance, increase the pipe size which  increases the efficiency in most pond designs and filtering systems. There are engineering ways to figure each elbow and ten foot of water line to determine the actual head pressure created, but this is a bit more then this article started out to share. For most ponds less then 8,000 gallons, run two inch PVC and keep the equipment close to the pond (Meaning not 100 feet away), and be sure that the pump is mounted below the water table of the pond. This eliminates resistance of water before the pump and helps in allowing the pump to run close to its engineered efficiency. (3 inch pipe can carry 9,000 Gallons Per Hour) See the flow chart.  

If long runs and lots of elbows are in your pond design, then it would be recommended to calc. out the actual head pressure and resistance created from all factors of the plumbing. On long runs, 2 1/2 inch PVC can handle close to 6,000 GPH. Which would be needed if you are building a 12,000 gallon pond.... 

Water features

The whole point of having a pond usually is to be able to enjoy the  tranquil sound of a water feature splashing or crinkling along. Don't build too large of a pounding water feature. The noise may be a bit to much to enjoy. 

For those that are new to figuring out head pressure and flow, it is better to seek advise and buy a bigger pump. It is easier to reduce or divert the water flow, then it is to buy a larger pump after you find you should have...

Consider reviewing information located on Koi Pond Centrals Calc. page located here.

Consider reviewing plumbing diagrams on www.KoiPondFiltering.com .

Consider reviewing the Advantage Bead Filter - www.AdvantageBeadFilter.com 

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