Choosing a pump is the most important part of any water feature. It is the hart of any system. Without a pump, the system is dead. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and dangerous bacteria to thrive. Moving water supports an ecosystem, adds oxygen molecules to water to support life. Moving water is needed to keep fish healthy but there are also many microscopic elements thriving in the oxygen-rich moving water. These microscopic organisms are needed to keep a clear, healthy pond. Beneficial bacteria must have oxygenated water in order to survive. These beneficial bacteria aid in consuming fish waste, sludge and competing with algae for food.

This page will guide you through your pump selection much like a flow chart. At the end of each section you will choose the answer that best describes your application. This will then forward you to the next area of choices. Let's begin...

SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS vs. EXTERNAL PUMPS. Over 95% of pumps sold through PondScape are that of the submersible type. A submersible pump is submersed completely in the water. Submersible pumps "suck" water in at their base and discharge their water through a plumb-able discharge. There is no need to attach plumbing to the intake side of a submersible pump... only from the discharge to the desired area for the water to be transferred to. Almost all pond and water gardens use submersible pumps. Photos of some submersible pumps:

External pumps CAN NOT be placed submerged in the water. These pumps sit safely outside the water feature and have piping feeding the intake port as well as the discharge. External pumps are usually not used in ponds and water gardens but are becoming increasingly popular in hybrid ponds. Some external pumps are not rated to handle the weather and elements and will need to be housed in a protective enclosure. Some external pumps are rather noisy, similar to a swimming pool pump. However, there are many top-end external pumps that can handle wet locations (not submersed) and are whisper-quiet. Photos of some external pumps:

Some submersible pumps are capable of being used as an in-line pump. These pumps have plumbing threads on the intake area as well as the discharge and can be used either way. Photos of some submersible pumps that can also be used in-line:

QUESTION #1...WHAT TYPE OF PUMP ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
SUBMERSIBLE PUMP or EXTERNAL PUMP  (click one)

Submersible pumps can be broken down into 3 categories. Direct drive, mag-drive and asynchronous drive. This is a very important step that is often over looked when selecting a pump.

Direct-drive pumps are the most popular for water gardens. These pumps are derived from sump pump technology and incorporate an oil or air-cooled motor (sealed watertight) and a volute housing an impeller assembly. Basically, the motor is directly attached to the impeller though a means of shafts and seals. They can pump massive flows and have little pressure loss when compared to the other two pump styles. Direct drive pumps are becoming more and more energy efficient with new technology and are excellent for high-head waterfall applications. An old myth was to avoid oil-filled pumps in case of rupture in a pond. However, the oils used in most pumps are natural plant oils that are non-toxic. Plus, a quality pump will never leak or rupture. Cheaper pumps may pose a greater risk, but PondScape recommends not making this "oil myth" sway your decision. Remember, these are the most popular pumps sold!

Mag-drive pumps generate flow by ways of an electro-magnetic impeller and are extremely energy efficient and are great for low-head (not far lengths of tubing) applications. Mag-drive pumps are typically used on small fountains, small waterfalls and spitting statues. Because they quickly lose their "lift" power, we do not recommend these pumps for most waterfalls in water gardens. They are, however, very efficient for use as small fountains in the center of ponds, very small waterfalls and small water features.

Asynchronous pumps are great for average waterfalls and are also very energy efficient. These pumps rely on a wet-rotor design which allows the motor to be cycled through different voltages regulating the flow. They are not as powerful as a direct drive pump but have become increasingly popular in most applications under 3000gph. These pumps have long life expectancies and can tolerate 'dirty' electricity that may not be unavoidable in certain installations. They are much more powerful than mag-drive pumps and still some-what efficient. An excellent choice for small to average waterfalls.

OK, now that we understand the 3 types of submersible pumps, we must now consider where the pump will be placed. For example, skimmer filters are very popular and will house your pump and protect it from sucking up leaves, debris, fish and frogs. If you have a skimmer filter, you can choose any of the 3 types of submersible pumps mentioned. However, if you have your pump simply lying on the bottom of your pond there are some things to consider... A direct drive pump has no means to screen-out or protect fish and debris from being sucked in and grinded up into bits. A direct-drive pump is a poor choice for this application. Unfortunately, if you are looking for high flow rates you do not have a choice. If you must use a direct drive pump lying simply at the bottom of your pond, consider a pump cage or pump sock to help screen-out the debris and protect the pump. For medium applications , several companies offer asynchronous and mag-drive caged-pumps that can sit on the bottom of your pond safely. These pumps resemble a bicycle helmet and are very resistant to clogging. Smaller mag-drive pumps will sometimes come with a prefilter. A prefilter can be a screened intake or a simple sponge. Both will protect the pump but may be more prone to clogging frequently. Take a minute to see these pump photos:

A direct-drive pump. Notice the bottom (intake) has no screen. ALL debris will be sucked in and grinded to a pulp. Only use these in a skimmer or with a pump cage.

An asynchronous caged-pump can be safely placed directly on the pond bottom.

Here is a mag-drive pump that uses a sponge for a prefilter.

OK, now you should know where your pump will be placed in your pond and you should have a better understanding of the different pumps available for each application. We will get back to this in a bit so keep it in mind.

Next, you need to determine the amount of water flow needed. Many different applications seek different flow rates. The purpose of this page is not to establish the amount of water you need flowing. Consult with your installer or call our customer service reps' to help figure it out. What you DO need to know is the approximate head height (also known as head, shut-off head, shut-off, head pressure, etc). After determining where your pump will be placed, guesstimate the distance from the WATER SURFACE above the pump to the final discharge of the water. For example, if your pump is housed in a skimmer and the water will finally discharge out of a waterfall on the opposite side of your pond... and your piping is 25 feet around your pond... So far we have 25 feet of piping horizontally. Next determine how HIGH the discharge point is from the water surface. So, if your waterfall is 3 feet high, then we have a HEAD HEIGHT OF 3 FEET. Now, remember the 25 feet of horizontal pipe? Horizontal pipe runs of 10 feet are equal to 1 foot of head height. So we have 3 feet up and 25 feet across (equal to 2.5 feet high). In this example, our head height is a total of 5.5 feet approximately. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. After figuring out your head height- WRITE IT DOWN!

Now, you should know your flow rate (in gallons per hour GPH), your approximate head height, and where your pump will sit in your pond.  Next lets determine your electric.

Most pumps use standard 120volt household electric and require no special wiring. However, some large pumps are available or standard in 220/230 volt. Be sure you know before purchasing.

You can now go back to the submersible pump area and see the different manufacturers. Look for the TURTLE icon for important tips along the way.

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO THE PUMP PAGE

We do not provide online assistance in selecting external pumps at this time.
Please call us 1-866-584-5405