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Shopping is easy to find the full range of products this section offers please navigate,
using the menu to the left.
This information sheet has been designed to help you make an informed choice.
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How To Choose A Pond Pump
Step 1.
Decide what it is that you want the pump to do, what functions it will need to perform. For example -
Do you want a fountain spray? Will the pump operate a biological filter? Will the pump service a waterfall? Will the pump be operating a poolside or in pool water feature? Each of these functions will need a certain amount of performance from the pump.
Step 2.
Using the following guidelines allocate a performance requirement for each function. Function performance guide -
An average fountain spray will need approx. 150 gallons (675 Litres) per hour to provide a spray height of approx. 30 inches (76 cm.)
An average poolside fountain ornament (frog, figure etc. will need approx. 80 to 130 gallons (360 Litres to 585 Litres) per hour to provide a reasonable effect.
A waterfall needs 300 gallons (1,350 Litres) per hour to produce a continuous sheet (width) of water approx 5 to 6 inches (13 to 15 cm) wide. You can allow less for a more gentle effect. You will need to measure the height difference from the pond water surface to where water is delivered at top of waterfall. This is known as the 'head'. Performance or 'Flow Charts' are provided for each of the range of pumps we sell and will tell you at a glance, how much water is delivered at a given Head.
An external filter will have a manufacturer’s recommended flow rate for optimum performance. See manufacturer’s recommendations or refer to the Lifeforce detailed product page for the filter of your choice.
An in-pool or self-contained piece of fountain statuary will have a manufacturer’s recommended performance to achieve best effect. See manufacturers recommendations or refer to the Lifeforce detailed product page if buying statuary from us.
Step 3.
Add all the performance requirements together and choose a pump that seems to offer the same or preferably greater performance than that which is required. For example -
You have a waterfall 3 feet (91 cm) high 3 inches (7.6cm) wide and you would like a fountain spray from the pump of approx. 30 inches (76cm) high. From the guidelines above you can see that the pump will need to provide -
150 gallons (675 Litres) per hour for the fountain spray.
At least 300 gallons (1,350 Litres) per hour for the waterfall.
Your chosen pump would therefore be one that delivered around 450 gallons (1,575 Litres) per hour at a 36 (91 cm) inch head. As an example, reference to the Otter flow chart, the high performance range of pumps from Trident Water Garden Products, shows that in this case the appropriate pump would be the Otter 2500.
Hints & tips.
Always use the size (Bore) of hose recommended by pump manufacturer. Smaller or larger size will reduce performance. To avoid disappointment, always choose a pump which has a little more performance than you think you need. Fittings, connections, 'T' pieces, valves and elbows all reduce flow rates so keep to a minimum and make allowance when calculating performance required if use of these cannot be avoided
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