How To Select Pond Pump for Ponds & Waterfalls

This page tries to make it easy for anybody to choose their own pond pump correctly. Too many people have made the expensive mistake of selecting a pond or waterfall pump based upon general rather than specific information. You cannot easily guess the right pump that suits your pond especially if you have a waterfall. There's nothing more disappointing than eagerly waiting for that flow over your waterfall to find that you have a trickle rather than a tinkling, soothing cascade (or if it's what you wanted ... that roaring torrent becomes like a river in drought). You need to know 2 vital bits of information if you want to feed a waterfall ...

1. Vertical height of waterfall inlet above water surface of pond (NOT bottom of pond) ... measure this in feet

2. Width of water overflow point for waterfall ... if overflow is series of smaller overflows add all together to get width in inches

If you have no waterfall choice is easier ... see below

Waterfall Pump Selection Table ...

check where height meets width in the table. This is the flow your pump model must deliver. For a wide range of guaranteed Great range of pumps for small to medium sized ponds and waterfalls

		Waterfall Vertical Height measured from surface of pond ... (feet)
Width Water Overflow (inches)		1 ft	2 ft	3 ft	4 ft	5 ft	6 ft
	3"	350 gph	500 gph	500 gph	500 gph	700 gph	700 gph
	6"	700 gph	700 gph	700 gph	700 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph
	9"	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph
	12"	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph
	Example ... you have a waterfall 3 feet above pond surface and overflow is 9 inches wide. You need a pump that will deliver 1200 gph at a height of 3 feet. An example fo such a pump is Danner Supreme Mag Drive 1200 gph as colored yellow above. If you have a waterfall 24 inches wide and 3 feet high you would need 2 model 1200gph pumps TIP: always go for one size larger if in any doubt ... Great range of pumps for small to medium sized ponds and waterfalls

NO waterfall pump selection table ... you only need to know your pond volume or make estimate of the volume. It does not matter if you are not perfectly correct

Volume of pond ... (gallons) ... See range of pumps
300 galls	500 galls	1000 galls	1500 galls	2000 galls	2500 galls
350 gph	350 gph	500 gph	700 gph	1200 gph	1200 gph
Example ... you have a pond whose volume is about 1250 gallons your chosen pump must be able to pump about 700 gph maximum flow. An example is the Danner Supreme Mag Drive 700 gph as colored pink above. You could if you really wanted to save some money get away with the 500 but if in any doubt always go one size bigger. For a much wider range and choice click here For a wide range of ... Great range of pumps for small to medium sized ponds and waterfalls

On the matter of cost do take note of the operating cost .... normally far more important than the original cost and if you ever compare pumps ALWAYS take this electricity cost into account.

Many retailers do not understand pond pumps well enough to give money saving advice consistent with correct pond pumps specifications. Selecting pumps is easier than selecting waterfall or pond pumps.

If you have a very special situation such as a large pond with unusual characteristics then the following selection criteria must be understood to select the optimum pond pumps for your koi pond, fish pond or water garden. However for 90% + of all garden ponds the above tables will suffice. Then you must know how to:

Calculate correct pond pump head. This depends upon waterfall characteristics mainly. If no waterfall exists pond volume and contents of the garden pond determine specifications for most pond pumps.
Calculate correct pond pump flow rate. This is a function of the waterfall situation and other factors.
Then specify to a retailer exactly what you want bearing in mind purchase and running costs of pond pumps selected. If you want a garden water feature pump decide more specifically upon your water feature before deciding upon the garden water feature pumps to select from.
Recognize the pitfalls associated with certain types of so called pond pumps. Pool pumps are the main culprits here ... sump pumps generally stand upright with suction right at the base. Generally avoid these for ponds and waterfalls unless you know EXACTLY why you want to buy one.