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How to select right water pump for the pond, fountain, aquarium and hydroponic system?

2024-08-20

How to select right water pump for 

the pond, fountain, aquarium and hydroponic system?

 

What size of the pump should you choose? If you don’t know, just follow the instructions below. Before starting to explain this, you at least should know where you want to use, for a pond, an aquarium, or a fountain.

 

Pond Pump


First, calculate the volume of water that can be circulated in the pond in one hour. For example, if a pond has a capacity of 500 gallons/liters, the required pump flow rate should be 500GPH/LPH.


How to calculate the volume of pond water?

GPH Calculation

If it is a square pond, 

it is length * width * depth * 7.5 = total Gallon

If it is a round pond, 

it is radius * radius * 3.14 * depth * 7.5 = total Gallon

If it is an oval pond, the

max length * max width * max depth * 7.5 = total Gallon


If you’re from Europe and other countries, transfer LPH based on GPH result. (1Gallon = 3.8 Liters)


submersible pond pump


Fountain Pump


For choosing the right submersible water pump for fountain, please be aware that lifting height is the No.1 data you should focus then it’s the flow rate.


Max pumping height is the height of the fountain from the pump to the fountain head or spout. Measure the distance and choose a bigger pump based on this.


Measurement way:

No.1

  • Measure the height from fountain head to the water level. 

  • Choose a pump with a higher pumping height than this height.

 

No.2

  • Calculate the height from the fountain head to the pump, use the height multiply 1.5.

  • Choose a pump with a higher pumping height than this calculation.


submersible pump

 

Aauqrium Water Pump

 

To calculate the GPH required for your aquarium, you can use the formula:

Tank Volume (in gallons) x 5 = Required GPH.

 

Transfer LPH based on GPH result. (1Gallon = 3.8 Liters)

 

Normally, we recommend,

< 25L/6.6Gal, choose the pump with 75LPH or 20GPH

25 - 50L or 6.6 - 13.2Gal, choose the pump with 150LPH or 40 GPH

50 -100L or 13.2 - 26.5Gal, choose the pump with 250LPH or 66 GPH

100 - 200L or 26.5 - 53Gal, choose the pump with 250LPH or 158.5 GPH

>200L or 53Gal, choose the pump with 1000LPH or 264 GPH


small fountain pump

 

Hydroponic Water Pump

 

Flow Rate

For the water pump for the hydroponic system, you should circulate the entire water volume in your system at least every two hours. So you should choose a water pump that can circulate at least half of the entire water volume in one hour. 


For example, if your hydroponic system has 200 gallons of water, you will need a pump that can circulate at least 100 gallons of water per hour. 100GPH will be the minimum flow rate of your pump.

 

Head Height

Measure the distance between the water level of the water tank and the grow bed, and check the method of choosing the fountain pump.


If the water tank level remains the same with the grow bed, then you don’t need to measure it.

 

Conclusion

Combining Flow Rate and Lift Height

No matter what kind of pump you’re choosing, you should match the flow rate and the lift height together to find the most suitable one. In most cases, you can check the flow rate chart to find the balanced data you need.


submersible pond pump

 

Frequent Asked Questions


Can the pond water pumps works all day? 

Yes, and we recommend to keep the pond pumps working all day since it can circulate the water for always and they’re designed for 24/7 use.

 

Should I turn it off during the night?

It’s better not, unless you have other equipment to keep water with enough oxygen. At night, the water needs oxygen to diffuse because photosynthesis stops, but the respiration of plants and fish continues, which produces carbon dioxide, which dissolves in the water and is very harmful to the fish. 

 

Can a pond fountain pump can be used in pond or hydroponic system?

No problem. The key is to remember to choose your right pump based on flow rate and lift height for your application. If the combination of these two key data can cover your needs, then you can use them for various applications under the same requirements.

 

Can a fountain pump be used in an aquarium setup?

Fountain pumps can work in aquariums, but make sure they have the right flow rate and features for your tank. They should not create strong currents that could disturb fish or decorations.

 

How often should water pumps for aquariums and ponds be maintained or replaced?

Regular maintenance is key. Clean your pump every few months to prevent clogging. Depending on usage and quality, you may need to replace it every 1 to 3 years.



In the end


That's all about for today, we introduced how to choose the right water pump and answered the frequent questions. Don't find your questions? Feel free to contact us and we're happy to support.


Barst, since our foundation, we focused on manufacturing and developing pump products and solutions. If you're looking for a loyal and long-term partner, we're proud to recommend our team for your trial. With more than 16 years of experience, we hope to provide more pump advanced tech for your market.


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