Many Phoenix homeowners may not realize just how essential a pump is to their backyard pond. The pond pump is the heart of the circulation system. It helps the pond skim off debris that fall into it, as well as adds necessary aeration for your fish. Then there’s the all-important waterfall element that simply won’t exist without a pump. And we all love our waterfalls, don’t we?
When talking pond pumps, there are a few things to consider:
- Appropriate water flow to the size of the pond
- Energy efficiency
- Handling heavy solids without plugging up
Appropriate Water Flow for Your Pond
Too much pump, and you’ve got a splash leak. Too little pump and the circulation system is anemic. Without getting too technical, let’s just say that you want to turn over the water in your pond completely between 1 and 2 times per hour. If you’re buying a pump for a DIY project, be sure to check the specs for this information, together with head pressure, length of pipe run, etc. A backyard pond pump is properly rated in gallons per hour. For example, a Tsurumi 3PL is rated at 3,000 gph at 5’ of head pressure, and this is plenty of water flow for the average backyard pond and waterfall, most of which hold 2-5,000 gallons of water. Save the horsepower question for the next car you plan to buy!
Energy Efficiency
Any pump being marketing based on their rating in horsepower is likely going to cost a fortune to run 24/7. Not to mention, it will probably be so noisy that you’ll end up hearing it rather than your waterfall or babbling brook. Not the desired outcome for a backyard pond. For a backyard pond pump, you’re looking for a product that’s basically an aquarium pump on steroids, and should cost you between $15 and $30 per month to run – much more sustainable than your average pool pump running around the clock!
Handling Heavy Solids
Another MUST feature of a backyard pond pump is that it must be DESIGNED to be used in a backyard pond. This means that it will pass heavy solids, or a small stone, through its mechanisms without plugging up or jamming. A swimming pool pump is absolutely NOT designed to do this, as they assume the water to be a sterile environment. A living backyard pond is not a sterile environment, and should not be.
So, the simplest answer to the question of “how big is your pond pump” is that the pump is only as big as it needs to be.
For more specifics about choosing a backyard pond pump for your DIY project, visit AquascapeInc.com.
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale, Arizona (AZ) & Surrounding Areas
For more information on Pond Design & Construction: https://pondgnome.com/pond-construction-phoenix-az/
