| Whether you have a preformed or a liner pond, a | | | | the top of your waterfall. In addition, you must |
| pond pump is a paramount component of any | | | | add another foot of height or lift for every 10 |
| water feature. Stagnant bodies of water attract | | | | feet of hosing you will be using (this will allow for |
| mosquito infestations, which are a nuisance, and | | | | loss of volume from resistance within the hose). |
| also undesirable, due to the recent outbreaks of | | | | To calculate the required pump GPH, a general |
| the West Nile virus. Therefore, it is paramount | | | | rule of thumb is that each inch of width of the |
| that you utilize a pond pump that circulates your | | | | channel will require an extra 100 GPH. For |
| body of water. | | | | example, if your stream or waterfall spillway will |
| Pumps are available in both submersible and | | | | be 10 inches wide, you will need a pump that |
| external (out-of-pond) models. For the smaller | | | | produces an excess flow of 1000 GPH at your |
| pond (up to 1000 gallons of water), a submersible | | | | waterfall's height. |
| pump is the more economical and practical option. | | | | If you plan on having fish, your water circulation |
| Submersible pumps can be placed directly in the | | | | demands will be drastically increased. Fish rely on |
| pond and require relatively little installation. They | | | | the oxygen in the water to survive, hence a |
| are free of distracting noise, and for smaller | | | | proper pump for a fish pond must ensure that |
| ponds, can easily be utilized to drain your pond (if | | | | extra oxygen is both introduced into the pond, |
| you hook up a hose to the output flow). | | | | and distributed throughout the pond. The general |
| In the old days, the main disadvantage of | | | | rule of thumb is that you must double your pump |
| submersible pumps was that the pump seal could | | | | GPH if you plan on raising fish. An example of a |
| rupture and release oil coolant into the water. | | | | pump that would be appropriate for fish is |
| However, this is not the case nowadays, because | | | | GardenSuperMart's UltraFlo line of pumps. These |
| newer pumps are magnetic-driven, and no longer | | | | pumps have oxygen intake valves and an unique |
| require coolant. "Mag-driven" pumps are slightly | | | | air/water air mix system which effectively |
| more expensive, but they have the added | | | | increases the oxygen concentration in your pond. |
| advantage of consuming less electricity. | | | | The advantage of GardenSuperMart's |
| Pumps are sized by gallons per hour (GPH) output | | | | low-maintenance, magnetic-driven UltraFlo pump |
| at one foot of lift or height. Manufacturers usually | | | | kits is that they contain a sealed unit with a large |
| offer charts that break down the power of each | | | | enclosure that prevents debris from clogging the |
| size pump according to incremental heights of one | | | | water intake. The UltraFlo line of pumps starts at |
| foot. It is recommended that you circulate your | | | | 200 GPH, and increase up to 660 GPH. All UltraFlo |
| body of water at least once every 2 hours. | | | | pump kits come complete with a telescopic riser |
| Therefore you will need to size your pump to | | | | and diverter and 3 fountain heads. |
| ensure that it has half the GPH rating as the | | | | If you require a more powerful pump, |
| volume of your pond in gallons. For example, if | | | | GardenSuperMart also has a SuperFlo line of pump |
| you have a 1000 gallon water feature, you will | | | | kits that can provide up to 1585 GPH. All SuperFlo |
| require at least a 500 GPH pump. | | | | kits come complete with a telescopic riser and |
| Calculating the proper pump for waterfalls is a bit | | | | diverter, 4 fountain heads, and a sponge pre-filter. |
| trickier, because you must estimate your | | | | An optional SuperFlo Mechancial and Biological filter |
| waterfall's height. To do so, you must measure | | | | can also be added to the pump to provide |
| the vertical height from the top of your pump to | | | | additional water filtration for your fish. |