Choosing the right pump for your Water Feature

The chart below will help you choose the right pump, and you are welcome to give us a call for advice  Pick the larger capacity pump in the range if you want a faster flow of water, but avoid splashing or your water feature will always be running dry and causing damage to the pump.  Our Pump Guarantee: If you buy a pump from us which does not produce the flow required you are welcome to exchange it within 30 days for an alternative

Different flow rates

The power of a water pump is measured by the maximum amount of water it can move in litres per hour, so a 750L pump will produce a water flow of 750 litres per hour, at ground level. The higher the pump has to push the water the more the flow reduces. The highest point a pump is capable of producing a flow of water is called the maximum head and it is much less than the flow you would get at ground level

Types of pump: there are 3 types to choose from

1. Pond Pumps are a multifunctional option and most come with a fountain kit. They are can be used in a pond to circulate the water and/or create a fountain. Larger pond pumps can be used to create a waterfall which flows back into the pond.  Pond pumps with a sponge pre-filter need occasional maintenance as the filter eventually becomes blocked with particles. To keep the pump working well periodically remove the sponge for a thorough clean by repeatedly washing and squeezing it out in a bucket clean water. If you are using the fountain kit the sponge stops the fine nozzles of the fountain becoming blocked. Pond pumps can also make a good low cost option to power a water feature and the fountain attachment makes these ideal to create a pebble pool 

2. Water Feature Pumps are designed to work in fairly clean water so there is no sponge filter and require little or no maintenance. They normally sit in a plastic sump or reservoir below the water feature and a piece of pond hose is used to connect the outlet of the pump to the inlet of your water feature. Water feature pumps can pump water to a higher level than a pond pump so they are a better choice for medium to large water features. The size you need depends of the effect required (a good flow or just a trickle), the diameter of the hose being used and the height of your water feature. The pump has to work much harder to push a column of water upwards through a 25mm hose compared to a 13mm hose, and tall features require a much bigger pump than small ones as the flow reduces considerably the higher it has to go before exiting the water feature outlet

3. Waterfall and Filter Pumps. These are high capacity pumps designed to supply a lot of water to a pond filter, a waterfall or water blade and will normal use hose with a diameter of 25mm or 32mm. They normally sit in a pond or large reservoir but instead of a sponge filter the pump is surrounded by a plastic cage which prevents larger particles causing blockages. Particles up to 5 or 10mm can pass through the pump and a plastic cage prevents larger particles blocking the pump. They require very little maintenance, perhaps just brushing the cage now and again to dislodge any accumulated debris

What size hose do I need? The hose is normally selected to match the size the inlet of the water feature and the outlet of the pump. Regular hose sizes are 9mm, 13mm, 19mm, 25mm and 32mm. Metal features and statues normally have a stepped inlet which makes it easy to push on a piece of hose.  For drilled rocks measure the diameter of the hole in the rock and choose the closest matching hose, push the hose to the top of the feature, or leave it a couple of mm from the top. If there is any gap between the hose and the rock you can stop any back flow of water by sealing it with some clear silicone. Most drilled rocks are designed to take 19mm or 25mm hose. You may need to choose a smooth pond hose if the ribbed version is difficult to push through.  The other end of the hose is connected to your pump. Smaller pumps have a 13mm outlet, bigger pumps may offer a choice of outlets like 13mm or 19mm and the largest pumps give you a choice of 25mm or 32mm outlet. We can adapt any pump to take any size hose using different connectors but small pumps that come with 13mm outlets are not really powerful enough to push water through a 25mm piece of hose