Pumps come in a wide variety of models and sizes. A pump is essential for any water feature in your property such as pond, fountain, waterfall, stream or any spouting ornament. Pumps may be external or submersible. Also known as internal pond pumps, submersible pond pumps are directly positioned in the pond. These do not produce distracting noise and may also be used to drain the pond whenever necessary. Submersible pond pumps are ideal for smaller ponds and are the most economical as well.
However, submersible pond pumps also come with disadvantages. For one, the pump seal can break, which can cause the oil coolant to leak into the water. When this happens, oxygen cannot reach your fish thus endangering them. You may want to use a magnet-driven submersible pond pump, which does not use coolants. These may be more expensive but are less risky and easier to operate as well.
Submersible pond pumps are commonly used in most Koi ponds and water gardens. These usually range from 50 to 50,000 GPH (gallons per hour). GPH is the amount of water the pump circulates at a given time. Moreover, submersible pond pumps are easy and quick to install as well. You simply put the pump into the water, making sure that it is fully submerged, plug it in and then attach it to a hose to whatever waterfall you have. And because these are space efficient and inconspicuous, you can expect to have a more natural looking fish pond. A downside however is that they can suck up too much energy especially for bigger ponds and that it may be difficult to find replacement parts when these break down.
Submersible pond pumps work with the use of two gears. As these gears rotate the mesh in and out, voids are also created in which liquid seeps into the cavities. Then, the liquid is pushed through the discharge channel.
Larger capacity submersible pond pumps are rated by horsepower. Most pump manufacturers provide charts that detail the power of every pump size according to the incremental height of one foot. Other companies label pumps by GPH while some assign either number or letter designations requiring chart cross-referencing.
When determining the type of submersible pump for your pond, make an estimate of the vertical height from the top of your pond pump and the stream or waterfall. Then add another foot per 10 feet of hosing you use. This enables volume loss from resistance in the hose. A rule of thumb here is to determine the waterfall requirement as 150 GPH for every inch of the channel’s width. Moreover, a valve can be used to adjust the pump’s flow, as desired.
