How To Choose The Right Pump for Pond, Fountain & Garden Features

 

When you buy a pump for a garden fish pond you're investing in an asset that will incur running costs for every minute it runs ... and more importantly and something few pond keepers fully realize is that your investing in the future well being, in fact life, of any fish in the pond.

 This bit is IMPORTANT ...

Your pump is there first and foremost to keep your fish alive by circulating oxygen dissolved in the water to those bacteria that exist in a pond filter. These pond filter bacteria are the reason why it's possible to keep fish in a small artificial environment in your garden.

In return for providing these bacteria with the oxygen they need the inhabitants of your pond will not only survive they will thrive and give you and your family countless hours of wonder and inspiration for years to come.

These same bacteria are also the sole reason why a pump for a fish pond MUST run 24 hours every day and 365 days every year. Think of a pond pump not only in terms of circulating water or driving a waterfall but also in terms of providing bacteria in the biofilter with the oxygen required to allow the biofilter to work.

To learn all about ponds, pumps, filters, and algae control please see our site Practical Water Gardens.

Important fish pond pump models sold in UK

Bermuda Pond and Fountain Pumps

Hozelock Cascade Pond and Fountain Pumps

Hozelock Titan Fish Pond Filter Pumps

Lotus Maximus Pond and Fountain Pumps

Lotus Olympus 2000 Garden Fish Pond Filter Pump

Oase Aquamax Eco Filter Pond Pumps

Oase Aquarius Pond and Fountain Pump

Oase Profimax High Performance Koi Pond Filter Pumps

Oase Promax Fish Pond Filter Pumps

Oasis Aquashift Fish Pond Filter Pumps

Oasis Universal Garden and Fish Pond Pumps

Petmate Fish Pond Pumps

Solar Pond Pumps and Solar Kits for Ponds

Air Pumps for Koi and Fish Pond

Trident Small Water Feature Pump with 3m Clear Hose

Always remember this ... if you switch the pump off overnight the bacteria die and this means the water purification process being driven by the bacteria inside the filter comes to a grinding halt. In many such circumstances fish become extremely stressed and may eventually die.

The Different Types of Pumps

Your choice of pump will depend very much on what you want to achieve. Below are the major considerations to think about ... the site will explore in sufficient depth each of these alternative types of pump applications.

For me there are a few over-riding considerations in choosing the right pond pump for any application ...

  1. If the pump sounds cheap, it won't be after all is taken into account.

  2. If you don't recognize the brand then be careful.

  3. You will never go far wrong if you buy a pump supplied by Hozelock, Oase, Lotus, Petmate (Fishmate)  or Oasis. And ... if you read and understand these few pages on this site and then buy one of these branded pumps you'll never go wrong (ok almost never).

General Points About All Pond-Pumps

  • This is the best place to start exploring this pump website and before you buy any pump.

  • Pumps for fish ponds and these are specified differently than for ponds that hold aquatic plants but not fish.

  • Pumps for waterfalls, streams and cascades ... there are very special considerations to be taken into account here.

  • Pumps for pond fountains ... those that spray and sprinkle into the air.

  • Pumps for re-circulating (self contained) fountains and water features you find in gardens, on patios, indoors and even on table tops.

  • Solar pumps ... no direct wiring for electrical connection.

  • Sump pumps used in many waterfall applications despite their general unsuitability.

  • External pond pumps often used in larger pond installations ... these are often similar to swimming pool pumps.

  • Pipes, fittings ... an important and neglected part of water gardening.

A Pond is Forever ... So Choose Your Pump Wisely

This site is designed to help you do just that ... make your choice of pump not only the correct one but one that will actually reduce your expenditure to the absolute minimum and at the same time save the hassles that so many experience with pond pumps because they quite simply chose the wrong pump.

I do not sell pumps. I used to for many years and this is why I've been able to put this information together based upon real, live practical experience. Although I don't sell pumps  have done enough research to know who are the best companies to deal with. Throughout this site you will find links to trustworthy and reliable low cost pump suppliers online. For USA pumps take a look at my other site

Practical Water Gardens and Fish Ponds