A quality pond pump is essential to the health and proper functioning of your Oklahoma pond or water garden. Pond pumps differ in performance and size so it is important to know how to select them. Filtration is the cornerstone of a good pond pump and should be considered the heart of the filtration unit. Knowing the right type of pump to purchase for a pond can be tricky for those who are inexperienced, but below are some tips that will help.
Pumps That Should Be Avoided
Some of the pumps that you’ll want to avoid using for your pond or water garden include aquarium pumps, sump pumps and dewatering pumps. Aquarium pumps may seem like a rational choice since they are associated with the keeping of fish, but the truth is that they are unique. An aquarium pump is not well suited to the debris that tends to accumulate in ponds and will be prone to failure if it doesn’t receive extensive and costly maintenance.
Sump pumps are commonly used in ponds, and are both powerful and affordable. However, they are not a good choice because they are built to operate intermittently in off and one cycles and will remain idle for long periods of time when they are not running at all.
The majority of sump pumps require oil to cool their internal parts and if this oil leaks into your pond or water garden you will have a serious problem on your hands. Dewatering pumps are efficient at removing rainwater from the cover of swimming pools, but the water flow they provide is weak. Like aquarium pumps they will also require a tremendous amount of maintenance.
Always Buy An Appropriate Pond Pump
The best pond pumps are those which are designed for ponds. Even then, when selecting such a pump it is important to determine whether or not it has the specific features that you need, such as the proper GPH (gallons per hour). A good pump gets water through the filters without sending too much or too little. The ideal pond pump is one that is capable of passing the pond’s total volume through a filter system within 2 hours.
A quality pump will also have no trouble handling the debris that tends to accumulate within the water over time. Think about the location where the pond will be installed. Will it be near a tree? If so will the pumps be capable of handling the leaves, bark, twigs or acorns that will accumulate in the water during fall? How far must the water be pumped? How high?
The most desirable pumps will typically have a discharge port which is 1.5” or bigger. Selecting the proper hosing and pipe for the pump is also important, otherwise the pump can burn out rapidly. Ultimately, the pond pump you purchase should be considered and investment. Its purchase should not be made haphazardly without conducting a lot of research, as its failure to perform can lead to significant problems to your pond or water garden.