Choosing The Right Pond Filtration Pump.
A guide to help you choose the most suitable pond filtration pump.
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We have installed 1,000+ commercial and private pond filtration systems for our clients over the years. This guide will help to summarise what you need, based on your requirements.
To speak to one of our experienced in-store team, feel free to call us.
Pond Size and Fish Stock Matters.
As a general rule of thumb:
A pond should have a pump that can circulate the entire volume of water at least once every hour. For example, if you have a 3500-liter pond, you’ll need a pump that can move at least 3500 litres per hour (LPH).
However, this flow rate may need to be increased if you have fish in your pond.
Accounting for Fish when Choosing a Pump.
(Skip this section if you have no fish in your pond)
A useful way to understand the required pump flow-rate for fish, is to use the following calculation:
- Goldfish and other small fish require a flow rate of at least 950 LPH per fish
- Koi fish require a flow rate of at least 1900 LPH per fish
So, if you have 5 goldfish in your 3500-liter pond, you’ll need a pump that can move at least 4750 LPH (950 LPH x 5 fish).
Pond Pump Recommendations for You.
Below, we’ve broken down some different pond-size groups, and recommended filtration pumps for each group.
Dont forget, you will require Pond Hose – call us on 01256 883907 for any assistance!
Small Ponds (Up To 4,000 sq/litres)
No Fish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 4000 (pump)
- OASE FiltoClear 5000 (filter)
This OASE high-quality pump and filter combo is perfect for smaller ponds to promote pond health. It’s compact, energy-efficient, and easy to install. For tighter budgets, the cheaper classic range PondoMax Eco 5000 would be a suitable choice.
Goldfish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 6000 (pump)
- OASE FiltoClear 13000 (filter)
- Purchase as a Set
This pump and filter is also suitable for smaller ponds. It’s German engineered OASE quality, and is slightly larger than the previous pumps, making it ideal for goldfish health.
Koi Fish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 8000 (pump)
- OASE FiltoClear 19000 (filter)
- Purchase as a Set
This pump and filter combo is also suitable for smaller ponds with fish. It’s slightly larger than the previous pumps, making it ideal for koi-fish health, oxygenation, and pond circulation. We recommend koi-fish to be housed in a pond larger than 4000L.
Medium Ponds (Up To 16,000 sq/litres)
No Fish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 12000 (pump)
- OASE FiltoClear 19000 (filter)
- Purchase as a Set
This pump and filter combination is designed for medium-sized ponds. It has a powerful motor, durable construction, and is energy efficient, making it perfect for ongoing heavy use.
Goldfish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 16000 (pump)
- OASE FiltoClear 31000 (filter)
- Purchase as a Set
: This pump and filter will be suitable for medium-sized ponds, including with goldfish. A filter such as the is strongly recommended for goldfish health in ponds this size.
Koi Fish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 20000 (pump)
- OASE FiltoClear 31000 (filter)
This commercial-grade pump and filter set is suitable for medium to large-sized ponds and koi ponds. It circulates enough water to keep koi-fish thriving, while maintaining an energy-efficient wattage. Ideal for ongoing use in all seasons. A filter such as the OASE FiltoClear 31000 is strongly recommended for koi-fish health in ponds this size.
Large Ponds (Up To 40,000 sq/litres)
No Fish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 20000 (pump x 2)
- OASE FiltoClear 31000 (filter x 2)
This commercial-grade pump and filter combination can be used for large ponds. They both have a robust construction, handle heavy use, and circulate a large volume of water to promote pond health. At this scale, we recommend two pump and filters used in tandem for longevity, to futureproof your pond.
Goldfish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 20000 (pump x 2)
- BioTec 30 (filter x 1) OR ProfiClear Drum Filter M (low-maintenance filter x 1)
This pump and filter are a commercial-grade pump suitable for large ponds and commercial ponds containing goldfish. At this scale, we recommend two pumps used in tandem, with one connected to the BioTec 30.
Koi Fish
- OASE AquaMax Eco 20000 (pump x 2)
- BioTec ScreenMatic 140,000 (filter x 1) OR ProfiClear Drum Filter L (low-maintenance filter x 1)
This pump is also suitable for large ponds and commercial ponds. The BioTec ScreenMatic 140,000 is slightly higher maintenance than the BioTec 30, but will yield better water-quality results at this large scale. Alternatively, the ProfiClear Drum Filter L is a brilliant low-maintenance choice. This combination will be sure to keep koi-fish healthy and thriving. At this scale, we recommend at least two pumps used in tandem, connected to at least one recommended filter.
In addition to choosing the right pump for your needs, it’s important to properly maintain your filtration system to ensure optimal performance. We recommend cleaning your filter regularly and replacing filter media as needed.
We hope this guide has been helpful in choosing the right filtration pump for your needs. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
To speak to a human, call us on 01256 883907