Choosing The Right Pond Water Circulation Pump
A guide to help you choose the most suitable water circulation pond-pump.
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We have installed 1,000+ commercial and private ponds & lakes for our clients over the years. This guide will help to summarise which pond pump 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 water circulation 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: This OASE high-quality pump 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: This pump 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. A pond filter such as the OASE FiltoClear 5000 (smaller) or 13000 (larger) is strongly recommended for goldfish health.
Koi Fish
OASE AquaMax Eco 8000: This pump 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. A filter such as the OASE FiltoClear 19000 is strongly recommended for koi-fish health in ponds this size.
Medium Ponds (Up To 16,000 sq/litres)
No Fish
OASE AquaMax Eco 16000: This pump 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: This pump will be suitable for medium-sized ponds, including with goldfish. A filter such as the OASE FiltoClear 31000 is strongly recommended for goldfish health in ponds this size.
Koi Fish
OASE AquaMax Eco 20000: This commercial-grade pump 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: This commercial-grade pump can be used for large ponds. It has a robust construction, handles heavy use, and circulates a large volume of water to promote pond health. At this scale, we recommend two pumps used in tandem.
Goldfish
OASE AquaMax Eco 20000: This pump is a commercial-grade pump suitable for large ponds and commercial ponds containing goldfish. A filter such as the BioTec 30 is strongly recommended for goldfish health in ponds this size. At this scale, we recommend two pumps used in tandem, with one connected to a recommended filter.
Koi Fish
OASE AquaMax Eco 20000: This pump is also suitable for large ponds and commercial ponds. It has a powerful motor and circulates a high volume of water suitable for keeping koi-fish healthy. A filter such as the BioTec ScreenMatic 140,000 or the BioTec 30 is strongly recommended for koi-fish health in ponds this size. 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 may be important to install a filtration system to ensure optimal water quality for wildlife.
We hope this guide has been helpful in choosing the right water circulation 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
