Pond Pumps
How to Choose the Right Pond Pump
Choosing the right pump is an extremely important decision and if you get it wrong then you will either have to change it or more likely loose your valuable Koi through pumping either too much water or not enough.
Choosing the wrong pump can lead to poor water circulation, reduced filtration performance, and in severe cases, the loss of valuable koi. A pump that is too powerful or too weak will prevent your pond system from operating efficiently.
When choosing between a submersible pump, dry surface pump, or dual purpose pump, always ensure the model you select can deliver the required flow rate for your pond.
Understanding Pond Turnover Rates - As a general guide, your pond water should circulate at least once every two hours.
Example:
Pond volume: 5,000 gallons
Recommended pump flow: 2,500 gallons per hour (GPH)
This turnover rate helps maintain water quality and supports effective biological filtration.
However, always allow for flow loss caused by system restrictions, such as:
Ultra violet (UV) clarifiers
Long pipe runs
Multiple bends and fittings
Height (head) the pump must push water
These factors can significantly reduce the actual flow reaching your pond, so it is wise to choose a pump with some performance headroom.
Submersible Pumps
First of all a submersible pump is a water pump that is totally submerged under water, these normally have a completely sealed unit to prevent water ingress for safety reasons, the body of the submersible pump should not under any circumstances ever be tampered with because a fault has developed.
We have tried to present for you a good selection of these submersible pumps for you to choose from, please click on the links to the various manufacturers we list, these include the Dab Nova, Stuart Turner Isis, Little Giant and Blagdon Amphibious.
A submersible pump operates fully underwater within the pond or filter chamber. These pumps are built as sealed units to prevent water ingress and ensure safe operation.
Important: The body of a submersible pump should never be tampered with if a fault develops.
Benefits of Submersible Pumps
Easy installation
Quiet operation
Compact design
Ideal for smaller to medium ponds
Dry Surface Pumps
A dry surface pump (external pump) must never be submerged or allowed to stand in water. These pumps are installed outside the pond, typically at or below water level.
They are widely used on larger koi ponds where higher flow rates and energy efficiency are required.
Benefits of Dry Surface Pumps
Higher flow performance
Better energy efficiency
Easier maintenance access
Ideal for larger koi pond systems
We supply premium external pumps designed to deliver reliable, long-term performance when properly installed and maintained.
A Dry Surface Pump is one that must under no circumstances ever be submerged or stood in water.
There are a great many Dry Surface pumps on the world market, if you decide on a Dry Surface Pump then there are some excellent pumps available and we are pleased to be able to offer our customers the very best available including the Sequence 8000s - Sequence 18000s pumps, the Speck Badu top, Itt Marlow Argonaut AG and Argonaut AV, Hydro HPS pumps, we know will give years of use if not abused.
Dual Purpose Pumps
The Dual Purpose Pump, as its name implies, can be used as both a Submersible Pump and also as a Dry Surface Pump.
The first one we have is probably the most popular of them all 'The Oase Aquamax' all models in the Oase Aquamax range are dual purpose and all that is required is for you to simply remove the case, which is normally used as the strainer, for the pump when it is being used as a Submersible Pump. The Oase Optimax is a relatively new comer to the market these pumps are an ideal choice when using the Nexus eazy systems as both the inlet and outlet is in 2 inch. The Red Devil, Filtertech Perfect pumps are also very good and reliable.
One of the most popular options in this category is the Oase AquaMax range. These versatile pumps can be converted for dry use by simply removing the outer strainer cage normally used in submerged installations.
Dual purpose pumps offer excellent flexibility and are a popular choice for hobbyists who want installation options.
Benefits of Dual Purpose Pumps
Flexible installation
Space-saving design
Suitable for various pond setups
Popular with Nexus and similar filtration systems
Need Help Choosing?
If you’re unsure which pond pump is right for your system, our team at Absolute Koi is happy to help. Choosing correctly the first time will save money, improve water quality, and keep your koi in peak condition year-round.
