Easy Pond Management with Pond Pumps

When people think of garden ponds, they usually think of the fish, or maybe the floral designs and landscaping. The sounds of water trickling over man-made waterfalls and pooling in the crevices of artificial rocks is enough to convince any homeowner to install a pond in his or her backyard, but a lot of work, and a lot of maintenance, goes into owning one of these scenic fixtures.

However, there is an easy way to ensure that any garden pond remains healthy, beautiful and flourishing: pond pumps. While pumps are not completely necessary, they make owning a garden pond, and keeping it alive, easier. Pond pumps circulate the water in the pond, helping to keep the water clean and oxygenated. Technically, with the right ratio of plants to fish, pond water can remain clear and health on its own, but the average homeowner is not educated enough to be able to establish such a natural filtration system. Choosing the right pump is important, and it can mean life or death for the pond and the life contained within it.

A Perfect Fit

Pond pumps are built to fit specific garden ponds. In other words, the pump must be big enough to handle the amount of water, and it must be able to circulate it correctly. Pond pumps lift water up a specific rise; if the rise is small, the pump can be small, but if the rise is large, a large pump is needed. Waterfalls, cascades and fountains require sturdy pumps. The size of the pond is important as well; if the pump is merely used to aerate the water, and the pond is small, a small pump can be purchased that will not remain at all times. However, if the pond is larger or if water features are planned, the pump will need to be bigger, and it may need to remain on at all times.

There are two types of pond pumps: external and submersible. External pumps are installed aboveground, and they need dedicated 220 volt lines connected directly to circuit breakers. These pond pumps are almost always housed in black boxes to protect them from the elements, and must be installed by professionals due to the amount of electrical work needed during setup. Submersible pond pumps, on the other hand, are easy to install and rarely need professional help. They come in a variety of sizes and are placed directly in the water. They even come with built-in filters to keep out debris, and rarely overheat as they are kept cool by the water in the pond.