Koi pond pumps are an important purchase and should be given considerable thought when making a decision to buy one. Koi are expensive, beautiful pond fish that need plenty of oxygen and clean water, so a koi pond pump is vital. So, you're looking for a Koi pond pump, but you're not sure where to start?
Make yourself familiar with why you need a Koi pond filter, a Koi pond pump and maybe an aerating device, and how these vital necessities work together to provide a natural, stable Koi fish environment while supplying healthy clean water for your Koi to live and thrive. Koi pond pumps are responsible for the water movement in your pond as well as for cleaning the water itself.
Since a fish pond is different from a swimming pool, it would be detrimental and wasteful to use a swimming pool pump for a fish pond. The more the head, the less flow rate as more power is required to push water 'up hill'. All pump manufacturers calculate the maximum recommended head for their pumps and will supply a chart giving the final flow rate at certain feet of head pressure.
Different pumps with different capabilities will drive water through a given length of pipe and/or raise it to different heights. One fact that both high and low head pumps have in common is that they push water better than they pull water.
Koi pond pumps should be used to simulate the natural environment of a pond. Lethargic koi in warm water can often be 'brought back to life again' by the addition of a few well-placed air stones. Koi need a low and steady pressure that will circulate the water without being too harsh for them to swim.
As low head pumps cannot fight restrictions in the plumbing to maintain their flow rates, it is imperative that the plumbing and leaf trap basket be kept clean at all times or the flow rate will lessen dramatically.
Pumps are divided into either submersible and external categories. The main reason to use a submersible pump would be for a very small pond as submersibles are notoriously inefficient, meaning low flow rates, usually 1000 gallons per hour or less and very high energy draws.
Submersible pumps are often used because they are, for the most part hidden, submerged under the water of the pond and out of sight, contributing to the aesthetic beauty of the garden pond. With new technology, some submersible pumps are becoming as powerful as external Koi pond pumps.
Pond pumps can be a waterfall or submersible pond pumps and you can select either one depending on your budget. If you are looking for a pump to power a water fall or fountain then there are different factors to take into account. All modern koi pond pumps are designed to run 24 x 7 x 365 and most now have very low running costs. Pumps are not always necessary in smaller ponds as biological filters often can do an adequate job of cleaning the water by itself.
You should now, however, find it easier to choose the correct pump for your pond having considered the facts outlined above. It's a good idea to have your pond details handy when talking to a specialist regarding Koi pond pumps and your specific requirements.
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