 Get all the help you need figuring out your pond dimensions, area, pump flow rates and even electrical usage of your pond equipment. We have it all because you deserve it!
Estimating Surface Area
(For irregular shapes use the average measurements for length and width)
Please enter all values in whole numbers or in decimal format. For example, use 1.5 feet for a foot and a half!
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Estimating your pond's water volume
(For irregular shapes use the average measurements for length and width)
Please enter all values in whole numbers or in decimal format. For example, use 1.5 feet for a foot and a half!
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Find your pond's liner size
(For irregular shapes use the average measurements for length and width)
Please enter all values in whole numbers or in decimal format. For example, use 1.5 feet for a foot and a half!
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Liner sizes come in standard widths of 10', 15' and 30', and are typically cut in 5' increments. Other cuts
are considered "custom" cuts and are priced differently.
Hint: After you calculate your liner size, "round up" to the nearest number that is a multiple of 5' to
order the correct standard size liner!
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| Minimum Flow |
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| The first thing you need to know is your minimum flow rate. You need to have a pump that will move your
pond's water volume at least once every two hours. If your pond's water volume is 1000 gallons, you will need a pump
with a minimum flow rate of 500 gallons per hour (GPH). This is your starting point. If you plan on having
a waterfall, you will want to use the next 2 sections to calculate your pump head pressure and waterfall spillway volume. |
| Pipe Size |
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The next thing to consider is pipe size. The general rule of thumb is:
- less than 300 gph: 0.50 inch;
- less than 1200 gph: 1.00 inch;
- less than 4800 gph: 2.00 inch;
- less than 9000 gph: 3.00 inch;
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Pump Head Pressure - For waterfalls and streams, you will want to consider the amount of pump head pressure
(generally referred to on pump flow charts as "Head") that your system will have, in order to
help you determine the correct pump size.
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The three main sources of pump head pressure are:
- Static Head - this is the vertical distance (rise) you want to pump the water above the pond surface to the waterfall spillway.
- Friction Head - this is the resistance from pipe as the water flows through. (Since the number of pipe elbows and tee fittings can significantly raise pressure requirements, we recommend using flexible tubing instead of rigid PVC pipe.)
- Pressure Head - the additional pressure required by 90° fittings such as at the check valve, and any reducers required to make your plumbing connections. The total number of other adapters, such as bulkhead fittings and valves, also comes into play here.
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To estimate the total pump head pressure:
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When you finish this calculation, please go to the next section to calculate the flow requirements for your waterfall spillway.
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Pump Flow Rate - You will want to size your pump to provide the water depth you're planning for your waterfall spillway and/or stream.
Use this calculator to help you estimate the pump's flow rate (GPH) to achieve your desired flow.
Use the manufacturer's waterfall vault spillway width, or the width of the stream you're planning if you want
it to carry this depth for it's entire length.
When you get the GPH estimate for the calculator, simply use the pump's flow rate graph to find a pump that
will deliver the flow you want - at the head you calculated on the previous page!
Hint: For aesthetic reasons, you'll want to balance the water flow into your pond with the pond's size. Although a large
volume of moving water can be spectacular, it will never look right in a small pond!
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Pump Cost/Usage - The cost of running a pump depends on how may watts it uses, since electricity is measured in terms of kilowatt hours.
As a general rule, the larger the pump the more watts it uses - but pumps with the same GPH can differ quite a bit in their watts rating.
Pond pumps should run 24 hours a day to maintain your pond's ecosystem. To estimate what running your pump will
cost each day, simply plug your pump's watt rating and your cost of a kw/hr into the calculator on the right.
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Submersible pumps can be installed inside your pond's skimmer, which provides an easy way to hide your pump without
additional landscaping. External pumps are typically more energy effiecient above 3000 GPH, but may require additional
landscaping. Which pump is right for you? Visit our
pumps page to help you decide!
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