10 Best Pond Pumps in 2021 for Large and Small Ponds [Buyer Guide]
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With the summer in the full swing and flowers in your gardens in their full bloom, it is the perfect period to relax in your garden and take in all the beautiful scenery. Are you wondering if there is anything you can add to make even the already beautiful scene more appealing? Well, a pond always adds something special to a garden.
The thought of a beautiful sunny day, a clean lawn and a deck chair, and a tranquil pond that its still surface reflects the beautiful sky. Who wouldn’t want that? Therefore, a pond pump is an invaluable asset to your water feature in your compound, especially in your lovely garden.
Do I Need a Pond Pump?
Naturally occurring ponds and other bodies of waters fed by streams have a water filtration system, so the idea of the flow of water is a natural one.
Pond pumps are crucial to any pond filtration system. They are as important as any other pond and garden equipment such as a lawn aerator.
Ponds need constant maintenance to ensure that they remain healthy and perfect for aquatic plants or fish to live in. This can be achieved through pond pumps, they help keep water from becoming stagnate, oxygenate the water by agitating it. This allows the absorption of oxygen at a much faster rate.
BEST POND PUMP ON THE MARKET
It sounds pretty simple, but the problem is, choosing the perfect pump that fits your pond setup can be a lot harder than you think.
For the past few decades there has been a significant development in water gardening and pond equipment, and it can be a little bit tiring catching up with the latest technology. This has led to production of variety of pond pump, ranging from types, models to brands. And this makes choosing the perfect pump difficult.
In this article, we’ll review the best pond pumps available. We’ll also provide a buyer’s guide and FAQ section to help you decide on the pond pump that’s the best fit for your garden pond.
Blagdon Minipond Pond Pump
Blagdon Minipond Pond Pump is one of the top high quality pumps to pick for your ponds, manufactured with advanced technology and designed specifically to run fountains for small ponds up to 1500 litre. It is very economical and compact which makes it ideal for small pond fountains and water features.
It comes with 3 fountain display heads (Daisy Super, Single Daisy, Water Bell) and 5 fountain extension pipes. The powerful motors are easy to maintain and comes with a single moving part impeller system that comes with a wear-resistant ceramic shaft.
Its features reduce cleaning and contain optional pre-filter to prevent fountain blockage and allow free flow of water. The 10m electric cable is permanently connected and sealed in the motor body, with no plug included on the outdoor electrical product to ensure adequate safety.
With over half a century of fish keeping and water, gardening knowledge bought together in this product, you can be assured of a successful, creative water garden where you can relax on a cool evening.
Key Features:
Possesses maximum flow rate of 700 Litre per hour (154 gallons per hour) and a maximum pumping height of 1.25 m (4 ft 1 Inch).
Comes with a comprehensive range of fittings, including a hose adaptor and flow control valve.
Features 3 fountain display heads (Daisy Super, Single Daisy, Water Bell), and 5 fountain extension pipes
Reduce cleaning, foam free pre-filter cage.
Specification:
Brand
Blagdon
Material
Plastic
Maxiimum Flow Rate
700 Liters Per Hour
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Black
Pros
It is very economical and compact.
It is very quiet and powerful.
Cons
Doesn’t last long when operated on pebble pool.
Powcan Water Pump
Powcan Water Pump is a high performance and energy-efficient pump that is designed for ponds, fountains, aquariums and other water features. Comes with an adjustable knob control to control water pressure. It boast a maximal flow rate that can be up to 400Gph per hour, with a max lift height of up to 6.9ft.
Equipped with 2 nozzles (13mm and 16mm), providing different water flow effects depending on your needs.
It possesses Anti Dry Burning and a Quiet operation feature that allows the pump to withstand 48 hours of dry burning. It’s equipped with a 25Kw high-efficiency motor, that attracts your fish or turtles a lot as it keeps circulating and aerating the water.
Comes with a filter cover that effectively blocks the entry of rubbish in the water. Removable and easy to clean. The material is hard and strong.
Key Features:
An adjustable knob to control the water pressure.
Easily detached and cleanable.
Equipped with 2 nozzles--13mm, 16mm, providing a different water flow as you desired. 56ft (2m)
Power cord long enough for easy installation.
Specification:
Brand
Powcan
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Black
Maximum flow rate
1500 Litres per Hour
Pros
Electric plug makes it easy to move around.
It is easy to clean.
Cons
Doesn’t come in other colors.
Hygger Submersible Water Pump
Hygger Submersible Water Pump boasts of a 60W power and flow rate of 2500L/H, with a lift height of up to 3m. Perfect for fish tank, pond, garden fountain and hydroponic systems, etc. It is an aquarium water pump with a unique design and appearance. 2cm super low water level start ensuring cleaner pumping.
Possesses thermal protection chip to prevent dry burning. Comes with a perfect motor that runs at a whisper-quiet level. Produces no noise, which gives you a quiet environment even with one in your bedroom.
Features 4 strong suction cups at the bottom of the pump to keep it steady and in place. It is durable and long-lasting, with the impeller shaft made of ceramic which has a long life than stainless steel shafts.
Key Features:
Low water level pumping as low as 2cm.
Thermal protection chip to prevent dry burning.
Perfect motor that runs at whisper quiet level, producing low noise.
Possesses Great suction with power of 60W and flow rate of 2500L/H.
Specification:
Brand
Hygger
Colour
Black
Maximum flow rate
22500L/H
Power Source
Corded Electric
Pros
Very powerful and quiet.
Perfect for water changes in aquarium.
Cons
Suction power may not be to everyone’s liking.
Swell UK Pond Pump and Filter (3,300)
Swell Pond filter pump helps keep your garden pond clean and healthy. It massively increases the oxygen content of your pond which is essential to pond life and helps natural bacteria develop in the filter and pond. Nothing feels like having a relaxing day in your garden beside your clean pond. It is designed to pump water from the base of your pond to a filtration system.
It features an extremely efficient motor, requiring only 40 watts to achieve 2500 litres per hour of flow. It’s easy to install, simply unpack and anchor it in place. The pumps come with a 10m electrical cable for maximum flexibility on pond placemen, has a built-in thermal cut-out which turns the pump off when it overheats, so you don’t have to worry if the pump blocks up or runs dry.
Comes with a full 3 year extended warranty to give you complete peace of mind.
Key Features:
It includes a thermal cut-off switch to ensure motor is undamaged in event of a blockage.
It is very easy to install and anchor in place.
It is very effective and environmental friendly, by aerating 4,500 liters of water per hour using just 60w.
pumps comes with a 10m electrical cable for maximum flexibility on pond placement.
Specification:
Brand
Swell UK
Color
Black
Power Source
Corded Electric
Pros
It is easy to install.
It is perfect and pumps efficiently.
Cons
Doesn’t come with an attached plug.
Blagdon 3500 Midipond Pump
Blagdon 3500 Midipond Pump is one of the high-quality pumps to pick for your ponds. Manufactured with advanced technology and designed specifically to run fountains for small ponds up to 1879 litres. It includes a unique and comprehensive range of fittings and fountain heads for your personalise display which includes 3 hose connectors, flow control valve, sectional fountain extension pipes and 5 beautiful fountain heads.
It boasts a 230volt, 47 watt power with a maximum flow rate of 3310 litres per hour and a max pumping height of 1.5m. This is the ideal pump for small ponds. It’s designed to be a low maintenance and high performance pump with advanced low velocity filter to prevent the pump from clogging. It comes with 3 year guarantee, to give you complete peace of mind.
Keep your gardens clean with garden waste bags and enjoy a cool day by your pond while relaxing on your outdoor bar chair.
Key Features:
Pumps comes with a 10m electrical cable for maximum flexibility on pond placement.
It is very easy to install and anchor in place.
It is very effective and environmental friendly, by aerating 4,500 liters of water per hour using just 60w.
It includes a thermal cut-off switch to ensure motor is undamaged in event of a blockage.
Specification:
Brand
Blagdon
Colour
Black
Material
Plastic
Power Source
Corded Electric
Maximum flow rate
3310 Litres Per Hour
Pros
It is easy to install.
It is perfect and pumps efficiently.
Cons
Doesn’t come with an attached plug.
Cadrim Submersible Water Pump
The Cadrim submersible water pump is one of the most widely used submersible pumps. It is perfect for small to medium size aquariums, tabletop fountains, water gardens, hydroponic systems e.tc.
Perfect for mounting both vertically and horizontally.
It has a switch on the side that helps adjust the flow rate of the pump easily, with 2 water outlets of nozzles (16mm and 13mm) to provide different water flow effects. It small size makes it easy to detach and clean without the aid of any tools. It boasts a maximum flow rate of 1200L/H, and features a reliable and durable motor with reduced noise, giving a quiet environment.
You should also note that you must clean regularly the tin case of debris blockage.
Key Features:
Adjustable water flow rate switch to adjust the flow easily.
It is very easy to detach and clean.
It comes with perfect motor with little or no noise.
Specification:
Brand
Cadrim
Colour
Black
Power Source
Corded Electric
Pros
It is portable and powerful.
It is easy to disassemble and clean.
Cons
Maximum flow rate may not be to everyone’s liking.
NO.17 submersible water pump
This NO.17 submersible water pump is great for preventing dry burning and ensure effective cleaning of the bottom loot of fish tanks. Comes with an adjustable knob to control the water flow rate, so you can get the amount of water pressure you desire.
It is 100% submersible, and effective for circulation, filtration and oxygenation of the pond with a maximum flow rate of 1500L/H. Completely detachable without the need for any tools, which makes it easy to clean. This submersible pump is energy-saving and highly efficient with a super muting feature. Designed basically for use in ponds, fountains, waterfalls, irrigation systems and water features.
Comes with 180 days warranty to give you complete peace of mind. It is important to note that the power plug is not waterproof.
Key Features:
It is very easy to detach and clean.
Adjustable water flow rate switch to adjust the flow easily.
It is made of high quality plastic shell.
Specification:
Brand
NO.7
Power Source
Corded Electric
Colour
Black
Maximum flow rate
1500L/H
Pros
It is portable and powerful.
It is easy to disassemble and clean.
Cons
Cable length may not be to everyone’s liking.
Trayousin Pond Pump
Trayousin Pond pump is the perfect submersible water pump for your water features, suitable for gardens, ponds, landscapes, rockery fountains, and aquariums. This submersible pond pump can also be used as filter pumps and aeration pumps for fish tanks. Equipped with water nozzles and oxygen water nozzles of different sizes.
The submersible water pump is equipped with a powerful motor to provide complete water circulation. The highest head can reach 2.6ft. It comes with ultra-quiet feature, operating at low noise levels that won’t cause annoying noise even at night.
It boasts four suction cups that keep the pond pump to the wall of the pond or fish tank. It can be disassembled and assembled easily without any tools, which makes it easy to clean.
Key Features:
It is equipped with a filter and filter cotton for water filtration.
Adjustable oxygen flow.
High power motors provide water circulation environment for aquarium.
Specification:
Brand
Trayousin
Colour
Black
Power Source
Corded Electric
Maximum flow rate
500L/H
Pros
Amazing filter and Pump.
It is of high quality and inexpensive.
Cons
Maximum flow rate may not be to everyone’s liking.
E-More Submersible Water Pump
E-More submersible water pump is one of the best pump to choose for your ponds and fountains. This submersible pump features an ultra-quiet design with its brushless DC motor that runs smoothly with low noise, providing a quiet environment for you. The impeller shaft is made of stainless steel with resistance to corrosion thereby increasing its life span.
The fountain pump is designed with and adjusting knob that gives you the freedom to select the water pressure you desire. It comes with 3 nozzles sizes 19mm, 22mm, and 25mm for your aquariums. It is designed to prevent dry burning. This anti dry burning feature shut off the pump when it reaches a certain temperature without water, and also restart the motor when the temperature goes down.
It is easily detachable and cleanable without the aid of any additional tools. Comes with 4.9ft long power cord for easy installation.
Key Features:
35W high efficiency motor for energy saving.
Detachable and Cleanable, which makes it easy to use and clean.
3 different size nozzle included, to replace it according to your usage demand.
Specification:
Brand
E-More
Colour
Black
Power Source
Corded Electric
Maximum flow rate
2500L/H
Pros
Suitable for marine aquariums.
It is effortless and super quick.
Cons
Power cable length may not be to everyone’s liking.
Blagdon Inpond 5 in 1 Pond Pump
The Blagdon Inpond 5 in 1 Pond Pump is a complete in-pond pump with everything you need, it includes a pump, filter, 3 fountain options, green water UV clarifier and automatic Led spotlight. All these combined make it an efficient pump and filtration package for your pond.
The automatic night time Led spotlight brings out the beauty of your pond to life in the dark. It features a 5w UV clarifier that kills algae and makes the green water clear, giving you a clean and clear pond.
It includes three attractive fountain heads (Single Daisy, Super Daisy, and Water Bell). Use majorly for your outdoor pond to get the best results. Comes with a 10m cable for easy installation.
No better time to have a relaxing time in your garden while breathing in the cool breeze and enjoy the sight of your beautiful, clear pond.
Key Features:
It includes 5W UV clarifier that kills algae and makes green water clear.
It has a maximum flow rate of 700L/H and a maximum pumping height of 1.25m.
It includes three attractive fountain feature heads.
Specification:
Brand
Blagdon
Colour
Black
Power Source
Corded Electric
Maximum flow rate
700L/H
Pros
It is very efficient and easy to use.
Best in-pond filter system.
Cons
Led light may not be to everyone’s liking.
Pond Water Pump SUMMARY
Pond Pumps has become a very important thing to have if you have a pond in your garden. Just as how you keep your gardens clean with a pond vacuum or a water feature pump, you also keep your ponds clean with pond pumps.
Although we have put together a good list of what we think are the top 10 pond pumps and the benefits you gain from picking one of the pumps listed above. You don’t have to buy one of those just because we recommended it.
You are allowed to make your own research and use this article as a point of reference for pumps that may fit your own particular pond setup. You may also be interested in hand push lawn mower or an electric lawn rake.
However, when selecting a pump there are some important factors you should put into consideration other than drive type and whether you need a submersible model or external model. In this section, we’ll look at the essential considerations for your new pond pump.
Factors to Consider When Buying Your Pond Pump
Pumping Capacity
The pumping capacity of your pump is an important consideration. For most ponds up to 4000 gallons in size, you’ll need about 900- 1,900 GPH of filtering power. Therefore if you’re purchasing and installing a new pond pump, it is important to factor in the pumping capacity
Pond Size
The pumping capacity of your pump is directly proportional to your pond size. It is important to match the GPH of your pump to the size of your pump and also account for any additional elevations in head height. All these points to how effectively your pump works.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
There is always a warranty on any products you purchase, including your day to day garden tools like Lawn edging shears, stump killer and Weed killers. So you should expect to have a warranty for your pond pump also.
The average lifespan of a pond pump differs base on the model’s capacity and brand. But most often the lifespan ranges from 1-3 years. Therefore when buying a new pond pump, it is essential to look into how many years warranty the pump comes with, because it’s the indicator of the lifespan to expect from the pump.
Pond Pumps FAQs
How do I oxygenate my pond without a pump?
Although it is easier to oxygenate your pond with the aid of a pump, if you don’t have that or in case of an emergency, you can easily oxygenate your pond by spraying water with a hose to your pond.
What is the perfect size pump for my pond?
The best way to determine what size of pump fits your pond is directly proportional to the size of your pond. For example, if you have a pond of 1000 gallon, then you’ll need a pond pump rated at a minimum of 500GPH.
How long will my pond pump last?
The average lifespan of a pond pump running non-stop 24 hours a day ranges from 1-3 years but could easy last as much as 15 years. Unfortunately there is no definite answer, but a pump of good quality should last at least 5 years plus.
You can read more about how to calculate the electricity cost of a pond pump here.