Rectangular Ponds
Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.48 = Gallons
Example: A rectangular pond 15’ long, 10’ wide and 1.5’ Deep Pond is...
15’ x 10’ x 1.5’ x 7.48 = 1683 Gallons
Oval Ponds
Length x Width x Average Depth x 0.8 x 7.48 = Gallons
Example: An oval pond 15’ long, 10’ wide and 1.5’ deep is...
15’ x 10’ x 1.5’ x 7.48 = 1683 Gallons
Round Ponds
Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.48 =Gallons
Example: 15’ long, 10’ wide and 1.5’ Deep Pond
15’ x 10’ x 1.5’ x 7.48 = 1683 Gallons
Streams
Length x Width x Average Depth x 0.25 x 7.48 = GALLONS =Gallons
Example: 15’ long, 10’ wide and 1.5’ Deep Pond
15’ x 10’ x 1.5’ x 7.48 = 1683 Gallons
2. How Big of a Pump Do I Need??
Minimum pump size is determined by pond type, water volume, head height and friction loss. The minimum pump size recommendations are:
Water Garden, Few Small Goldfish
Circulate total pond water valoume every 2 hours.
Example: 2,000 GPH pump for a 3000-gallon pond with 2’ waterfall.
Fish Pond, Several Small Fish
Circulate total pond water valoume every 1 hour.
Example: 3,800 GPH pump for a 3000-gallon pond with 2’ waterfall.
Koi Pond, Several Large Fish
Circulate total pond water valoume every 3/4 hours.
Example: 2,000 GPH pump for a 3000-gallon pond with 2’ waterfall.
Calculating Head Height
Dynamic head pressure is found by taking the vertical height of your waterfall; the distance between where your pump is (typically in the skimmer) and where your waterfall is, and adding the static head pressure (pipe and fittings) 1’ for every 10’ of tubing and 1’ for every elbow or “T” fitting.
Example: 3' (vertical height) + 2.5 (25' of tubing) + 2' (for 2 elbows) = 7.5' of Dynamic Head Pressure
Note:It is important to take into consideration while calculating how much flow will be at the top of your waterfall by accounting for the head height due to the laws of fluid dynamics. Please refer to the flow chart above to help choose the correct pump.
3. What Size Tubing Do I Need?
Tubing Size |
Efficiency GPH |
Minimum GPH |
Maximum GPH |
0.5” |
< 300 |
60 |
420 |
0.75” |
< 720 |
300 |
900 |
1” |
< 1,200 |
700 |
1,500 |
1.25” |
< 1,600 |
900 |
3,200 |
1.5” |
< 2,600 |
2,000 |
4,400 |
2” |
< 4,800 |
3,000 |
6,800 |
3” |
< 9,000 |
6,000 |
14,000 |
4” |
< 21,000 |
14,000 |
28,000 |
6” |
< 42,000 |
33,000 |
60,000 |
About Half Off Ponds
Customer service is our business. We have been satisfying fish pond, water garden, and backyard waterfall enthusiasts for over 25 years! We're glad to assist you with your pond building project - from start, to finish!
Thanks for your business! We appreciate it!
- The Half Off Ponds Team