What is gph in pump

You can adjust a slightly larger pump, an undersized pump will not distribute the water properly and at best may only create a surface bubbling effect. Fountain sellers recommend using a GPH pump for a 2-foot high fountain and a 2, GPH pump in a gallon basin of water for a 4- to 5-foot high fountain or waterfall. Lee Roberts has written professionally in different capacities throughout her career. She has written for not-for-profit and commercial entities since she received her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Michigan in She is currently writing an extensive work of fiction.

Table of Contents. Static head refers to the distance between the pond water surface and the highest point to which the water is lifted. The existence of total dynamic head directs you to select a pump with a flow rate greater than our desired turnover rate. If we had chosen a GPH LPH pump for our example pond matching our turnover rate , the result would be a significantly reduced turnover rate. What makes total dynamic head so difficult to appreciate is its unseen effects.

However, if you fail to account for it, you run the risk of seriously under-sizing the pump and producing troublesome situations due to insufficient flow. The good news about total dynamic head is a wealth of information exists to help you calculate and account for it.

Numerous charts and graphs in water gardening books and on the internet provide friction loss figures for tubing and fittings one example below.

Filter manufacturers rate their equipment based on pump flow rates to aid your decision-making. Use a larger size than your calculations suggest. You can restrict an excess flow, if desired, but you cannot make a pump deliver a higher flow rate than its capacity.

Once you determine your desired turnover rate and calculate the number of feet or meters of dynamic head in your planned system, you are ready to look at pumps. Upon examining the technical data presented with the pump, you will notice a clearly stated flow rate, often accompanied by the horsepower rating and an electrical consumption figure.

You should also see a performance chart or performance curve on the box or included with the literature. Avoid any pump without this performance information, a crucial guide in pump selection.

More below. This performance flow chart shows the relationship between volume measured in GPH or LPH and head measured in feet or meters. Many charts include the shutoff value - the pump's maximum dynamic head. As the head increases, the flow rate decreases. The shutoff value occurs at 12 feet 3.

Let's go back to the example pond from earlier in the article. Assuming a volume of gallons liters , a static head waterfall height of 2 feet. Remember that this chart illustrates the performance data for just one pump manufacturer, highlighting the importance of this data for any pump you consider.

Often, pumps from Manufacturer X display a significantly different performance curve than those from Manufacturer Y. Shopping online or at water garden supply stores, you find a tremendous selection available. Besides flow rate, you must choose between a or volt model, an external or submersible installation location and direct drive or magnetic mag drive propulsion.

Picking the pump voltage is a good starting point. While you might already have an outdoor volt circuit, it may be advisable to upgrade to volts. The volt pumps offer the best combination of price, operating cost and ease of installation for low to medium flow GPH installations while volt models excel with high flow rates or when a situation would otherwise call for multiple volt pumps. Speak with a licensed electrician about what type of circuit you have or can install for your feature.

Another key pump consideration is its location. As the name implies, external pumps operate outside of the physical confines of the water garden. They typically appear in large water features or with higher end koi ponds and are making inroads into traditional EPDM liner ponds.

Quite often external pumps fitted with basket strainers to capture large debris connect directly to bottom drains and feed vortex filters or settling chambers as they move water to the filtration system. Some skimmer designs include provisions for integrating external pumps. One reason external pumps are growing in popularity is easy access for maintenance. Being outside of the pond greatly simplifies cleaning and removing debris.

For physically challenged individuals this fact alone makes external pumps attractive. In addition, because external pumps consist of a separate power unit and propulsion unit, manufacturers can "custom make" a pump to fit your needs. The power unit may work with either a or volt circuit.

Diverse impeller designs enable a performance curve closely matching your desired flow rate. From a safety standpoint, external pumps greatly reduce the risk of electrical shock to pond inhabitants. Nevertheless, external pumps do have some disadvantages.

External pumps frequently cost more than a submersible pump with the same flow rate. In order to achieve the operating savings they offer you need an electrician to install a volt circuit to your pond area. Hiding and housing the pump in a pond setting can be challenging.

Noise can be a downside to external pumps. External pumps may need priming before use, which is problematic for those who frequently shut down the pump. Finally, in cold climates, winter operation is troublesome because their exposed plumbing is subject to freeze damage.

While external pumps continue to gain acceptance, the great majority of water garden pumps are the submersible type. Don't confuse submersible water garden pumps with sump pumps. True submersible water garden pumps are engineered for the rigors of the pond environment and include safety features to protect humans and wildlife.

Submersible pumps sit on the pond floor or in a skimmer. The chief advantage of submersibles centers on convenience. Submersibles are easy to plumb, require no special wiring and need little care other than cleaning, making them especially friendly to new water gardeners. Note: If you click Accept Recommendation, your current selection will be replaced with the suggested item and your cart will update.

Accept Recommendation. Waterfall with two drops Waterfall with spitters Bubbling Vases in a Garden. How to Choose a Pump. A pump is like the heart of your pond, it circulates the water and moves it through your filtration unit, spitter, or waterfall. Selecting the right pump for the job will ensure that your water is filtered properly, and your water feature is looking its best. When doing your shopping, here are some things to consider: Application Are looking to send water cascading over a waterfall or run a small fountain or send water through a UV clarifier?

Fountains or Spitters typically require a smaller pump. Waterfalls require a few more calculations to determine the size needed. See below for more information on sizing a waterfall pump. We have a wide variety of Waterfall Pumps available to get the flow you want. UV Clarifiers or Pressure Filters typically have a recommended pump size for optimal use. Check your manual or the product page to determine what pump size is recommended but note that head pressure will come into play see below Minimum Pump Size Water needs to circulate through the filter at least once every 2 hours.

This means that if you have a 1,gallon pond, you need a pump that can produce at least gallons per hour or GPH. If you have fish, then it is best to double the pump's capacity to ensure that your water stays clean. A common misconception is that pump size is only related to pond size; however, the size of a waterfall, stream, or fountain is typically the deciding factor for which pump will be best in your feature.