Need Some Help Choosing a Pond Pump & Filtration System

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Wiggles92

Dovii
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2009
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I plan on installing a new liner for my pond system sometime between now & the end of summer, but I need to get a new pump & filtration system first as the old ones were woefully inadequate & the old pump died on me at the end of last season.

The pond system currently holds about 600 gallons between the three ponds and their connecting "streams" with the largest pond holding roughly 500 gallons. The whole system is on a hill, and there's about a 15' rise between the bottom pond (the largest one) and the top one (the second largest one), so I need a pump that has a lot of power behind it in order to compensate for the elevation. Leaves, sticks, and mulch sometimes end up in the pond due to wind, so I'm also going to need a decent pre-filter on the pump in order to prevent it from sucking those in and burning up.

It gets a reasonable amount of sunlight, and algae has been a major problem as a result; I planned on filling at least the smallest pond and maybe the second largest one with plants in order to have something attractive that will out-compete the algae. My main goal is to get the water to be super clear while not spending a ton of money, so I'm up for pretty much any ideas that will not break the bank.
 
Okay, my current plan is to do a "bottom drain" filter intake that goes to the pump (with prefilter) then to the biological and/or chemical media filter then on to a sand filter for polishing (if funds allow for it). The only thing is that I'm not sure how the bottom drain will work with the top pond being 15' or so above the bottom one where the drain will be.

biggfish said:
Sounds like the setup I want to implement. Got pics?

Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
Click to expand...

I'll take some today or tomorrow. It looks pretty bad right now, and the whole pond system and surrounding flowerbed are getting renovated ASAP as a result; I'm hoping to replace the mulch with stone in order to help keep the weeds out of the flowerbed & to keep mulch out of the pond.
 
Look for used Aquascape or Savio Skimmers and Bio-Filters.

Go with a quality pump, 15' of head will strain just about most pumps. Tsurumi makes burly pumps....
 
For a setup like yours, you’ll definitely want a pump that can handle the 15’ head height without struggling. A general rule of thumb is to oversize a bit on head and flow to make sure it keeps the water moving, especially with multiple ponds in series.


Pre-filters are a must if you’re dealing with leaves and debris—look for one that’s easy to clean without disassembling everything. For the algae, filling the smaller ponds with floating and marginal plants can make a noticeable difference; they shade the water and compete with algae naturally. Adding a UV clarifier can also help if clarity is a top priority, though it’s not always essential if you have good mechanical filtration.


For what it’s worth, I’ve had solid results using some of the Best Pond Pumps From EasyPro on setups similar to yours—they handle decent head heights well and are forgiving with some debris, as long as you keep the pre-filter clean. Just make sure to size it for the highest pond first; the rest usually falls into place.


Overall, prioritize pump power and pre-filtration, and use plants strategically to keep maintenance manageable. A bit of planning now will save a lot of cleaning headaches later.
 
You can use a pond pump in a tank, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Pond pumps are usually built for moving large volumes of water over longer distances, which is why their flow ratings and “head height” numbers are higher than what you’d typically need for an aquarium. That’s also why the price difference is so noticeable — the LFS pump is designed more for precision and durability in smaller setups, while big box pumps are made for ponds and fountains and often overkill for a tank.


One practical tip: check the actual flow rate at the depth your tank will operate. Sometimes a cheap pond pump can push way more water than your tank can handle, which can stress fish or stir up debris. Conversely, a smaller, more aquarium-focused pump gives you gentler circulation and is easier to fine-tune. I’ve found that for tanks around 300–400 gallons, using a mid-range pond pump and adjusting with a flow controller works really well.


If you’re shopping around, look at specs like “max head height” and gallons per hour at that head — it makes a huge difference in how the pump performs once it’s submerged and connected. For general reliability, people often trust the Best Pond Pumps From EasyPro, but even budget-friendly options can work if you size them correctly.
 
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