- 1). Calculate the pond's surface area by multiplying three numbers: half of the length times half of the width times pi (3.14). This formula works well for an oval pond.
- 2). Determine the average depth of the pond. Measure the depth in several places and average them together to get an estimate of the depth.
- 3). Calculate your pond's water volume by multiplying the surface area by the depth.
- 4). Choose a pump with a flow rate that will pump approximately half of the pond's volume in one hour. For example, if your pond has a volume of 6,000 gallons, you need a pump with a flow rate of 3,000 gallons per hour (GPH). This is if you are looking for a pump that will circulate the water to prevent stagnation and keep your pond healthy.
- 1). Determine the flow rate that is best for your waterfall. Hook up a hose to the waterfall and run it, adjusting the flow until you are pleased with the way the water flows over the waterfall. Then, using the same flow rate on the hose, use the hose to fill up a container of known volume and time how long it takes to fill up the container. Divide the container's volume by the amount of time it took to fill it up. That is your flow rate. Make sure to choose a waterfall pump that has the same flow rate.
- 2). Take into account the vertical height of the waterfall. This is referred to as the "head" (sometimes referred to as lift). Each pump should provide a chart that shows the flow rate for various levels of head. You don't want a pump that shows almost no flow rate for a waterfall of the height equal to your waterfall because you would have hardly any water flowing.
- 3). Make sure you pick a pump made for waterfalls. A sump pump may seem like an excellent substitute, but sump pumps are not designed to run all the time like a waterfall pump. They will use much more electricity than a waterfall pump, and may also burn out quickly if left running constantly.
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