Water pumps are essential for the water movement in a pond, assuring biological filtration and aeration. When choosing a pond pump check the manufactures specifications of as many pumps as possible; the pump has to be able to move the entire volume of your pond about once every 2-3 hours; check that your chosen pump can raise water in sufficient quantities to the height needed to run special features; what type of fountain spray (if any) you want, and to what height you would like the water lifted, and check that the pump is capable of achieving this.
Despite the apparently bewildering range of pumps on the market, they are all basically of two main types: submersible and surface. Submersible pumps, as their name indicates, are designed to operate while fully submerged, and will burn out if run above water, submerged pumps are generally more suitable for small and medium-sized ponds and (depending on their output) can be used to rum fountains, waterfalls, filters, cascades and streams in such systems. Surface pumps are designed strictly for "out-of-pond" use and will suffer irreparable damage if any attempt is made to operate them underwater. They are usually more powerful than submersible types and are therefore suitable for larger displays, or where the motor is required to move considerable volumes of water or push it over long distances. The following safety precautions should always be observed when installing a pond pump. First, make sure that surface pumps will not be immersed and that submersible models will not be exposed to the air once they are in operation. For wiring the pump, all cables, plugs and switches must be suitable for outdoor use, and all connections waterproof. if possible, keep connections above ground level and, for preference, enclosed within appropriate trunking or conduits. provide each piece of electrical equipment with a separate Residual Current Device (RCD); these act as circuit breakers in the event of a fault of physical damage to a cable. Finally, always switch off the damage to a cable. Finally, always switch off the electricity supply before handling any equipment and, if in doubt, call a qualified electrician.
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