Pond and Pump Calculations - Puddle and Pond

To order use Shopping
Cart or call Toll Free
1-888-766-3691
Between 9 A.M. and
Midnight Central Time

Or email us!

Ornamental Lilies

pond basics | flexible pond installations | calculator
preformed pond installations | pond & pump calculations

The gallonage and square surface yards of your pond are important to know so that you can properly add the recommended doses of medicine, determine a proper pump size on your total gallonage and for various other reasons that will become evident to you as your pond experience grows.

To determine these volumes, use the handy formulas below:
(length, width, diameter and depth are in feet)

Gallons
Square/Rectangular Ponds Length x Width x Depth x 7.5 ( ______ ' x ______ ' x ______ ' x 7.5 ) = ________ gallons
Oval/Irregular Ponds Length x Width x Depth x 6.7 ( ______ ' x ______ ' x ______ ' x 6.7 ) = ________ gallons
Circular Ponds Diameter x Diameter x Depth x 5.9 ( ______ ' x ______ ' x ______ ' x 5.9 ) = ________ gallons

View Cart

Determining the Liner Size

To determine the dimensions of the pond liner you will require for the size of pond you want, you need to use another formula.

Size of pond desired = Length x Width x Depth
Size of pond liner required for desired pond = ( Length + (2 x depth)) x (width + (2 x depth))

**( the reason double the depth is added to both length and width is to allow enough liner to travel not only across the length/width of the pond, but also up the sides!)

In example: A pond 7' Long by 17' Wide by 3' Deep - you will need

7 + (2 x 3) by 17 + (2 x 3) which equals a 13' by 23' liner.

It is then advisable to take this measurement and add a few feet to both the length and width to allow at least a 1 foot overlap around the edge of the pond, so that it may be properly bedded in for coping stones used and so on. It also allows for slight discrepancies to occur in the dimensions of the pond without leaving you short of liner and having the possibility of the pond over-spilling. This advice used with the example shown above leads us to select a 15' x 25' liner.

View Cart

Determining Pump Size

The size of the pump you will need is a direct reflection of the gallonage of your pond. It has to be of sufficient GPH (gallons per hour) to adequately aireate the water. As a rule of thumb, you need to have a pump (or pumps) which move at least half of your ponds total gallons per hour.

For example: A 500 gallon pond needs to have a pump at least 250 GPH and a 2000 gallon pond needs to have a pump of at least 1000 GPH

Please note... especially large ponds it is not always necessary to purchase a huge pump to meet the ponds requirements. In the 2000 gallon pond example above, the GPH requirement could have easily been met by using 2 pumps of 500 GPH each rather than one of 1000 GPH. This is quite often preferred for larger ponds, as it allows tow water features (such as a waterfall linked to the filter at one end of the pond, and a fountain of sorts at the other) without having to use splitters of have the feeder tubing for the water features weaving like a spaghetti pattern across the bottom of you pond.

View Cart

Email Us
terms
Order Now Toll Free 1-888-766-3691