Quick
reference flow calculator
in litres per hour for pond health
|
Step 1 - Establish your pond volume
|
-
Circular Ponds
Diameter x Diameter X Depth (meters) X 785 = Volume in litres
-
Rectangular Ponds
Length x Width x Depth (meters) x 1000 = Volume
in litres
-
Odd shaped
(Such as Kidney or rounded corners)
Average Length x Average
Width x Average Depth (meters) x 800 = Volume in litres
-
Triangular
Length x
Width x Average Depth (meters) divide by 2 x 1000 = Volume in litres
Example
A rectangular pond 4 meters average length x 3 meters
average width x 70cm average depth
Pond Volume:
4.0 x 3.0 x .7 x 1000 = 8,400 litres
Important If the sides of the pond are not vertical but tapered,
reduce the volume by 10%
|
Step 2 - Pick your correct flow
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Please make a note of your pond volume now. Now apply the
pond volume to
the chart below, using
the fish stocking and sun situation of your pond to determine the
approximate water flow required to maintain a healthy environment
for your pond and it's inhabitants.
|
Choose the fish stocking that best suits your future fish stocking
(allow a little extra for growth)
|
No fish |
No fish
= Natural garden ponds with
plants but no fish. |
|
= Light fish
-
Natural garden pond with plants and
total fish length up to
400mm*
per 1,000 litres
|
 |
= Medium fish stocking
-
Pond with plants and total fish length of up to 800mm* per
1,000 litres
or Light Koi/Turtles
with a total length of up to 400mm* per 1,000
litres |
 |
= Heavy fish stocking
with a total length up to 1000m* per 1,000
litres
or Medium Koi/Turtles
with a total length of 500mm* per 1,000
litres
|

 |
= Extra Heavy
fish stocking with a total length
over 1000mm* per 1,000 litres
or Heavy Koi/Turtles
with a total length of 500mm* per 1,000
litres
|
*Fish when measured end to end
Special note - The more plants the better
|
Armed with the pond volume and fish stocking, add the other factors,
sun shade etc
|
|
 |
I |
,
|
|
Pond in shade |
Pond in partial shade |
Pond in direct sun |
|
Or shade cloth |
Sun on the pond for a max of 50% |
Full sun in summer all day |
Pond
volume
Litres
|
no
fish |
|
 |
|
  |
no
fish |
|
  |
|
  |
no
fish |
|
  |
|
  |
250 |
131 |
194 |
256 |
319 |
381 |
138 |
200 |
263 |
325 |
388 |
156 |
219 |
281 |
344 |
406 |
350 |
184 |
271 |
359 |
446 |
534 |
193 |
280 |
368 |
455 |
543 |
219 |
306 |
394 |
481 |
569 |
400 |
210 |
310 |
410 |
510 |
610 |
220 |
320 |
420 |
520 |
620 |
250 |
350 |
450 |
550 |
650 |
600 |
315 |
465 |
615 |
765 |
915 |
330 |
480 |
630 |
780 |
930 |
375 |
525 |
675 |
825 |
975 |
750 |
394 |
581 |
769 |
956 |
1144 |
413 |
600 |
788 |
975 |
1163 |
469 |
656 |
844 |
1031 |
1219 |
1,000 |
525 |
775 |
1025 |
1275 |
1525 |
550 |
800 |
1050 |
1300 |
1550 |
625 |
875 |
1125 |
1375 |
1625 |
2,000 |
1050 |
1550 |
2050 |
2550 |
3050 |
1100 |
1600 |
2100 |
2600 |
3100 |
1250 |
1750 |
2250 |
2750 |
3250 |
3,000 |
1575 |
2325 |
3075 |
3825 |
4575 |
1650 |
2400 |
3150 |
3900 |
4650 |
1875 |
2625 |
3375 |
4125 |
4875 |
4,000 |
2100 |
3100 |
4100 |
5100 |
6100 |
2200 |
3200 |
4200 |
5200 |
6200 |
2500 |
3500 |
4500 |
5500 |
6500 |
5,000 |
2625 |
3875 |
5125 |
6375 |
7625 |
2750 |
4000 |
5250 |
6500 |
7750 |
3125 |
4375 |
5625 |
6875 |
8125 |
6,000 |
3150 |
4650 |
6150 |
7650 |
9150 |
3300 |
4800 |
6300 |
7800 |
9300 |
3750 |
5250 |
6750 |
8250 |
9750 |
7,000 |
3267 |
4822 |
6378 |
7933 |
9489 |
3422 |
4978 |
6533 |
8089 |
9644 |
3889 |
5444 |
7000 |
8556 |
10111 |
8,000 |
3360 |
4960 |
6560 |
8160 |
9760 |
3520 |
5120 |
6720 |
8320 |
9920 |
4000 |
5600 |
7200 |
8800 |
10400 |
9,000 |
3780 |
5580 |
7380 |
9180 |
10980 |
3960 |
5760 |
7560 |
9360 |
11160 |
4500 |
6300 |
8100 |
9900 |
11700 |
10,000 |
4200 |
6200 |
8200 |
10200 |
12200 |
4400 |
6400 |
8400 |
10400 |
12400 |
5000 |
7000 |
9000 |
11000 |
13000 |
11,000 |
4620 |
6820 |
9020 |
11220 |
13420 |
4840 |
7040 |
9240 |
11400 |
13640 |
5500 |
7700 |
9900 |
12100 |
14300 |
12,000 |
5040 |
7440 |
9840 |
12240 |
14640 |
5280 |
7680 |
10080 |
12480 |
14880 |
6000 |
8400 |
10800 |
13200 |
15600 |
15,000 |
5727 |
8455 |
11182 |
13909 |
16636 |
6000 |
8727 |
11455 |
14182 |
16909 |
6818 |
9545 |
12273 |
15000 |
17727 |
20,000 |
7636 |
11273 |
14909 |
18545 |
22182 |
8000 |
11636 |
15273 |
18909 |
22545 |
9091 |
12727 |
16364 |
20000 |
23636 |
25,000 |
8750 |
12917 |
17083 |
21250 |
25417 |
9167 |
13333 |
17500 |
21667 |
25833 |
10417 |
14583 |
18750 |
22917 |
27083 |
30,000 |
10500 |
15500 |
20500 |
25500 |
30500 |
11000 |
16000 |
21000 |
26000 |
31000 |
12500 |
17500 |
22500 |
27500 |
32500 |
35,000 |
12250 |
18083 |
23917 |
29750 |
35583 |
12833 |
18667 |
24500 |
30333 |
36167 |
14583 |
20417 |
26250 |
32083 |
37917 |
45,000 |
13500 |
19929 |
26357 |
32786 |
39214 |
14143 |
20571 |
27000 |
33429 |
39857 |
16071 |
22500 |
28929 |
35357 |
41786 |
55,000 |
16500 |
24357 |
32214 |
40071 |
47929 |
17286 |
25143 |
33000 |
40857 |
48714 |
19643 |
27500 |
35357 |
43214 |
51071 |
60,000 |
18000 |
26571 |
35143 |
43714 |
52286 |
18857 |
27429 |
36000 |
44571 |
53143 |
21429 |
30000 |
38571 |
47143 |
55714 |
65,000 |
17063 |
25188 |
33313 |
41438 |
49563 |
17875 |
26000 |
34125 |
42250 |
50375 |
20313 |
28438 |
36563 |
44688 |
52813 |
75,000 |
19688 |
29063 |
38438 |
47813 |
57188 |
20625 |
30000 |
39375 |
48750 |
58125 |
23438 |
32813 |
42188 |
51563 |
60938 |
85,000 |
22313 |
32938 |
43563 |
54188 |
64813 |
23375 |
34000 |
44625 |
55250 |
65875 |
26563 |
37188 |
47813 |
58438 |
69063 |
95,000 |
24938 |
36813 |
48688 |
60563 |
72438 |
26125 |
38000 |
49875 |
61750 |
73625 |
29688 |
41563 |
53438 |
65313 |
77188 |
100,000 |
26250 |
38750 |
51250 |
63750 |
76250 |
27500 |
40000 |
52500 |
65000 |
77500 |
31250 |
43750 |
56250 |
68750 |
81250 |
Also allow for pond depth, your location and hose
|
If the pond is
-
less that 300mm deep add 75% to the flow
-
between 301 & 450mm
deep add 50% to the flow
-
between 451 & 600mm
deep add 25% to the flow
|
If you live in
-
Tropical (Qld, NT or northern WA)
add 35% to the flow
-
Sub tropical (Northern NSW) add 25% to the flow
-
Temperate (NSW, SA, VIC, Southern
WA) add 15% to the flow
|
Hose length and diameter
If your total hose length is over 4m, or your waterfall is over 500mm,
or if you have an existing hose that may be too small and can't
be replaced, it may now be the time to either:
-
Fill in
one of our
e-mail help forms and let us do all the calculations for you
-
Give us a call 1800 607 388
for expert advice
|
Step 3 - Choose your filter
|
You now have the ideal flow through the filter
in litres per hour for a healthy pond.
Now you need to decide what type of filter your
require.
Always choose the filter first. The horse must be ahead of the cart, so the
filter must first be chosen. Then on each filter page there is a section
named "suitable pumps"
(Remember your ideal flow through the filter will be needed)
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How we established
these figures
|
The above quick reference calculator
represent the approximate circulation required for a pond in Australia
using average calculations, for a more in depth explanation, see
"How to choose a pond pump
and filter" for extremely accurate formulas
When making the above
calculations we have taken into account average Australian climate,
average pond plants, average pond depth (on the shallow side), flow
loss through a filter etc.
|
Special
note:
Please use this chart as close guide only, the only way to exactly choose a pump and filter is by using all your specific and exact factors, the above if
used correctly should get you within 10 - 15% of a perfect outcome. In doubt either fill in
one of our e-mail help forms or call 1800 607 388. |