External vs. Submersible Pumps. Which one should you Use?

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 by: Brett Fogle

For many people, it's never been a question of whether to
use a submersible pump vs. an external pump because most people have
smaller ponds and are used to just using a submersible pump. They're
easy to install, and are pretty reliable - so why even consider an
external pump?

There are a couple of reasons...

But before we go into that, let's briefly talk about the
benefits of submersible pumps first. For obvious reasons, a submersible
pump is named as such because it is designed to be placed in the pond,
and submerged under the water.

These are the easiest of all pumps to install, just
drop them in the water and plug them in - and you’re ready to do. Of
course, you might have some quick plumbing to do, attaching a hose to
the waterfall or to a submersible filter (another article entirely),
but other than that - that's pretty much all there is to it.

Submersible pumps range in size or gallons per hour,
from 50 GPH all the way up to 50,000 gallons per hour, but for most
ponds - pumps anywhere from 350 GPH to 4000 GPH will do just fine...

So why might you also consider an external pump instead?

Here are a couple reasons. First, external pumps can much
more energy efficient. Now, a typical swimming pool or spa pump won't
usually fall into this category - so be careful not to compare apples
to oranges! Pool pumps can also be huge energy hogs, so always check
the amps to compare different pumps together. Anything over 10 amps
will draw a significant amount of $$ out of your pocket every month in
electrical costs.

The external pumps that we are talking about are
designed specifically for ponds and water gardens, and are engineered
for energy efficiency. I'm not sure why those folks in the swimming
pool and spa industry haven't figured out how to this yet, but I'm sure
they'll catch on sooner or later.

I'm inclined to think the average pond owner is a bit
more intelligent than the average pool owner. Why else would someone
choose a pool over a pond? Unless of course you have both, but at any
rate - let's just assume that we're talking about external pond pumps
here.

For comparison, a typical 4000 GPH (gallons per hour)
submersible pond pump will typically draw anywhere from 10 amps all the
way up to 15 amps, depending on the brand.

This can really burn a hole in your wallet (or
pocketbook) on a monthly basis, and in some parts of the country will
run you $50 - $70 in energy costs.

In contrast, a comparatively rated external pond pump
like the William Lim Wave I External Pump. It is rated at 4380 GPH at
3.47 feet of head, and only draws 2.3 amps - that's 3/4 less energy
consumption than the submersible pumps.

When you start getting into larger ponds, 1000 gallons
up to 20,000 and above - it's usually a good idea to look into these
more energy efficient pumps.

For example, the 3/4 HP Dragon pump will move 7,770 GPH
at almost 5 feet of head (and under pressure) and only burn 6.2 amps!
That's impressive.

External pumps are almost always better for using with
pressurized external filters as well, as submersible pumps are not
designed to handle all the back pressure. Other benefits of using an
external pump include:

• Easy to clean without getting your hands messy
  

• Come with a removable leaf trap which clog less often
  

• Easy to hook up to bottom drains or surface skimmers
  

• Generally last longer, and easier to repair / replace parts
  

So that's it, more than enough information for you to make an educated choice.

Just to recap:

For smaller ponds, and for simple installation and daily
use, submersible pumps are probably your best option. For larger ponds,
1000 gallons and above, it may be worth looking into an external pump
for your needs. Although they cost a little more on the front end, the
energy savings alone can often more than offset this increase in cost
during the first year of use alone.

To read the full article, click here:

https://www.macarthurwatergardens.com/Newsletters/September2004/external-vs-submersible-pumps.shtml

About the Author

Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary 'New Pond Owners Guide' for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens at www.macarthurwatergardens.com.

brett@macarthurwatergardens.com

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