Pipe and Tubing Recommendations for Pumps
Each pump has its own discharge specifications, it may have a size of 3/4″, 1″, or some other size. However, this does not mean that you should use this size of tubing or pipe for the discharge. There are several variables for determining the plumbing size for your pond. The How to Select a Pump section of the web site will help you when sizing the plumbing for your application. The larger the pipe diameter, the less friction loss and thus the more flow potential.
As a general rule you can use the following pipe sizes for the average pond:
- For pumps with flows up to 300 gph use 1/2″ tubing
- Flows from 300 to 600 gph use 3/4″ tubing
- Flows from 600 to 900 gph use 1″ tubing
- Flows from 900 to 2200 gph use 1 1/4″ tubing
- Flows from 2200 to 3500 gph use 1 1/2″ flexible PVC pipe
- Flows from 3500 to 5000 gph use 2″ flexible PVC pipe
- Flows from 5000 to 12000 gph use 3″ flexible PVC pipe
When connecting a submersible pump in the pond bottom that would warrant the use of a larger PVC pipe, you may want to use 1 1/4″ tubing to come out of the pond (to allow you to easily pick up the pump for cleaning the inlet) and then connect this tubing to a larger size flexible PVC pipe (which is not quite as flexible as tubing) to gain more flow from the pump. When connecting (for example) 1-1/4″ tubing to 1-½” flex PVC pipe you will need a 1-1/2″ coupling, 1-1/2″ x 1-1/4″ FPT bushing, and a 1-1/4″ male insert.