9 Best Pond Pumps in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Pond pumps are wonderful devices that can circulate your water or power fountains and waterfalls. It’s also essential if you need to drain it to perform maintenance but choosing the best one for the job can be challenging. Several brands are available in many different styles, and some of the terms used to describe power can be confusing, so it can be time-consuming to get through them all.

We have chosen nine different brands to review for you so you can learn a little more about the difference between them. We’ll give you the pros and cons of each one and tell you how well they worked for us. Keep reading while we discuss durability, gallons per hour, noise, and more to help you make an educated purchase.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Alpine Corporation PAL3100 Cyclone Pond Pump	Energy-efficient motor Includes adapters Long power cord	Check Price
Best Value		GROWNEER 550GPH Submersible Pump	UL certified Energy efficient Adjustable flow	Check Price
Premium Choice		Alpine Corporation Eco-Sphere Pump	Oil-free design Durable construction 360-degree rotating adapter	Check Price
Best Submersible Pond Pump		Aquagarden Water Pump for Ponds	LED spotlight Accessories Multiple filters	Check Price
		TotalPond 3600 GPH Waterfall pump	Passes large debris Easy to clean Protective mesh bag	Check Price

The 9 Best Pond Pumps

1. Alpine Corporation Alpine PAL3100 Cyclone Pond Pump – Best Overall

The Alpine Corporation Alpine PAL3100 Cyclone Pond Pump is our pick for the best overall pond pump. It weighs a little under nine pounds and is submersible. It can move 3,100 gallons per hour (GPH), so it’s perfect for circulation and can create a fairly large fountain. It features an energy-saving design that saves you money while being better for the environment. It comes with the adapters you need to connect to any hose and several other devices, and it has a long power cable, so you are less likely to require extension cords. The large pre-filter keeps debris out of the impeller so it doesn’t get clogged up.

The downside to the Alpine PAL3100 Cyclone was that it didn’t work as well on land. The impeller cover also becomes loose after you clean the filter a few times, and it could fall off while it’s in the water, which might injure any fish you might have.

2. GROWNEER 550GPH Submersible Pump – Best Value

The GROWNEER 550GPH Submersible Pump is our pick as the best pond pump for the money. It’s UL certified to meet pump standards, and it features an adjustable water flow control, so it’s more versatile. It can move 550 gallons of water per hour with an energy-efficient motor. It features three nozzles for different-sized hoses, so you can fine-tune the water flow even more, and the threaded ends make for a better connection. It also comes with a suction cup to keep it in place.

The GROWNEER is a fantastic pump, but it doesn’t move much water compared to others on this list. It’s great for a fountain or even a small waterfall, but it won’t be great for emptying the pond or circulating water to improve aeration. The other problem we had with it is that the power cord is a little short for outdoor use, so you will need to purchase an extension cord.

3. Alpine Corporation Eco-Sphere Pump  – Premium Choice

Alpine Corporation Eco-Sphere Pump is our premium choice pond pump. It’s an extremely powerful pump that can move 5,400 gallons of water per hour and is well suited to large jobs. However, it has an inline digital controller that you can use to adjust the flow rate, so it’s suitable for smaller jobs too. It’s extremely durable and uses an energy-saving design that they say uses 75% less power than a traditional type. The engine is oil-free, so it won’t leak or contaminate your water, nor will it require maintenance. The hose adapter rotates 360 degrees so you can aim the water flow to make it easier to use.

The only negative thing we can say about the Alpine Eco-Sphere is that it’s quite expensive and will test your budget.

• See also: 11 DIY Pond Filters You Can Build Today (with Pictures)

4. Aquagarden Water Pump for Ponds – Best Submersible Pond Pump

The Aquagarden Water Pump for Ponds is our pick as the best submersible pond pump. It’s lightweight at only one pound, so it’s easy to get into position. A built-in UV light helps remove bacteria from the water as it operates, and it also has a built-in spotlight that will help light up your fountain at night. It comes with several attachments, so you can use it with different-sized hoses and other attachments, and it has multiple filters to keep debris from reaching the impeller.

The main problem we had with the Aquagarden was that the water flow is a little slow for many of our bigger jobs, and this is best suited for smaller ponds no larger than two feet deep and containing no more than about 600 gallons. We also found it challenging to find replacement filters and other parts, so it will be difficult to repair if something happens.

5. TotalPond 3600 GPH Waterfall pump

The TotalPond 3600 GPH Waterfall pump is a powerful water pump that can move up to 3,600 GPH. It has a special design that allows large debris to flow out the discharge while it expels smaller debris through the rear of the pump, which helps keep the bearings and shafts clean. A unique back spitting feature helps keep the motor cooler, so there is less risk of overheating, and it comes with a mesh bag that will enclose the unit to keep debris out. It’s extremely easy to clean, and you have access to all of the internal parts without needing any tools.

We liked using the TotalPond and found that it had plenty of power for most jobs and even created beautiful waterfalls. However, it doesn’t come with any accessories, so you will need to purchase an adapter unless your pond uses a 1-inch hose or pipe. An even bigger problem for some people will be that it has the same model number as an older pump that was much larger with a 1.5-inch connector.

6. VIVOSUN 5300GPH Submersible Water Pump

The VIVOSUN 5300GPH Submersible Water Pump is one of the more powerful pumps on this list, and it features an extremely durable design that can last for many years. It’s very low noise at 30–40dB, so you won’t hear it running, and it’s powerful enough to move 5,300 GPH, so it’s suitable for waterfalls, circulation, and even draining. Four suction cups will help keep it in place, and the adjustable nozzle makes it easy to send water in any direction, so it’s more compatible with already existing systems.

We were impressed by the high power of the VIVOSUN 5300GPH Submersible Water Pump but found that it clogs very easily. What’s worse is that the filter is difficult to keep in place and tends to fall off, exposing the impeller to debris. If you have live fish or other animals in the water, the powerful suction with no cover can make for a dangerous situation.

7. Knifel Submersible Pump

The Knifel Submersible Pump is a lightweight but powerful little pump that uses an energy-saving motor to move 880 gallons per hour. It uses a sponge filter to help remove smaller debris, and the energy-saving motor will help reduce your power costs. It comes with multiple attachments so you can connect it to an existing system, and it has a built-in safety feature that turns the unit off if it detects there is no water.

The Knifel is a little small for circulating or draining larger ponds, but it’s a great tool for fountains and smaller ponds. However, the short power cord will require an extension cord, and when our unit ran dry, the automatic shutoff failed to kick in, and the pump continued to run.

8. Superior Pump 91250 1/4 HP Thermoplastic Utility Pump

The Superior Pump 91250 1/4 HP Thermoplastic Utility Pump is a moderately powerful pump that can move up to 1,800 gallons per hour. It has a removable suction screen that helps prevent large debris from entering the motor. It has a durable construction and includes an adapter so you can use it with a garden hose.

We liked the power of the Superior Pump 91250 and felt that it’s a good middle-of-the-road unit. However, it isn’t easy to keep upright if it’s not on a flat surface, and some of the screws rust quickly. Another problem we had was that the pump kept shutting down. After some inspection, we found that it shipped without enough coolant, and when we looked it up online, we found several other people had the same problem.

• Related Read: How to Drain a Pond (With or Without a Pump)

9. Yochaqute Aquarium Submersible Water Pump

The Yochaqute Aquarium Submersible Water Pump is the last model on our list, but it is still suitable for many people and has many good features. It makes hardly any noise, and the manufacturer claims it operates at less than 20dB. It comes with multiple attachments, so you can attach it to different hoses and suction cup feet to keep it in place. The motor is all copper and features an energy-saving design.

The Yochaqute works well for smaller ponds and pools, but the water flow isn’t strong enough for larger jobs. The short power cord means you will most likely require an extension cord, and the poor-quality suction cups did not keep it upright.

Conclusion

When choosing a pond pump, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. The Alpine Corporation Alpine PAL3100 Cyclone Pond Pump features a powerful motor and a long power cord. It’s suitable for large jobs as well as small ones, and it comes with all of the adapters you will need. Another smart choice is our pick for the best value. The GROWNEER 550GPH Submersible Pump is a small but powerful pump that is perfect for someone only looking to create a fountain or small waterfall. It’s UL certified and comes with several accessories.

We hope you have enjoyed these views and found a few models you would like to try. If we have helped solve our pumping needs, please share this guide to the best pond pumps on Facebook and Twitter.