Pump turnover and head loss calculator

Required flow

Pond volume (US gallons)

Pond type

Required flow

Not calculatedGPH

Head loss

Static lift (ft)

Pipe or tubing inside diameter (in)

One-way pipe or hose run (ft)

Flow to check (GPH)

Starts at the required flow. Enter another flow to check its head loss.

Total dynamic head at that flow

Not calculatedft

Delivered flow

Curve point 1: flow (GPH)

Curve point 1: head at that flow (ft)

Curve point 2: flow (GPH)

Curve point 2: head at that flow (ft)

Delivered flow estimate

Not calculatedGPH

Assumes smooth pipe. Fittings, valves and corrugated tubing add losses that can reduce delivered flow. Check the manufacturer’s performance chart.

Pump methods

required GPH = pond volume (gal) ÷ turnover time (hr) turnover time = 2 hr light/plant · 1 hr goldfish-type · 0.5 hr koi

total dynamic head = static lift + friction loss friction loss (ft per 100 ft of pipe) = 0.2083 × (100 / C)^1.852 × GPM^1.852 / diameter(in)^4.8655 C = 150 for smooth PVC, PE or vinyl pipe or tubing

Turnover rates are rules of thumb. Static lift is the height from the pond surface to the discharge. Measure the full pipe run, including coils and slack.

Head loss uses Hazen-Williams with C = 150. Delivered flow uses a straight line between your two chart points and finds where it meets the system’s head requirement. It will not extrapolate outside those points. Enter widely spaced points from the manufacturer’s chart; the estimate depends on how accurately you read them.