Waterfall pumps are designed to deliver high flow rates at moderate head heights — exactly what a cascading waterfall or stream requires. Unlike circulation pumps that prioritize efficiency at high head pressure, waterfall pumps move maximum volume with minimal energy. Play It Koi carries waterfall pumps from leading brands sized for everything from small garden cascades to dramatic multi-tier waterfalls.
Sizing a Waterfall Pump
The rule of thumb is 100 GPH per inch of spillway width for a gentle sheet, or 200 GPH per inch for a dramatic, heavy curtain. Add the vertical height from pump to spillway top plus friction losses for total head. For example, a 12-inch-wide spillway at 4 feet of height needs approximately 1,200–2,400 GPH at 4 feet of head. Pro tip: for pondless waterfalls, the pump also needs to fill the entire stream channel at startup — size up one model from your calculated minimum.
Play It Koi offers free shipping on orders over $99. Questions? Contact our pond experts for waterfall pump sizing.
