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Aquarium Pumps, Aquarium Powerheads, Pond Pumps & Fountain Pumps

Go to: AQUARIUM PUMP GENERAL INFO (bottom of page)
Pumps & Powerheads By Size
Powerheads: 50 gph to 299 gph Pumps: Up to 1000 gph
Powerheads: 300 gph to 599 gph Pumps: 1000 to 2000 gph
Powerheads: 600 gph and over Pumps: Over 2000 gph
Aquarium Pumps:
AquaticLife 		Aquarium Pumps:
Iwaki Motor Drive
426 GPH to 976 GPH
Saltwater & Freshwater Aquarium Water Pumps
Designed with marine filtration applications in mind, each of these four high-head Submersible Utility Pump models features a special intake shield that allows the pumps to operate in low water levels. In addition, the power cords exit the top of the pumps, allowing for easy placement in a sump. Will also work externally.
300 GPH to 2000 GPH
Saltwater & Freshwater Aquarium Water Pumps
The Iwaki Motor Drive Pumps come in versions with a low max head for circulation and high pressure versions for canister filters & other applications where high head pressure is needed. We carry both the MD (Japanese) & WMD (American) versions.
Aquarium Pumps:
Little Giant Quarium Series 		Aquarium Pumps:
Marineland Maxi-Jet Utility
510 GPH to 1325 GPH
Saltwater & Freshwater Aquarium Water Pumps
The Little Giant Quarium Series Pumps come in versions with a low max head for circulation and high pressure versions for canister filters & other applications where high head pressure is needed. Made for aquariums but can be used for other indoor applications.
474 GPH to 1385 GPH
Saltwater & Freshwater Aquarium Water Pumps
The Marineland Maxi-Jet Submersible Utility Pump can be used submersed or externally in saltwater and freshwater systems. The Maxi-Jet Submersible Utility Pumps are engineered to handle the capacities of Marineland's new Deep Dimension Corner-Flo Aquariums and new high-capacity acrylic sump filtration Systems.
Aquarium Pumps:
Pondmaster HyDrive Aquarium 		Aquarium Pumps:
Pondmaster Mag Drive SALE!!
3200 GPH to 6000 GPH
Saltwater & Freshwater Aquarium Water Pumps
The Pondmaster WFP HyDrive pumps are designed for aquariums. These are the largest aquarium pumps we carry, and they can be used submersed or in-line.
270 GPH to 1910 GPH
Saltwater & Freshwater Aquarium Water Pumps
The Pondmaster Mag Drive Pumps are the same as the Pond Mag pumps, but the power cord is only 12 feet. The removable foam pre-filter is easy to clean and replace. For external or submersible use.
Aquarium Pumps:
Pondmaster Mag Drive (w/ Venturi & Fractionating Impeller) 		Pond Pumps:
Aqua Ultraviolet Sunami
270 GPH to 1325 GPH
Saltwater Aquarium Water Pumps
The Mag Drive pumps with added venturi and fractionating impeller.
6000 GPH to 7200 GPH
Pond Pump
Sunamis deliver superior performance, ease of maintenance and long term reliability. There is no need to replace the Sunami Pump if you decide to enlarge your water feature--the same housing will accept from 1/3 to 5 HP motors.
Pond Pumps:
Laguna PowerJet 		Pond Pumps:
Little Giant PondWorks
100 GPH to 1500 GPH
Pond Pump
The Laguna PowerJet Fountain/Waterfall Pump Kits include a submersible pond pump with a riser stem with diverter valve & 2 fountainhead attachments.
3100 GPH to 4000 GPH
Pond Pump
The Little Giant Submersible Pond Pump, WGP-80-PW, is ideal for use in waterfall and stream applications. It can operate two water features simultaneously.
Pond Pumps:
Pondmaster HyDrive Pond SALE!! 		Pond Pumps:
Pondmaster Pond Mag SALE!!
3200 GPH to 6000 GPH
Pond Pump
The Pondmaster Hy-Drive pumps are in-line and submersible pond & water garden pumps. The Hy-Drive pumps can be used for ponds from 6,000 gallons to 10,000 gallons.
270 GPH to 1910 GPH
Pond Pump
The Pondmaster Pond Mag Pumps are the same as the Mag Drive pumps, but the power cord is 18 feet. The removable foam pre-filter is easy to clean and replace. For external or submersible use.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Aqua-Supreme 		Aquarium Powerheads:
AquaTop
70 GPH to 725 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The Aqua-Supreme magnetic drive aquarium pumps come in eight different sizes and feature a variable flow control.
158 GPH to 422 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The AquaTop Power Heads come in four sizes and feature a venturi intake.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Aqueon QuietFlow SALE!! 		Aquarium Powerheads:
Coralife SALE!!
106 GPH to 2113 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The Aqueon QuietFlow Submersible Utility Pumps come in ten sizes. These high performance multi-use utility pumps are quiet, versatile and low maintenance. Models 400 through 3000 have adjustable flow rates while models 4500 through 8000 feature an intake suction elbow for low water levels.
750 GPH to 2900 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
These Coralife Circulation Pumps can be used with or without the Coralife Pulse Wavemaker. Attaches to the aquarium with a suction cup.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Hydor Koralia & Koralia Magnum 12V Controllable 		Aquarium Powerheads:
Hydor Koralia Evolution & Magnum
260 GPH to 3500 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The Hydor Koralia 12V Controllable Powerheads must be used with the Hydor Koralia Wavemaker Low Voltage Pump Controller. Attaches to the aquarium with the provided magnet.
240 GPH to 2750 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The Hydor Koralia Evolution & Koralia Magnum Powerheads can be used with or without a controller, such as the Hydor Koralia SmartWave Circulation Pump Timer. Attaches to the aquarium with the provided magnet.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Hydor Pico 		Aquarium Powerheads:
Hydor Universal
180 GPH & 300 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The Hydor Pico Powerheads can be used as a circulation pumps or connected to other devices.
185 GPH to 740 GPH
Submersible or External Aquarium Powerhead
The Hydor Universal Centrifugal Powerheads are all-purpose aquariums powerheads than can be used as circulation pumps or connected to other devices such as biological & wet-dry filters. Low power consumption.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Marineland Maxi-Jet SALE!! 		Aquarium Powerheads:
Marineland Mini-Jet
500 GPH to 1300 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The Maxi-Jet Pro powerheads comes with two different front covers and impellers. With the installed impeller and impeller cover the Maxi-Jet Pro has input and output connections for powering undergravel filters. For creating water movement the Maxi-Jet Pro also comes with a propeller and propeller assembly.
106 GPH to 153 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The Mini-Jet aquarium powerhead can be used in reef aquariums to create water currents, and it is also ideal for small fountains or waterfalls. Includes suction cup support.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Mini Polario 		Aquarium Powerheads:
SeaLine Utility Pump
1000 GPH to 2600 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerhead
The TAAM Mini Polario Low Voltage Water Pumps are unique bi-directional pumps that will pulse water in one directional and then into the opposite direction based on a pre-set schedule. The Mini Polario is also an energy efficient, high flow, low voltage pump. Includes magnet mount.
127 GPH to 1473 GPH
Submersible or External Aquarium & Pond Powerhead
These powerheads can be used for just about anything. They can be used as submersible pumps for water circulation or used externally in a closed loop system.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Rio Aqua 		Aquarium Powerheads:
Rio HyperFlow
69 GPH to 900 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerheads
The versatile Rio powerheads can be used with wet-dry filters, venturi protein skimmers, uv sterilizers, undergravel filtering systems, ponds and fountains. The HP versions are for high pressure situations. The PT versions include an intake venturi.
260 GPH to 1920 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerheads
Similar to the Rio Aqua Pumps. The Rio HF pumps are better in high back pressure situations.
Aquarium Powerheads:
Seio Super Flow 		Fountain Powerheads:
Laguna Fountain & Statuary
620 GPH to 2600 GPH
Submersible Aquarium Powerheads
The Seio Super Flow powerheads are powerful circulation pumps that can be used with the Rio Seio Super Flow Powerhead Electronic Controller. The Seio Magnet Mount, a separate purchase, will hold the pumps firmly in place.
80 GPH to 750 GPH
Submersible Fountain & Statuary Powerhead
The Laguna Fountain & Statuary Pumps are ideal for fountains, statuary and hydroponics. They include adjustable water flow and mechanical filter foam.
Fountain Powerheads:
Laguna TableTop & Statuary 		Powerhead Magnet Holders
68 GPH to 384 GPH
Tabletop Fountain & Statuary Pumps


Pump Accessories Wavemakers




Parts: Laguna Parts: Coralife Turbo Sea




Parts: Hagen AquaClear Parts: Hydor




Parts: Iwaki MD & WMD Parts: Little Giant Q Series




Parts: Maxi-Jet Parts: Pacific Coast Pump




Parts: Penguin Parts: Pondmaster Hy-Drive




Parts: Pondmaster Mag Drive & Pond Mag Parts: Rio Aqua & HF




Parts: Seio Pump



Choosing a Main System Aquarium Water Pump
The critical choices when choosing a pump are:
  • Powerhead or pump. A power head is submersible pump and a pump is an external pump. Some pumps, such as the Pondmaster pumps can be used submersed or externally.
  • Connections. All of our pumps list the diameters of the input and outlets. You always want to use a pump with an outlet diameter that is equal to or less than the diameter of the hose and all other fittings before the water is returned to the tank or sump. For example, if you use 3/4" hose with a pump with a 1" output, you will severely restrict the flow of the pump.
  • Flow rate. All of our pumps have the flow rate listed in gph (gallons per hour). The flow rate will be affected by the amount of head pressure. Consult the Head Pressure and Pump Performance section below for information on determining how much head pressure you will have. Once you've determined the head pressure, you can use the performance charts listed for most of pumps to determine how much output in gph you will have.
Aquarium Water Pump Desired Flow Rate
The optimum tank "turnover rate" is approximately 6 to 7 times per hour for saltwater fish-only tanks, 10 to 12 times per hour for saltwater reef tanks and 4 to 5 times for freshwater tanks. For example, the pumps on a 50 gallon reef tank should be a total of 500 to 600 gph (after head pressure is taken into account). When determining which pumps you needs to achieve your desired flow rate you should include all the pumps in your system. This includes the powerheads in the tank and any pumps running power filters and canister filters. Although your protein skimmer pump may have significant flow, since protein skimmers have a great deal of head pressure you will not get much flow from your protein skimmer pump.

To determine how much flow you will get from any given pump, you can calculate the head pressure (the calculation is provided below) and refer to the performance charts provided for most pumps. To see an example of how head pressure effects gph view the Performance Chart for the Rio Aqua Pumps. Head pressure is listed as "MAX. HEAD".

Aquarium Water Pump Head Pressure and Pump Performance
As the head pressure increases the gph will decrease. Use the following guide to determine the amount of head pressure in your application in order to determine how much flow you will get from any pump.
  • Each 90-degree bend in the plumbing will add about one foot of head due to friction. Each 45-degree bend will add 1/2 foot head pressure. This includes any bends in filters, chillers and uv sterilizers.
  • As a result of friction, each 10-foot horizontal run of pipe will add a foot of head pressure.
  • In an open system (a system using a sump), each foot of vertical distance from the intake of the pump to the return into the aquarium will add one foot of head pressure. The vertical distance in a closed system does not affect head pressure. A closed system is one where the pump draws water directly from the aquarium and returns water directly to the aquarium.
Using the example of the Performance Chart for the Rio Aqua Pumps, if the distance from the inlet of the aquarium pump to the discharge point in the display tank were five feet and there were two 90 degree bends in the plumbing and five feet of horizontal pipe, then the head pressure would be approx. 7.5 feet.

As seen in the Rio Aqua Pumps chart, there is a limit to the head an aquarium pump can handle. With the Rio 600 when the head feet reaches 4, the gph is reduced to zero. Most of our pumps have listed the head height where the Shut Off point is reached.

Note: We have not included any info for how much head pressure there is when you restrict the flow by using hose or return fittings with a smaller diameter than the pump outlet. This depends on the size of the pump outlet and the amount of restriction. In general, it increases head pressure a great deal and is not advisable.

Aquarium Water Pump Redundancy
You'll be better off with two or more smaller pumps than one large pump. Having at least some water turnover is critical to the survival of any aquarium, and if you have more than one pump when a pump fails you will not need to desperately locate a replacement pump. An aquarium can completely crash within eight hours if there is no water turnover because pumps are critical to aeration. An air pump will keep an aquarium aerated--you may want to have a battery operated air pump on hand to keep your aquarium operational during power outages.

Aquarium Water Pump Noise
We are often asked if a particular pump is noisy. In general, pump noise is a function of the output of the pump and how the pump is hooked up. Most pump noise is caused by the pump vibration causing attached hard surfaces to vibrate, and by friction as the water travels from the pump. To reduce pump noise you will want to do the following:
  • Put the pump on a padded surface to absorb the pump vibration
  • Use flexible hose
  • Use as few plumbing pieces as possible
  • When connecting an external pump to a sump, use flexible hose to connect the sump bulkhead to the pump inlet
  • Do not restrict the inlet of a pump by using a plumbing fitting with a smaller diameter than the pump inlet. This will cause cavitation as well as a great deal of noise
Even if you follow all the bullet-pointed advice listed above, you will still have some pump noise. With smaller pumps this will not be very noticeable, but with bigger pumps it can be irritating in a quiet environment.

Aquarium Water Pump Cost
"The best advice I can offer is this: Even if you are on a tight budget, do not scrimp on the pump. This is the most important component of the system, and its failure can spell disaster."

John H. Tullock, "Natural Reef Aquariums"