What Pipe Do You Use to Plumb an External Koi Pond Pump?

Pipes and Fittings

• The koi pond pump you purchase should contain information in the owner's manual about the type of pipes and fittings you need for your specific pump model. As a general rule, use polyvinyl chloride, or PVC piping, with external koi pumps. PVC pipes offer complete corrosion resistance when use with running water. You can purchase PVC pipes at hardware stores in numerous lengths and thicknesses. Always use piping at least 2 inches in diameter for the intake system and at least 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter for water leaving the pump.

Pump Placement

• Place the pump as close to the pond as possible and, if you can, place it lower than the surface of the water in the pond. Placing the pump below the level of water in the pond helps create a system of suction in your pipes. This suctions ensures that water continuously runs through the pump without interruption, maximizing the effectiveness of the pump. If placing the pump below the level of the water proves impossible, place it as close to the surface level as possible.

Pipe Set Up

• Setting up plumbing for an external koi pond pump requires little more than assembling a series of PVC pipes long enough to take water from the pond, transfer it to the pump and return it to the pond. For the intake system, you need curved elbow fitting to attach straight length of pipes in a “U” shape that starts in the pond, curves around its lip and heads down to the intake on the pump. Use waterproof sealant when fitting pipes together to ensure a tight bond. The outgoing water requires a straight length of pipe heading out of the pump and directly into the water of the pond.

Pump Basics

• Proper koi pump plumbing techniques prove useless if you don't take the time to get the right pump. External pumps offer various advantages over submersed pumps, such as their reduced use of electricity and the fact that you don't have to go into the pond to get them if they malfunction. When keeping koi in a pond, you must run the pump 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure the optimal aquatic environment for the fish. The corrosion resistance of PVC proves ideal for continuous operation.

  Always buy an external pump designed specifically for koi ponds. Koi pumps require a high volume system with low pressure, for which small pumps are best suited. Large pumps, like those designed for swimming pools, don't work well with koi ponds.