Not only will this calculator plan for the size of your liner, filter and pump size. We will also give you guidelines on how many aquatic plants to place, your fish load (how many fish the pond will support), and design ideas.
We may also include links to other pages within our website that will open in a separate window so that you do not lose the calculations entered on this page. Please enter all values in feet or with a decimal, do not enter any fractions.
All fields are required in the garden ponds designs calculator.
If you have any questions on the field values, please click on the question mark in front of each field for help. After all fields have been entered, click on the calculate button.
To view your results, please use the drop down results menu and select your category. This will display the results below the garden ponds designs calculator. If you choose to change a value in the calculator, this can be done on any page and the results carry through all pages. You may also select the reset button to clear all entries.
It is our hope that you enjoy using our calculator in your garden ponds designs process.
Your pond will require a liner size of: Length X Width
The liner size calculation includes a 2' overlap on each side for pond edging.
The math:
Length + Max. Depth + Max. Depth + 4 = Length Of Liner
Width + Max. Depth + Max. Depth + 4 = Width Of Liner
The number 4 is for the overlap on each side. The calculator is set for a 2 foot overlap ( 2 + 2 = 4 ).
EPDM pond liner is available in widths of 5 ,10 ,15 , 20 , 25 and 30 foot. The length will be cut according to your order. Read More On EPDM pond liner.
Your pond will hold US gallons.
Length * Width * AverageDepth * 7.48051945 = Gallons.
This is an important number to know. Since your pond is a closed system, the number of gallons that your pond holds will have to be circulated through the filter. This represents the turnover rate of your pond.
Length * Width = Surface Area.
Length * Width * .60 = Surface Area To Be Covered.
A water lily can cover 10 square feet of surface area. Read More On Water Lilies.
Length * Width * .60 / 10 = Water lilies needed.
Submerged plants such as Anacharis or Water Weed are sold in bunches so you will need about bunches. Read More On Submerged Plants
Length * Width / 2 = Submerged plant bunches needed.
Your pond will require a GPH pump.
Length * Width * AverageDepth * 7.48051945 / Turnover Rate = Pump Size.
Your pond will require a filter that can handle GPH.
Please note that the filter size is larger than the pump size by 10% to ensure proper filtration.
Length * Width * AverageDepth * 7.48051945 * 1.10 / Turnover Rate = Filter Size
To see more information on a filter falls unit with diagram, please view our page on Waterfall Construction.
The guideline for this is 1 foot of fish for every 24 sq foot of surface area.
Length * Width / 24 / 12 = Inches of fish. Then inches of fish was divided into different lengths of fish.
Koi fish as an adult can grow up to 24-36 inches in length and will uproot or consume plants. It is best to kept Koi in large fish-only ponds. Plants can be put in separate ponds adjacent to the fish pond. Read More On Koi Fish.
Comet goldfish as an adult can grow up to 14 in length. Read More On Comet Goldfish.
Shubunkin goldfish as an adult can grow up to 12 in length. Read More On Shubunkin Goldfish.
Length is the the determined by the longest measurement of the pond that you are planning. This measurement will affect your liner size.
Width is the the determined by the widest measurement of the pond that you are planning. This measurement will affect your liner size.
Maximum depth is deepest point of the pond that you are planning. This measurement will affect your liner size.
Average depth is estimated by adding your deepest measurement and shallowest measurement, dividing by two(2) for the estimated average depth. This measurement will affect the total gallons that your pond will hold.
The turn over rate is how long it takes the entire volume of water contained in your pond to pass through the filter system.
It is a measure of time. Example: 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3 hours.
So how fast the water should be circulated through the filter system?
For ponds up to 4000 gallons the water should pass through the filter in 1 to 2 hours for best results.
In larger ponds a turnover rate of every 2 - 3 hours works quite well.
As suggested on the calculators try 1 to start with. If your pond is very large and you use the suggested 1 hours the results for pump size and filter size may not be practical.
If you find the pump and filter size is extremely large then try as suggested above try a turn over rate of 2 - 3 hours.
Here is a good link for you to check out: handymanteacher.com provides information and videos on do it yourself, DIY, house, is a wonderful site full of valuable information and videos.
A special thanks to javascript-array.com for providing some of the script needed to produce this garden ponds designs page.
