How to select a right water pump for your aquarium

When choosing a water pump type and size, there are several factors to include in your decision:
Filtration type -- What type of filter system is best for the type of aquarium you are planning? The type of filter you choose dictates the type of water pump you need.


Desired flow rate -- Do the inhabitants of your aquarium require a greater flow rate (saltwater fish), or a lesser one (planted aquarium). Research the flow rate needs of the type of aquarium you are planning.


Plumbing and head height -- What type of plumbing will be installed? Are you using a lot of elbows, and sharp turns, etc. Where will the filtration system be located? Directly underneath the aquarium? In the basement or another room? Be sure to consider the total distance the pump will be required to move your aquarium water.


Additional devices -- Will your new aquarium require additional filtration or temperature control devices, such as UV sterilizers, protein skimmers, and chillers, etc.?

Submersible Water Pumps
Submersible water pump is run completely underwater, usually in the sump of a wet/dry filtration system. They draw water from the filter, and push it back into the aquarium, or through other devices, such as chillers or UV sterilization units. There are several advantages to a submersible pump: they are easy to install because they don't require you to drill and install a bulkhead in your filter system; and they tend to be a little quieter because they run underwater.The main disadvantage with submersible pumps, especially the more powerful ones, is that they are water cooled, so that means unwanted heat may be added directly to your aquarium water. Additionally, your filter's sump may have limited space for a pump, so the dimension of the submerged pump is an important consideration.
In-line Water Pumps
In-line water pumps are used out of the water, and are connected to an inlet hose and outlet hose used to filter your aquarium water. The major advantage of in-line pumps is that they are air-cooled, which means they may add less heat to the water. They are often more powerful pumps, able to move more gallons per hour. In-line water pumps can be installed in one of two configurations: pressure setups or free-flow setups. The Lifegard Quiet One pump may be successfully used in either configuration. Other in-line pumps are optimized for one specific configuration.