The 10 Best Fountain Pumps
Special Honors
Scott Aerator Company If you're looking to outfit a large installation, this company might be one place worth checking out. In addition to a host of pump solutions, they also offer a range of aeration options, including solar- and wind-powered green technologies. scottaerator.com
Waterfallnow Whether you have a budget of a few thousand or a million, this Canadian company has some stunning, custom options for you to explore. They offer indoor and outdoor designs suitable for myriad applications, and readily work with American businesses and property owners. waterfallnow.com
Editor's Notes
March 01, 2021:
It was a fairly straightforward round of updates. The only new omission we made was removing the Homasy 80, noticing that it didn’t appear to be available at the time of this writing. However, we were quick to replace the 80 with the IceCap Powerhead 2K.
Admittedly, adding the 2K was a bit of a tough call, because its included pond pump, which is strictly intended for water circulation, doesn’t bring that element of showmanship to the table that this category necessitates. However, its Wi-Fi connectivity and app control – which allow for scheduling and pattern options – was just too much for us to turn down.
It’s unclear whether IceCap offers or plans on offering any feature-fountain-style pumps, either now or in the future, but if they do, the 2K’s controller would likely be able to supply said pump and its included pump at the same time, as it has provisions for two connected pieces of equipment. However, given the three-pin interface these devices use to hook up, you won't be able to connect a pump from a third party — unless you're comfortable rewiring the device and installing some new hardware... but that'll void your warranty.
If you’re looking for something even smaller than what this list offers, maybe you'll be interested in our rankings for solar bird bath fountains.
February 18, 2019:
We did our best to include a variety of styles and flow capacities on our list. For those who like the ideal of a self-contained unit that doesn't require the purchase of any extra components, we have selected the Laguna PowerJet 600, Zomma Solar, and RoadTech Solar. If you already have a sprinkler head or waterfall setup and just need to move water to it, you can go with the Tetra Pond 26587, Homasy 400GPH, or Aquagarden Pennington 1053010. All of them can move at least 300 gallons per hour, which should be enough for most needs. If you have a small indoor water feature, the compact Homasy 80 or PonicsPump PP06605, should be considered. Finally, if you are unsure of exactly how much water you need to move and are worried about getting something too powerful, the Laguna PowerJet 600, Homasy 400GPH, and Aquagarden Pennington 1053010 all allow you to adjust the flow rate to suit your needs.