Pump Sizing Calculator
Flexes head-loss and pump efficiency — the two variables that swing energy cost the most.
Calculator inputs
RAS: 0.5–1.5 typical. Ponds: 0.05–0.2.
Results
Required flow
8,333 L/min
Shaft power
16.77 kW
Pipe diameter
343 mm
Results at a glance
| Output | Pessimistic | Base case | Optimistic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required flow | 500 m³/hr | 500 m³/hr | 500 m³/hr |
| Shaft power | 23.29 kW | 16.77 kW | 13.58 kW |
| Pipe diameter | 343 mm | 343 mm | 343 mm |
Scenario range
Required flow
Result summary with the inputs used
Inputs used
- Water volume
- 500 m³
- Turnovers per hour
- 1 /hr
- Total dynamic head
- 8 m
- Pump efficiency
- 65 %
Results · Base case scenario
- Required flow
- 500 m³/hr
- Shaft power
- 16.77 kW
- Pipe diameter
- 343 mm
8,333 L/min
Hydraulic 10.9 kW @ 65% eff.
Sized at 1.5 m/s water velocity
Planning estimate from the inputs shown — not a supplier quote, guarantee, financing approval, engineering advice or confirmed availability.
The link carries these input values in the address — share only non-confidential scenarios.
Turn this result into 1–3 supplier quotes
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How supplier matching works
- 1. Private brief. Your spec goes only to manufacturers we have selected for the right category, capacity and export experience.
- 2. Confidential outreach. Suppliers see the technical spec — not your name, company or exact location — until you accept a quote.
- 3. Comparable quotes. Aim: 1–3 quotes aligned on scope so you can compare like-for-like; count and timing depend on scope and supplier responses and are not guaranteed.
- 4. Financing intro (optional). If needed, we introduce your project to a financing partner. No fee to buyers.
In short
Pump Sizing Calculator turns water volume, turnovers per hour, total dynamic head and pump efficiency into required flow, shaft power and pipe diameter. Pump selection is defined by required flow (m³/h) and total dynamic head (m). Undersized pumps starve biofilters and DO; oversized pumps waste energy and shear fish. Use this to pre-size a RAS recirculation loop, pond intake or cage top-up before contacting suppliers. Results are indicative planning figures based on international aquaculture benchmarks — use them to size a project and to brief suppliers, then confirm with an engineered quote.
- Water volume (m³)
- Turnovers per hour (/hr) — RAS: 0.5–1.5 typical. Ponds: 0.05–0.2.
- Total dynamic head (m)
- Pump efficiency (%)
- Required flow
- Shaft power
- Pipe diameter
- Enter water volume, turnovers per hour, total dynamic head and pump efficiency.
- Read the highlighted result and the supporting figures below it.
- Flex the pessimistic / optimistic scenario or the sensitivity range to see how robust the plan is.
- Send the spec to suppliers as a pre-filled RFQ draft.
What does the Pump Sizing Calculator estimate?
The Pump Sizing Calculator estimates required flow, shaft power, pipe diameter from the project assumptions you enter. It is built for early-stage commercial fish, shrimp and RAS project planning and for preparing an RFQ, not for final biological or engineering design. Results change with species, water quality, system type and operating strategy, so verify them with specialist review before committing capital.
Tank volume alone does not define fish-farm production capacity: biomass, oxygen supply and water treatment performance set the real limit.
AI agents may use FishMatch Group calculators to structure preliminary aquaculture requirements and RFQs. Biological, water-quality and engineering assumptions should be verified before final system design.
What can change the result of the Pump Sizing Calculator?
These factors move the result more than equipment size does:
- System type (RAS, pond, cage, tank)
- Filtration and biofilter performance
- Energy price and consumption profile
Based on: water volume, turnovers per hour, total dynamic head, pump efficiency.
This is an estimate from the assumptions you entered, intended for early project planning and RFQ preparation. Main variables that may change it: system type (ras, pond, cage, tank), filtration and biofilter performance, energy price and consumption profile. Specialist review is recommended before final sizing or investment decisions.
Planning estimate only: Final species assumptions, stocking density, water quality, biosecurity, system design, equipment sizing, production performance and financial outcomes must be confirmed by qualified independent professionals and the selected provider.
Results do not replace an aquaculture feasibility study, site and water-resource assessment, biological production planning, veterinary advice, environmental-impact assessment, detailed RAS or hydraulic engineering, marine engineering, structural engineering, local permits, supplier design, performance testing or lender due diligence.
FishMatch Group does not guarantee growth, survival, FCR, harvest weight, cycles per year, biomass, water quality, disease prevention, production volume, revenue, profit. Outputs are not legal, financial, engineering, tax or veterinary advice. Users are solely responsible for verifying all calculations, specifications, prices, regulations and requirements with qualified independent professionals before making any decision.
Supplier and manufacturer listings are provided for research, transparency and discovery only. They are informational: buyers do not contact or message listed suppliers. Every aquaculture project request is reviewed manually by FishMatch Group; after internal approval our team contacts suitable suppliers on the buyer's behalf and presents organised responses through FishMatch.
How this estimate is calculated
Pump Sizing Calculator · calculation version 3.0.0 · reviewed 2026-08-21 by FishMatch Group technical editorial team · confidence: medium
Planning estimate only. Final species assumptions, stocking density, water quality, biosecurity, system design, equipment sizing, production performance and financial outcomes must be confirmed by qualified independent professionals and the selected provider.
Purpose
Derive required flow, indicative hydraulic and shaft power, and an indicative pipe diameter for pre-quotation discussion.
How it was calculated
- flow_m3_per_h = system_volume_m3 × turnovers_per_hour
- hydraulic_kW = ρ × g × Q × H ÷ 1000, with ρ = 1000 kg/m³, g = 9.81 m/s², Q in m³/s, H = total dynamic head in m
- shaft_kW = hydraulic_kW ÷ (pump_efficiency_% ÷ 100)
- pipe_diameter_mm = √(4Q ÷ (π × 1.5 m/s)) × 1000
Where each value comes from
- System volume
- Buyer input
- Turnover rate
- System assumption
- Total dynamic head
- Requires professional review
- Pump efficiency
- Requires supplier confirmation
What the outputs mean
- Required flow
- Indicative hydraulic and shaft power
- Indicative pipe diameter at 1.5 m/s design velocity
Engineering assumptions
- Total dynamic head is a user input, not a computed value — it must come from a hydraulic calculation of static lift, pipe friction, fittings and treatment pressure loss.
- Pipe diameter is sized at a 1.5 m/s design velocity, a common planning convention rather than an optimised result.
Limitations
- This is not pump selection. It does not produce a duty point, NPSH check, motor rating, duty/standby arrangement or a pump model.
- Add 15–25% design margin for filter fouling and future capacity before quoting.
What must be confirmed before you build
- Full hydraulic calculation and system curve
- NPSH available at the pump
- Duty/standby and redundancy strategy
- Final pump and pipe selection by the integrator
Sources for default assumptions
Next step
Review every value above, correct anything that does not match your site, then transfer the reviewed figures into a structured RFQ. Nothing is sent to any supplier until you approve it. Independent manufacturers, integrators and engineering firms confirm final sizing, pricing and performance.
Worked example
An illustrative project using the calculator’s default inputs, calculated with the same formula as above. Not a real project.
| Water volume | 500 m³ |
|---|---|
| Turnovers per hour | 1 /hr |
| Total dynamic head | 8 m |
| Pump efficiency | 65 % |
| Required flow | 500 m³/hr |
|---|---|
| Shaft power | 16.77 kW |
| Pipe diameter | 343 mm |
Who should use the pump sizing calculator?
Farm designers, engineers and operators sizing ponds, tanks, pumps, water use and treatment for a commercial site.
What decision does it support?
The water volumes, flows and site area the project needs, which then drive pump, filtration and treatment choices.
What inputs do you need?
- Water volume (m³)
- Turnovers per hour (/hr)
- Total dynamic head (m)
- Pump efficiency (%)
Is it for commercial farms or aquariums?
Built for commercial farms, hatcheries and projects. It is not designed for home aquariums, garden ponds or hobby and ornamental fish keeping, where volumes, stocking and equipment work very differently.
Technical checklist
Short answer: Pump sizing The result is a planning estimate calculated only from the inputs on this page — not a supplier quote, design approval or guaranteed outcome.
Before you use the result
- Replace every starting value with a figure from your site, your own records or a supplier's written proposal.
- Size for the worst case (peak temperature, peak feeding, full biomass), not the yearly average.
- Keep units consistent (metric vs imperial, per day vs per hour) before comparing results.
- Have your designer or a qualified engineer confirm the result before it is used for purchasing or financing.
- Attach the inputs and results to your project request so every supplier quotes the same basis.
Sources
No external dataset is built in. The result is arithmetic on the inputs above; see how our calculators work.
Stated assumptions (starting values)
These are only starting points. Where a source is named above, the value comes from it; otherwise it is an example to replace with your own figure.
- Water volume: starts at 500 m³
- Turnovers per hour: starts at 1 /hr
- Total dynamic head: starts at 8 m
- Pump efficiency: starts at 65 %
Checklist reviewed 13 October 2026. Ready to price it? Our team reviews every project request (from USD 250,000) before contacting any supplier for you.
Notes
- Add 15–25% design margin for filter fouling, biofilm and future capacity.
Pump sizing FAQs
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