About fish pond filters
Sponsored links
For every
pond that has been set up there has to be a
filtration system incorporated into the
design to keep the water fresh and free from harmful contaminants. There are many too choose from on the market and all different sizes to suit different ponds. Indeed, many
pond keepers have become skilled enough to make their own
filters. Hopefully by answering the following questions, it should be clear which
filters are required and why they are necessary.
Do I need a pond filter and what methods does it use?
The
answer to this question is “yes” if you are planning to keep fish you need a
filter with no exceptions to run a successful
pond. If you are looking at a natural wildlife
pond, then sometimes it is not required. The plant life in the
pond will soak up any
nitrates present in the water.
As well as filtering the water mechanically (particles are removed as they pass through a set of sponges), it also converts any
ammonia that is created by fish waste and rotting vegetation into
nitrates by hosting beneficial
bacteria that do the work.
How do I know which size filter I need for my pond?
The size of the
filter required is rated by the size of the
pond. Any
filter used should be capable of turning over the total water
volume of your
pond every 1 to 2 hours. It is virtually impossible to over
filter your
pond, especially if your stocking level is high. So if you have a
pond that contains 500 litres, your
filter should be capable of turning over at least 500 litres per hour. If the
pond has a few fish with lots of
plants then a 500 litre
pond will probably only need a
filter that is capable or turning over 300 litres per hour.
What types of filters are available?
There are basically three main types of
filter available for ponds.
- Gravity return filters
The set up in these requires a pump that feeds the water from the pond up to the filter and then the water is returned by means of gravity. The only drawback with these is the fact that the filter needs to be higher than the water level of the pond for it to work efficiently. - Pressure filters
These are ideal for the smaller ponds as the water is fed into the filter via a pump and leaves the filter under pressure as the filter is a sealed unit. These take up less space and can be positioned anywhere. - Gravity fed filters
The gravity fed filter is often used in large Koi ponds, the water is fed to the filter by means of drains in the bottom of the pond and then pumped back into the pond afterwards. These are very complex and usually fitted by experts.
What is a mechanical filter?
A mechanical
filter is purely used for removing particles and debris from the water. The
filter will contain varying grades of sponges to perform this task. These are sometimes used in very small ponds and do not take up a lot of space.
How do I set up the pond filter?
With any bought
pond filter there will be a
pump that will feed the
filter, this needs to be placed below the water surface at all times. By the means of piping this will be connected to the
filter inlet. The
filter box needs to be placed at the side of the
pond; with some models they can be submerged in the ground to hide them. If the
filter is a gravity return, remember it needs to be higher than the water level of the
pond. The water is then returned to the
pond by more piping.
Fish pond filters

Fish pond and pond plants

Fish pond pump
How will I know if the pump is too strong for the size of my pond?
Any
pump will have its rating on the packaging, or even on the
pump itself. The rating will be displayed in litres or gallons per hour. The
filter that is being used with the
pump should also display a rating the same, if both
pump and
filter match the same rating, there will be no problem.
Why isn’t my pond filter working properly?
Normally the
filter will stop working when there is a blockage, this is normally inside the
filter as the sponges get clogged with debris. In the summer months when the
filter is running 24/7 checks should be made on a regular basis to make sure the
filter is working fine. If the sponges are blocked, rinse them out in old
pond water- never use tap water to do this.
Check the piping for a blockage, the use of stiff wires pushed down the pipes will move any debris that is jammed.
If the
filter is clear and the piping isn’t blocked then it has to be the
pump that has broken down. There is only one action to take in this scenario, buy a replacement.
Is my fountain acting as a filter?
This depends on the fountain; certain models will have a small sponge
filter built into them but not all models. The main uses for a fountain are for display reasons and to keep the water well oxygenated.
What is a natural water filter in a pond?
This is where a mini ecosystem is created in the
pond and the balance of the
pond is as near perfect as possible. This will take a lot longer to run properly and a lot harder to get right. Lots of
plants are added to the
pond; at least 2/3 of the
pond will be
planted. The
plants will then act as the
filter along with any
bacteria in the water, soaking up any toxins in the
pond that are produced by fish waste or rotting debris.
If my water gets polluted how do I clear it?
If the
pond water is polluted from outside sources by chemicals or like wise, act quickly to remove it. Large water changes should be performed and add a commercial
filter carbon into the
filtration system to soak up any toxins. Once the toxins have been absorbed, remove the
carbon and perform another water change.
Can I make my own pond filter?
It is quite an easy task to build your own
filter without too much hassle. Basically a
filter is a box with separate chambers for the
media. Keeping this in mind all you need is two chambers that can be converted rain barrels, old dustbins, and plastic storage boxes, whatever you have in hand. In the first chamber place some sponges or brushes to act as debris catchers for the mechanical
filtration, and in the second chamber add some bio balls or lava
rock to perform the biological
filtration. Drill the sides of the chambers and join together with piping, add piping to the side of the first chamber to connect the
pump to. Add piping to the side of the second chamber to add return piping and you now have a complete
filter.
Will a filter net prevent large debris blocking the filter system?
This is exactly what the nets are for. On a regular basis gather up debris from the surface of the water, some of the larger particles will clog your
filter if they reach it. This is particularly important in the autumn as leaves fall from the trees and any shrubbery around the
pond cast their foliage. Covering the
pond with a purpose made net will also prevent a lot of the debris falling into the
pond.
Is there a kit available to set up a small pond?
There are various kits available that contain all you need for
setting up a small
pond. It will contain the
filter,
pump and in some cases the
liner that is used to create the
pond. Often this is the cheapest way of
setting up as everything is rated to the size of the
pond and if purchased as one unit a discount is given. Prices do vary a lot between the suppliers so
shop around for the best bargain.
About fish pond filters
has been viewed times since June 30, 2009.
Share you thoughts, use as many words as possible! You may share your experiences, review products and basically write about anything what's directly related to this article. Please note, that questions will not be answered, nor published! All comments are held for approval.
You cannot use URLs in your comments (such comments won't pass our spam protection)! Subscribe to our
RSS and be notified when your comment becomes visible. If you want to ask, use
forum.aqua-fish.net instead!
Check out the most popular articles on our site!