When it comes to aquatics, the wide variety of pond filters available can be overwhelming. The filter’s media is the component that does the actual work of keeping beneficial bacteria in check.
Different sizes, densities, and forms are available. Some seem like tiny plastic balls, while others are cylindrical, spherical, or even spiral in shape. Pond owners may feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of available options.
To make things a little less daunting, we’ll go over the many types of pond filters, which ponds they work best in, and important information about them.
What Role Does A Pond Filter Play?
The primary function of a quality pond filter system is to purify the pond water so that aquatic life and plants can thrive in it.
When keeping fish or other fauna in a pond, a filter is needed to keep the water clean and healthy for the them. When installed in a pond, filters remove not floating trash or harmful substances that could otherwise poison your aquatic plants and animals.
Pond Filtration Methods
One can classify filtration as mechanical or physical, and another as biological, or living. Algae, leaves, and other big waste are filtered out by a mechanical system.
Beneficial bacteria can thrive in an environment created by biological filtration. Algae blooms are avoided because of the work of beneficial microorganisms, which eliminate the surplus nutrients that trigger them.
Below are some common filtration methods:
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Box
This filter design has been around for quite some time and is still widely used today. They require little effort to use and keep in good working order but can get dirty (which is part of the fun, right?).
When the pump’s strength is excessive, water will overflow from the container (emptying your pond in the process). These pumps need to be situated in the deepest part of the pond or at the peak of the waterfall (if no waterfall is present).
These filters return water to the pond after passing it via sponges at the intake, a UV sterilizer in the back, and bio medium.
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Koi
Comparable to box filters, but with additional customization options. Thanks to their modular design, these can accommodate ponds with a volume of 10,000 – 20,000 litres.
UV kits and pumps are not normally sold together with modifiable items, but rating the products to the filters is simple to achieve maximal filtering.
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UV
Tired of dealing with water problems caused by the environment? Today, ultraviolet (UV) lamps are standard in most systems. The question then becomes, “So what?”
These bulbs effectively kill parasites, bacteria, and algae in suspension. A UV sterilizer is not the same as a UV clarifier. Only the color green can be controlled using a clarifier, and exposure times are limited.
Due to the prolonged exposure time, sterilizers are effective against more resistant bacteria and parasites.
The filter mass should always come before the ultraviolet light source so that any decaying matter is sucked up by the filter rather than being released back into the water supply.
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All In One
This is the perfect size for garden ponds having led light strip bulk for added beauty. These filters are suitable for ponds up to 2,000 litres in size with a moderate fish load (excluding koi).
To prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms, some filters use mechanical and biological and UV filtration. Because they have so little available space, bacteria can’t spread easily on their surfaces, therefore they keep very few.
To keep them from getting clogged up and losing efficiency, they need to be serviced often. All of these things can provide enough energy to run a waterfall or fountain. Using the waterfall feature will decrease water flow because of the pumped height, as is the case with all pumps.
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Pressurized
As of 2005, pressurized filters have recently replaced all other filtration methods. The decline in cost has allowed them to compete with cheaper box filters.
Fish pond filters use pressurized water and have their filtering buckets and filtering heads underwater. In most cases, you won’t even need to take the head off and spread out the sponges to clean it; instead, you may use the backwash system and the sponge compression system.
These filters are designed to function even when placed below the water’s surface. They are so powerful that a waterfall can be powered by them even without a top-level filter (as is the case for box filter systems).
Determine Which Pond Filter Media to Use
Filters are fantastic because they take on the unpleasant tasks at hand without grumbling. However, they will require periodic maintenance to remain in top shape.
Cleaning your filters is something everyone should do, but how often is too often? When should you change your filter, and how do you decide between the many different models available?
These are the kinds of questions that can plague a pond owner, but with some help, you’ll soon be an expert.
What Kind of Filter Media to Use
When deciding which media to use and where to put it, it can be challenging to sort through all the alternatives.
A combination of different types of filter media is your best bet for achieving both mechanical and biological filtration. Check out the list of possibilities below to narrow your search:
Standard Density
While standard density media does aid in removing bigger particles by mechanical filtration, its major function is to offer a suitable environment for the growth of beneficial microorganisms.
Bacteria colonize the media fibers, decomposing fish waste and eliminating ammonia and nitrites.
High Density
For ponds with fine sediment, High Density filter media is an excellent choice for mechanical filtration. Filter media with a high density of pores is excellent in capturing even the tiniest dust and dirt particles. This product is able to “polish” the water because of its tightly woven fibers.
Once contaminants are captured, they can be easily flushed away by cleaning the media. If you’re employing filter media with different densities, you should layer them so that water flows from the lowest to the highest density pad.
Conclusion
We hope you found the above guide about pond filter media useful in many ways. A clean pond is the best natural spot to spend some quality time all alone or with your toddlers.
Always remember to use baby strollers around water bodies if you have young ones. Get them by an expert stroller supplier to make sure your children are not roaming freely and secure in their strollers.
Photo by Mohamed Aguizoul: https://www.pexels.com/photo/gray-black-and-orange-duck-swimming-on-body-of-water-68063/
