Koi Pond Filter Systems (UV, Mechanical & Biological)

Biological, UV and mechanical pond filters are just some of the many options available for your pond filtration needs. A mechanical filter will physically remove debris from your pond, a biological filter will use bacteria to convert harmful waste into beneficial nitrates and a UV filter simply traps algae within the filter. Never under size your filter. Factors to consider include the total amount of water in your pond, the type of fish (such as Koi or Goldfish), and if your pond is getting full sun, partial light or shade.

Matching up your filter with correct submersible pond pumps or external pond pumps is very important. Most pond filters can only handle a limited amount of water flow.

Koi Pond Bio Filters

Biological pond filters for your Koi, play an integral role in ensuring the health of your fish. The filtration process works by converting biological waste, such as ammonia, into nitrites and then into nitrates in order to maintain healthy water balance in your pond and get rid of unwanted microbes at the same time.

Bio filters are able to perform this conversion with the help of a media substrate that stimulates growth of beneficial microbes. The nitrates converted from ammonia can also be used by the plants that are residing in your koi pond.

There are several different kinds of filters to choose from with the main ones being pressurized, gravity fed and a waterfall filter. They will contain different media such as bio balls, bio rocks, foam, beads, lava rock, micro media and all sorts of special filter media to house beneficial bacteria. Bottom line is that bio filters are just a place for beneficial bacteria to adhere to some kind of filter media and break down waste and left over food to keep your pond healthy.

UV Pond Filters

Now a days most pressurized filters will have a UV bulb inside the unit. This eliminates the need to have two separate products and can save in cost. Some gravity filters will can also have a UV inside the filter. UV pond filters effectively can help clear the water from free flowing algae know as planktonic algae when sized correctly for the amount of water passing by the ultraviolet light bulb. As the algae cell passes the UV it will destroy the algae cell which will become sticky and clump together getting caught in the filter media of the filter.

A UV is harmless to fish and will only work on free flowing algae traveling through the water. UV Bulbs lose about 50% of it's effectiveness every pond season and then should be replaced every year or when you notice that it is not as effective as it once was.

Mechanical Filters

Mechanical pond filtration systems are argued to be the first line of attack when cleaning koi ponds. The filter physically collects and gets rid of any foreign debris that's in the pond, such as leaves, sticks, fish waste, food particles, and other organic material like muck. This minimizes the amount of dirt and debris that runs through the biological filter thus minimizing its workload.

To perform its job properly, mechanical pond filters have many different ways to catch the unwanted debris. They come in various forms, including sponges, mats, screens, baskets, netting, brushes, and so on. Additionally, you have different mechanical filter media grades, ranging from coarse to extra fine grade. The grade difference indicates what size particles will be allowed to pass through .If you pick a grade to fine then you may have issues with flow going through as debris builds up around the media.

Pressurized Pond Filters

Pressure pond filters .

Small Pond Filters

Koi ponds vary in size and so do the accessories they come with. Small fish pond filters are designed to provide just the right amount of waterflow filtration without taking up too much space in or out of your pond.

You can find an all-in-one kit that combines a filter with a submersible pond pump that is easy to install in DIY fashion and can be less expensive to purchase compared to buying multiple items separately. The draw back is that you will need to periodically need to clean the filter and possibly the pump by getting a little wet while you reach down to grab the small filtration system.

In a smaller pond you will want to turn your water over no less than once every hour and three times and hour is ideal. Fish filters can handle only so much fish load. Overstocking your pond or not taking into consideration of how large your fish may grow over time can lead you into wondering why the filter is not doing it's job. At that point you may need a larger filter or scale back on the amount of fish in your water.

Large Pond Filter Systems

Large pond filters, as the name implies, is designed to cater to larger ponds. The average size of most ponds is around a 10' x 15' pond with a depth of 2'. If your koi pond lies on the bigger end of the spectrum, having the right sized filtration system is key to sufficiently cleaning the water and maintaining your koi's health.

There are two main types of filters to choose from - pressurized versus gravity fed filters. Some pressurized filters can handle up to a 60,000 gallon pond as were a gravity fed filter such as a waterfall filter might only handle up to 8,000 gallons. In some cases there might be a need to have multiple filters to fulfill the requirements of the pond and fish.

KOI POND FILTRATION SYSTEM - FREE HELP AND ADVICE?

At Aquatic Ponds we have a wealth of experience in the fish ponds industry, and provide free advice and technical support to our customers. If you have any questions on any of our Pond Filters, or just want to discuss your water garden project, we always welcome your call at 215-525-1440.