Choosing a Filter for a Fish Pond

Fish ponds get dirty – this is a fact of life. Food goes into the pond, and waste comes out of the fish. In nature, a pond might be fed by a stream of moving water, and this would aerate and purify the water. In a small household pond, a pond owner may sometimes need to rely on a fish pond filter to ensure that the pond is clean and healthy for fish.

Natural Filters for Ponds

While most people think of a machine when they think of a pond filter, the most common pond filter is nature itself. Many water plants naturally remove toxins from the water. Creating a small grey water wetland can help clean pond water.

Buying a Mechanical Filter for a Pond

For those who are looking for more help with filtration or simply have no space for wetland plants, a mechanized pond filter will help clean the water. The most important part of choosing a filter is to determine the size of the space it will need to clean. What is the capacity of the pond? If the water feature has just been installed, look on the information about the pond lining to determine the capacity. If the pond has been there for a long time, determine the depth, width, and length of the water body.

Pond Filtration Needs Also Depend on the Number of Fish

Count the fish in the pond and consider the size of those fish when buying a filter for the pond. How often and how much do these fish eat? Both the food waste and the fecal matter in a pond will also determine the filtration needs of that pond.

Gravity Flow Filters for Fish Ponds

The simplest and least expensive filtration option for a pond is the gravity flow filter. This filter is suitable for small, back or front yard ponds. The filter works by collecting and trapping the algae and other detritus. Beneficial bacteria turn the decomposing organic matter into nitrogen, and the algae in the filter eat the nitrogen. This removes both algae and nitrogen from the pond water.

Pressurized Filters Add Power to Pond Filtration

Pressurized filters are also appropriate for the small pond. These filters are tiny and very efficient. They are beloved of the gardener with little space, since they can be located underground or away from the pond. Unlike the gravity flow filter, the pressurized filter does need a high pressure pump.

Ultra Violet Clarifier Filters Remove Algae

Add fish and their food to a pond, and soon enough there will be nitrogen to spare. Nitrogen is known as a fertilizer, and in the pond it fertilizes the algae. Algal blooms are a common problem in ponds, particularly in the summer. An Ultra Violet Clarifier or UVC will help remove pond algae. Many filters come with this feature, but look for it to ensure that it is part of the pond filtration package.

Those who maintain a healthy pond also maintain the health of the bugs, fish, birds, and plants in that pond. Good water flow and pond filtration are an essential part of maintaining healthy pond life. There are many ways to filter the water in a pond: natural plant filters, gravity filters, and pressurized pond filters. Choose the one suitable for the pond budget and the one that best supports pond health.