HOW TO INCREASE POND FILTRATION WITHOUT BUYING A NEW FILTER

Think you filter is too small? Do your fish have recurring health problems? Is your pond water quality not good? Chances are your filtration is not adequate, but that doesn’t mean you have to buy a new filter. If you have limited space or a limited budget, or you just want to get the most from your existing filter, keep reading to find out some simple techniques you can use to get the most out of your filter.

FILTER BASICS

Here are the bare bones basics that every pond owner should know about filtration.  For more information on filtration see Filtration Advice.

There are 3 types of filtration – biological, mechanical and chemical filtration. If you have fish in your pond the most important type of filtration is biological (bio-filtration), and that is what will be discussed in this article.

In a nutshell biological filtration is the process where beneficial bacteria break down harmful products (Ammonia) that come from fish waste and decaying plant matter and convert them into much less harmful products (Nitrite). These beneficial bacteria live anywhere in the pond where there is:

1. A surface which they can attach to - rocks, liner, pumps, plants etc

2. Flowing water to supply them with oxygen and nutrients (Ammonia etc) 

Good pond filters are designed to provide these two basics - flowing water from your pump, and surface area provided by sponges, lava rock, filter pads etc. The more surface area a filter has - the more bacteria it can support – which results in better water quality.

MORE SURFACE AREA = MORE BIOFILTRATION = HEALTHIER FISH

WHAT YOU CAN DO

External box filters, waterfall filters and pond skimmers are very popular types of filters. Many of these types of filters come with only a minimum amount of filter media, and they have extra room inside the filter chamber that can be put to better use to increase the biofiltering capacity of the filter.  

Filter pads, bio balls, BioBlox, filter ribbon, lava rock etc are all products that you can add to you existing filter to increase its effectiveness. Which product you add depends on the style filter and personal preference.

·         For example, waterfall filters often come with 1 filter pad and a mesh bag in which lava rock is placed. Adding more lava rock is will work fine, but it is heavy and awkward to work with when it comes time to rinse it, plus it doesn’t provide as much effective surface area as some of the other products.  A better choice would be to add 1 or 2 more filter pads, or mesh bags filled with bioballs of bio blocks.

Some filters don’t allow you to add more filter media. Pressurized filters or in-pond submerged filters aren’t usually designed with much empty space where you can add more filter media. But that doesn’t mean you still can’t increase the filtration in your pond. Bacteria aren’t that fussy where they live. As long as you provide them with the 2 basic necessities: flowing water and surface area, they will grow anywhere in the pond. Mesh bags filled with bio balls or bio blox placed at the base of a waterfall, in a stream, or even next to your pump or an airstone in the bottom of the pond can provide the extra filtration you need.

OTHER DO'S & DON'TS

Increase the flow to your filter. If water is just trickling through your filter it is not likely working as effectively as it could be. Increasing the flow to the approximate maximum flow rate recommended by the filter manufacturer will get the best results. Ideally you want to have the volume of your pond circulating through your filter once every 1 to 2 hours  

·         For example, if you have a 1000 gallon pond, you should have a minimum of 500 gallons per hour (GPH) to 1000 GPH flowing through you filter.

USE ONLY FISH SAFE MATERIALS. Although this seems like a ‘no brainer’, it is very important to use only fish safe or food grade materials in your pond. Although products such as furnace filters and dehumidifier pads may look like the perfect filter media, they are sometimes coated with harmful chemicals to prevent mould or fungus or are made from material that is not fish friendly.

If you do need to buy a new filter for you pond – find the model that is recommended for your pond then buy the next size bigger. Bigger is always better in pond filtration. You can’t have too big a filter for your pond, larger filters have more surface area and they don’t have to be cleaned as often (which means less work for you). Although filters can be expensive - when compared to the cost of replacing several large koi that have died due to poor water quality - they are well worth it. Filters do come in a range of prices, generally the less expensive filter do work well, but require more work when it comes to cleaning them. Often, the more expensive filters are much easier to clean and take much less time providing more time for you to enjoy your pond.

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