Pond filter
Why do i need a pond filter you may ask, well if you do not, fish waste will soon
"contaminate" the water, also sunlight will accelerate the growth of
algae turning your pond into "pea soup"
To operate a filter you need to have a pump to circulate the water. We will
assume you have one. The easiest type of filter to run is the "box
type" basically your pump should be at one end of the pond sitting
just off the bottom and the filter should be at the other, sitting just on the
edge. The reason for this is so that you actually filter all the water in the
pond not just a "pocket" between the filter and pump.
When you look inside a box filter you will see some coloured sponge layers
and usually some type of "media". The sponge layers are of different
grades the most course being at the top. This is for mechanical filtration.
Under the sponge layers the media will, after quite some time be colonised by
bacteria, these bacteria break down the fish waste and make it harmless.
You should clean the sponge layers as and when required, use pond water not
tap water to do this, since the chlorine content of tap water will kill the
bacteria.
Where you Actually site the filter is up to you. Some people camouflage them
or you can hide it out of site elsewhere. If you choose to bury your filter you
may do so but do not put it below the pond water level. There are now some
filters which are pressurised and ARE designed to be buried at or below the pond
water level.
Ulta-Violet clarifiers (or u.v. sterilises they are also known) are basically
an ultraviolet lamp (NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT ONE WHEN LIT) in a quartz sleeve
encased in a tube. Water is passed through them from the pump in the pond then
into the filter. They cause micro bacteria to clump together which then become
too big to pass through the filter system hence they are removed. When a filter
and u.v are used together you should get crystal clear water.
Filters
should be left running 24 / 7 since it takes some time to build up the
bacteria and switching it off will mean you will kill them and the initial
switch on will there for pollute the water with dead bacteria. This applies even
during the winter, yes the bacteria will not multiply but they will not die
either, if you do let them die over winter, you will dumping a load of dead
bodies into the pool when you switch on in spring. You can switch off your UV
though, and if you do this you should actually remove it to prevent ice build up
from damaging the quartz sleeve. If you have a noisy filter* you may also want
to read this (*Filter can appear to be more noisy
in winter due to the lower background noise)
Not sure how big your filter should be then see here
The above is only intended as a guide and you should always refer to the
manufacturers instructions for size of filter and flow rates. Koi need even more
filtration, we suggest that that you consult a specialist if you intend on
keeping koi (It's not that we do not know its just that it would take several
pages to explain) for more information regarding koi we suggest the British
Koi Keepers Society (click the link)
Although this filter set up is very
common, you may also wish to read this