Pond Filters

A Filter for Your Garden Pond

Your garden pond is a standing body of water. If left unfiltered it will inevitably accumulate dirt, get murky, grow algae and start to smell. A stagnant backyard pond is a breeding ground for fish-killing bacteria and insects. Using a pond filter will help maintain the water quality by removing algae, bad bacteria, fish waste and sediment.

Pond filters are designed to catch waste, debris, and other harmful components found in your pond. They also protect your koi and other pond fish from ammonia, algae, nitrites, parasites, and bad bacteria. Filters also cut down on pond maintenance time. Without a filter, your pond will need weekly or monthly cleaning.

There are many different types of pond filters available in the market today. Make sure you know exactly what type of pond filter you need so that you do not end up wasting money on the wrong type of filter. Some of the types of filters available are:

1. Basket filters which are the most common
2. UV filters which employ UV light to kill harmful micro-organisms such as algae
3. Bio filters that are effective in purifying the water from fish waste.

Before buying a pond filter, there are some things that you have to consider. One is the size of the pond; pond filters are generally listed with information about how many gallons of water per minute or hour that they can re-circulate. The ideal pond filter should be able to re-circulate at least 50% of a pond's water in an hour. Another consideration is the number of fish in your pond; more fish means more waste. A large pond with a large fish population will naturally need a bigger filter that can handle more waste and debris.

Another consideration is ease of maintenance. Pond filters require regular maintenance and cleaning according to the schedule provided by the manufacturer. Pond filters that are submersible in water are usually harder to clean, while pond filters that are installed outside of the pond are easier access, making them generally easier to maintain.

If budget is a consideration in choosing a pond filter try to avoid the temptation to buy a cheap pond filter. You might think you are doing well for your budget but in the long run you are wasting your money because the cheaper ones break more easily; the pricier filters more durable. It makes more sense to watch for a sale or shop around to buy a better filter on sale or at a discount.

A pond filter running 24 hours a day will keep your backyard pond clean and cut down on time spent maintaining your pond. It will help increase the life expectancy for koi and goldfish by providing them a clean, healthy environment, and you will have the viewing pleasure of a crystal clear pond.