There is more room for creating a Koi pond than simply digging a hole in the backyard and filling it with water. Although the idea of spending countless hours enjoying a private paradise at home is attractive, care should be taken to prevent this dream from becoming a nightmare. Unlike swimming pools, which can be easily maintained by adding chlorine, the backyard fish pond is the ecosystem itself. Without a steady source of fresh water, this environment needs to be maintained in order to provide healthy water for Koi and other pond fish.
When designing any type of water in the backyard, several important areas should be considered. Probably the most important of these factors is pond filtration. A suitable pond filter serves for critical roles. The first of these roles, mechanical filtration, includes the removal of fish waste, leaves, and other debris from the pond water. Without a filter, this garbage will soon begin to deteriorate in the pond and lead to a deterioration in water quality. This poor water quality will lead to parasitic outbreaks, fish diseases, and in extreme cases - to the death of Koi fish.
The second role of the pond filter is known as biological filtration. This explains why many pond filters are commonly called biofilters. This type of filtration involves the creation of a sufficient medium to facilitate the nitrification process. In short, this process is associated with the conversion of ammonia, which is toxic to fish, nitrite and extremely nitrates. To achieve this process, many biofilters use media designed to provide high surface area. This surface area provides the ideal environment for favorable bacterial growth.
Often ignored as a “rich human passion,” the recent growth in the popularity of gardening and koi conservation has led to the emergence of several commercial pond filtration systems that can fit almost any budget. With so many options available; however, it may be difficult for many new pond owners to determine the best Koi pond filter for their specific needs. Many pond filters are calculated on the basis of the total volume of water in the pond (gallons) or the storage rate of the fish (total fish weight). In varying degrees, all these systems tend to offer both bio-and mechanical filtration.
To minimize costs, many new pond owners try to build their own pond filters using 55 gallon drums, old Rubbermaid containers, or even old paint sprayers. These homemade pond filters can perform adequate work for small ponds with low harvesting speeds, but they are often difficult to maintain and, as a rule, inefficient when used in large pools. In many cases, the owners of DIY filter ponds are extremely determined to switch to a commercial pond filter system for several years, once they are tired of the daily maintenance required for most DIY filter projects.
In the US, there are four types of commercial pond filter available to hobbyists. These options include pressure filters, sequential filters, moving bed filters and bead filters. Below is a brief overview of the features inherent in each of these systems.
Pressure filters
Pressure filters, which are similar to canister filters commonly used in aquariums, are a popular choice for small fish ponds and water gardens. Many of these systems have a built-in ultraviolet brightener that helps to achieve clean water, preventing algae from blooming. Some of these systems are also offered with a submersible pump, which is an added convenience for the owner of the pond. Laguna ClearFlo filters, which include a biofilter, UV and pump, are one example of this type of filter.
Sequential filters
Sequential filters mainly work because water passes through a sequence of chambers, with each chamber having a different type of biological environment. When water passes through each chamber, the debris is removed, biological filtration is achieved, and the water is polished on the way back to the pond. Matala Filter Media, a biologically dedicated product specifically designed for use in open ponds for fish, is commonly used for many of these systems.
Filters for moving beds
Mobile bed filters usually use floating biologicals that float in water. This carrier is stored in a chamber that is connected to an air pump. This air pump is then used to push a constant stream of oxygen into the chamber, which constantly keeps the carrier moving. This oxygen-rich environment with a high surface area creates an ideal environment for the nitrification process, which results in excellent water quality.
Beaded filters
Also known as pressurized pressure filters, on the outside these systems resemble sand and gravel filters commonly used to achieve clean water in pools. From the inside; However, bead filters are very different. Designed specifically for use in Koi ponds, these systems use biological agents to provide maximum surface area for favorable bacterial growth, as well as to remove small particles from your water from the pond. Offering a compact design and ease of maintenance, these systems are extremely popular for use in large Koi high-load pools.
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