In this article we will discuss methods of pond filtration and how they work. Future articles will discuss specific manufacturers and which pond filtration products are suited to various size ponds.

Aquatic Connections Online Store and Retail Water Garden Center carry a wide variety of pond filtration products by various manufacturers because every pond is unique. It is important to decide on the size and depth of your pond when considering methods of pond filtration. All pond filtration products are manufactured with specific pond sizes in mind. Every product will indicate the gallons of water or gallons per hour that it is meant to be used for. It is important to size your pump and pond filtration accordingly. You do not want to buy pond filtration products that are incapable of effectively filtering the amount of water in your pond. It’s better to go with a little extra than to underestimate the size. The pond filtration products found in Aquatic Connections Online Store are listed by the size of the pond to help you make an informed buying decision.

Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not you are going to have aquatic plants and how many fish you want to have in your pond. These are a few of the key factors in determining which method of pond filtration will work for you. Aquatic plants actually are quite helpful in controlling algae problems and help provide additional pond filtration, therefore keeping your pond water clear. On the other hand, overstocking your pond with too many fish can promote algae problems and other water quality issues which put a strain on your pond filtration. Please reference the Facts & Formulas and FAQ’s sections of Aquatic Connections website for additional information.

One more thing to consider when choosing your method of pond filtration is how much time and effort are you willing to put into maintaining your pond? There are still pond filtration products on the market that require the customer to have to get into the pond to clean the filter. The industry has realized that this is not a convenient way for homeowners to clean their ponds, and over the last several years great strides have been made in creating customer friendly pond filtration products. Skimmers have become an increasingly popular way to house the pond’s pump and filter the pond water. Pressurized pond filters are available for most ponds and is another form of pond filtration. All types of pond filtration products can be found in Aquatic Connections Online Store and at the Retail Water Garden Center and descriptions of their uses are listed.

In order to make an educated buying decision, you should have an understanding of each method of pond filtration that is available. Let’s start with the two basic types of pond filtration and how they work. Mechanical pond filtration is achieved simply by having the pond water flow through foam pads in a filter box. The debris and particles in the pond water are captured in the pads, making the water look clear. Biological pond filtration goes a step further. Biological filters usually have foam pads, but also have some other form of filter media such as lava rock, bioballs, or springflo filter media. Beneficial bacteria grows on this filter media and as the pond water passes through it, toxins are removed from the water. This process is known as the Nitrification Cycle. Biological pond filtration occurs when the beneficial bacteria convert waste material, composed mainly of ammonia, into beneficial nitrates, which fertilize plant life. Biological pond filtration works in a three-step process. First, the fish release waste product into the pond water. The contaminated water flows through the filter with the aid of a pump and is forced through the biological media. The beneficial bacteria present on the media absorb the toxins and release nitrates (plant fertilizer) back into the pond water. The more bacteria present, the better the pond filtration. The beneficial bacteria need oxygen to survive and they get this from the pond water. Oxygen is absorbed into the water through aeration caused by waterfalls, streams and fountains. It is important to keep your pump and biological filter running 24/7, or the beneficial bacteria will die from lack of oxygen.

Aquatic Connections recommends using a combination of mechanical and biological pond filtration methods to help keep your pond water clear and well-balanced. Even the smallest ponds will benefit from having both. For larger ponds, additional types of pond filtration can be utilized to maximize water clarity as well as ease of maintenance.

Give your pond filtration a boost by adding a plant bog. The wonderful thing about a plant bog is that it can be built at the same time as the rest of the pond, or it can be built later as an addition to the pond. A plant bog consists of a shallow area (8 to 12 inches deep) that is dug out adjacent to the pond , covered with liner and filled with pea gravel. If this bog is an addition to an existing pond, make sure that you properly seam the two pieces of liner together. The bog should sit slightly higher than the surface of the pond water so there is a small spillway back into the pond. Perforated tubing is laid through the gravel pit and it is then planted with various marginal or bog plants (plants that like to get their roots wet but do not like deep water). Your pump will move the pond water gently through tubing laid in the bog, back into the main body of the pond and then through your mechanical and biological pond filtration.

Many customers feel that they need to use a UV Sterilizer in their pond to get better pond filtration. Truth or Myth? At Aquatic Connections, we believe that it depends on the individual pond. Years ago, before skimmers and biofalls, Aquatic Connections used to put UV Sterilizers in most of the ponds it installed. Today’s belief is that a well balanced aquatic ecosystem, complete with aquatic plants, an appropriate number of fish and a properly sized pond filtration system can eliminate the need for a UV Sterilizer. The display ponds at our Retail Water Garden Center are proof. Only the 9000 gallon Koi Pond has UV Sterilizers, and all of the ponds are in full sun. Aquatic Connections will recommend one, however, if it is known that there will be a heavy fish load or if the homeowner can’t seem to get rid of a persistent algae problem.

So here’s the low down on how UV Sterilizers work and how they can be an added feature to your existing pond filtration. Ultraviolet sterilization means killing or rendering harmless microorganisms in your pond water. These microorganisms can range from bacteria and viruses to algae. Most people want to add UV Sterilizers to their pond filtration because they have a problem with algae in their pond. Ultraviolet sterilization is an immediate treatment process, killing the bacteria, viruses, protozoa and green water algae as the pond water passes through the unit. This is accomplished through the conversion of electrical energy in a low pressure mercury vapor "hard glass" quartz lamp. Electrons flow through the ionized mercury vapor between the electrodes of the lamp, which then creates UV light. As UV light penetrates through the cell wall, it causes a molecular rearrangement of the microorganism's DNA, which prevents it from reproducing. If the cell cannot reproduce, it is considered dead. Pre-filtration is a must on all UV applications to effectively destroy microorganisms. The UV Sterilizer should be placed in between your pond filter and where the water enters back into the pond (waterfall). Keep in mind a UV Sterilizer can not distinguish between harmful bacteria and beneficial bacteria. You will be killing some of the bacteria that is good for your pond. Aquatic Connections does not recommend turning your UV sterilizer on when you first establish your pond. A few weeks are needed to let enough beneficial bacteria to build up on your biological filter so that your pond can cycle or balance itself. UV Sterilizers come in various wattages which are specific to the size of your pond. A similar product is a UV Clarifier. It can be added to your existing pond filtration in the same manner as a UV Sterilizer. A UV Clarifier is does not have as strong a bulb inside as a UV Sterilizer. Also, less pond water passes through the UV Clarifier with less force, therefore, not really sterilizing the water. A UV Clarifier will kill green water algae in the pond but not parasites. The UV Sterilizers and Clarifiers available in Aquatic Connections Online Store and at the Retail Water Garden Center are sized by wattage and each one indicates what the gallons of your pond and flow rate of your pump should be.