Top tips for pond filter choice and set-up
- Size: decide on fish stocking levels and allow for growth when choosing an appropriate filter system. An oversized filter is better than an undersized one.
- DIY: if constructing your own filter system, use inert materials for the filter chambers and fit a valve to the base of each chamber to drain off debris.
- Area: the approximate water surface area of filters should be around 25 per cent of the pond surface area.
- Flow: aim to circulate all the pond water once every two hours, but make sure that the flow is slow enough for sufficient treatment to occur.
- Pre-filter for chamber set-ups: a vortex pre-filter removes suspended particles before the water enters the filter chambers, for less clogging and cleaning.
- Media: choose media that enable a good flow of water, such as plastic mouldings. Direct water alongside materials such as Japanese matting or reticulated foam.
- Starter bacteria: use a filter starter to introduce essential bacteria to a new set-up, or one that's been out of action for a while.
- Cleaning: don't clean biological filters too thoroughly. Rinse media in pond water and flush away silt but don't scrub, otherwise you'll disturb the colonies of beneficial bacteria.
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