Choosing Pond Filter Media

A bio pond filter is one of the many different types of pond media available. Your bio filter will work using bacteria that break down the harmful chemicals in your pond, and then releasing less harmful materials. A bio filter will help keep your pond crystal clear and your fish healthy. The most common bio filters are small plastic balls that are added to the filter using a mesh bag, these are a very popular koi pond filter media due to their high surface area. You may want to take the balls out occasionally to clean them to ensure they keep working properly.

You can also choose an open cell foam block as your filter media. The foam block will maintain the chemical balance in your pond by catching larger particles and enhancing the biological filtration process. You can choose a foam block that is made to fit your filter, which will reduce the amount of particles that bypass the filtration system.

Carbon can also be used as pond media, it is great for removing organic and especially chemical contaminants. Carbon can be purchased in large buckets, providing enough activated carbon to treat up to 1,000 gallons of water. Typically, you will need two cups of carbon for every 200 gallons of water that you need to treat. You will need to replace the carbon once every 2 months. Carbon is very simple to use. You simply need to put the carbon into a mesh bag, then place it in the filter or under the pond’s waterfall.

Mechanical filtration is needed for most ponds, in addition to bio filters. You will need to change the filter mat in your pond as needed, usually about once every couple of months. In larger ponds, the filter may need to be changed more often.

No matter which types of fish pond filter media you use, it is vital that you choose a filter that is large enough to keep the water clean and the chemical balance in check. The size of the pond filter should be based on the volume of water. Larger, outdoor ponds will need a substantially larger filter than an indoor aquarium. Also, ponds that receive full sunlight will need a larger filter, simply because the abundance of sunlight will increase the algae content in your pond.

Your filtration system will work as a unit to create a clean, healthy pond. Your mechanical filtration unit helps to remove larger particles using a block or mat style filter, while your bio filters will assist in changing the chemicals released by your fish and plants into chemicals that are safe for your pond. Your filtration system is vital to the health of your fish and plants, making it vital to use a combination of both mechanical and bio or chemical filters.