Koi Pond Filter

Koi pond filters are required to keep your koi pond, water garden, or garden pond healthy and clear

Japanese Koi are in my opinion the most beautiful and decorative fish you can keep in an outdoor water garden. Although Koi and a hearty breed of fish, some care must still be taken in order to keep healty Koi. Most important, you need clean, healthy water. A quality and effective Koi Pond filtration system is very important. Waterfalls also provide a built-in bio-filtration benefit by nitrifying bacteria, which becomes embedded on stones. This the same filtration system that occurs nature. The closer your waterfall to mother nature's design you achieve, the better your bio-filtration results will be, resulting in less maintenance, optimum water quality, and overall healthier fish. Often this is still not enough and you will need to purchase a Koi pond filter

Going cheap in regards to filtering equipment may wind up costing you much more later on when you lose some or all of your Koi fish. If you Koi could speak, they would certainly recommend you install a filtering system right the first time, even it if costs a little more to buy the best. You will save yourself both money and frustration.

Anyone who has been around this hobby for anytime will understand when I say that the only thing koi hobbyists enjoy talking about more than koi fish is koi pond filters. Visit a Koi pond rest assured owner to show you his filter system. Having a really good filter system is right up there with having a beautiful show quality fish.

There are several different types of filters

• Mechanical - Skimmer, screens in front of intakes, filtering media, brushes, pump baskets and settling tanks are examples of mechanical filters to name a few. Surface debris is removed using skimmers. Since crud settles, using a bottom drain as a source for intake permits this crud to be removed from the pond to some type of separation chamber.
• Bio-filtration - Responsible for biologically converting organic wastes from animals and plants to water. Since fish release ammonia, then this toxic chemical requires some sort of bio-filtration to convert it to a final product which is not toxic. The bio-filters need to provide adequate media surfaces for bacteria to flourish when environmental demands increase. Over stocking a pond is a common mistake made by pond keepers that ends with fish mortality. Most lakes have a smaller ratio of fish to water volume then the ponds most of us create in our own yards. Since the good bacteria attach to and grow on the media, flowing water helps wash away decaying bacteria and bring fresh chemicals.
• Chemical Filtering - chemical filtering requires addition of commercial products to routinely break down biologically and degrade most forms of waste present in typical Koi ponds. This method breaks down not only fish waste, it breaks down leafs and other debris that have fallen into the pond. It can remove pesticides, odors, organic waste, excess nutrients and other harmful chemicals from your pond.
• Glass filters - These are top of line filters, recycled glass media is used instead of sand. This new material is 20% lighter than sand which makes it easier to clean during the backwash cycle.
• Underwater Gravel - Gravel filters are popular among many Koi Pond keepers. Simulating that design of aquariums, passing water down through a gravel layer.
• Bead Filters -Bead Filters are ideal in being able to keep a low profile and achieve many benefits to the beginning, average or experienced Koi Keeper. Bead filters are capable of sizing to the demand required and be done with the minimum amount of ease and maintenance. The bead filter really is very simple to use and requires very little cleaning when compared to other filter systems.
• Barrel Media These types of filters have la favorite for pond keepers for a long time, since they are the easiest to design and are great for the do it yourselfer (DYI). They are capable of housing plenty of bacteria and can be designed so many ways for so many different needs to fit the end users needs or requirements. Matting material is probably the most popular media used to date and can be cut to fit any design.

 A koi pond is unlike water garden because koi limit the amount of plant life that can be realistically grown. In other words: koi eat some plants. A koi pond should also be larger than a water garden because koi get quite large despite the size of the pond, it is recommended that a koi pond be no less than 1000 gallons in volume, the bigger the better. It also needs to have an area of the pond at least 3 feet deep, 4 - 5 may be better.

Creating a Koi Pond
There are several steps to creating a Koi Pond

Consider is to decide what type of pond you want to build. Is it going to be a home for goldfish or koi? Or for the aquatic plants? Perhaps you only want a pond for the sound of a waterfall. Each type requires different planning.  The most common mistake water gardeners say they make when planning their first koi pond was making it too small. This limits the number of fish and plants you can add.

• Proper location. Koi ponds are meant be enjoyed, you will enjoy them more if they are installed close to the home. Select an area where you can see the pond year round. Be careful though koi ponds are great attracters of wildlife including birds and butterflies. You will ensure you place your pond where it will receive at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sun if you want to grow water lilies. Shade is fine for fish-only ponds.
• Determine the size of your pond or water garden. A finished pond or water garden will be about 30% smaller than you visualize it. After you have laid out the shape, measure the maximum length and width.  Use a rope or water hose and lay out the shape on the ground. Add the depth twice to these measurements plus a foot or two for overlap and this will give you the pond liner size. Koi Ponds should be close to three feet or deeper to allow the Koi enough space. Again, the most common mistake that most people make is building the pond or water garden too small.  Larger ponds are more stable and easier to maintain. Position external pond filters and/or pond skimmers and level these in their proper location.
• Place the Rubber Pond Liner into the excavation and unfold.  Try to minimize folds and wrinkles but some will be necessary. After the water is added the folds should flatten out.
• Excavate Pond waterfalls and streams. If a small pool or stream is desired then excavate this several inches deep and to the desired size and shape. Streams should be dug wider than the finished size to make room for stone that will be placed into the stream for the edging.
• Connect the pond liner to the skimmer.
• Place the stone or other coping around the edge of the pond or water garden.
• Add dechlorinator to the pond to remove any chloramines or chlorine.
• Add aquatic plants as soon as possible after you have finished constructing the Koi pond. Many aquatic plants are great at using up the nutrients that would otherwise feed the algae. Some of the most effective plants include Anacharis, Hyacinth, Parrot's Feather and , Water lilies. Plants with surface leaves such as Water Lillies can be added to provide shade to approximately 66% of the surface area if in full sun.