Japanese Matting Filter Media Ideal Biomedia For Vortex Pond Filters
The single biggest reason for the success of well designed vortex or other filters using Japanese matting is that large amounts of air pumped into the vortex biological chambers create highly significant turbulence which allows excellent mass transfer through maximising concentration differences as required and described above.
This happens in conjunction with the simultaneous creation of large and open surface area structures on which many bacteria can thrive and grow - perfect conditions. The picture below shows what a well-installed Japanese matting filter system look like in non-vortex system:
How a biofilter worksclick the link to understand principles of biofiltration.
Japanese Matting is green in diagram (from Koi Kitchi)
Notice the following
Massive air injection through air stones before each matting section.
Very open structure of Japanese matting matrix
High flow rate large pump used
Although you cannot see it all solids have been efficiently removed to prevent clogging of the Japanese matting.
Only a small proportion of pond keepers can afford or really need large Japanese matting vortex filters. However if you can afford it then it is the best way without doubt and no matter what people say it has been proven time and time again. This is what a vortex filter looks like below they take up large amounts of space and are difficult to install on a diy basis.
An USA company markets Matala (the invention of Marc Talloen who I first met in Germany) that is similar in performance and principle to Japanese matting.
| UV + Bio Pond Filter Selection Table ... By clicking the link below you can review a wide range of biofilters both with and without UV sterilizers. | ||
 Fish-Mate Includes UV Sterilizer (see below ... if you're looking for a low
cost well tested UV + filter combo for a small to medium fish pond this would be
my recommendation)
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| UV + Biofilter for ponds to 1,000 gallons | UV + Biofilter for ponds to 2,000 gallons | UV + Biofilter for ponds to 3,000 gallons |
| Combo UV + Biofilter for ponds to 4,000 gallons | UV + Biofilter for ponds to 5,000 gallons | UV + Biofilter for ponds to 6,000 gallons |
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Essential reading for anybody who wants or has a garden pond. Get 12 Excel pond calculators free as well as "Water Lilies and Pond Aquatics" ebook also free.
Let me try hard to debunk this myth of Pond Filter size
Nitrification cycle koi gold fish ponds and pond filters
Pond Filters Biofiltration Pond Water Quality
Shape of a biofilter does not matter Make your own
Successful Fish Ponds Need A Filter & UVC (Ultra Violet Light)