How to make and install a simple pond filter to ensure year round clean fish pond water
It can be very simple to make your own pond biofilter but at prices available from right outlets selling the correct type it is probably not worth the effort.
The pleasure from your pond, the health and size of your fish, the appearance of your plants is based upon your pond filter working optimally.
How to make a biofilter ...
You should have appreciated by now that there is no fixed shape, size, location or anything else for a pond biofilter. Work the principles into your own design if you want to make one yourself.
This page is meant to help you make your own pond filter. Take a look at the picture below drawn by my good friend and fantastic landscaper/author, Peter J May.
This is essentially the design of the typical black box garden pond filter. Take note of the following. Top outlet (good) ie UPFLOW.
Brushes for solids removal, good but not totally necessary, since you can use virtually anything to do this job so long as no restriction to water flow.
Space at bottom of filter for solids accumulation (take notice of plug at side for draining)
Tray for placing biomedia onto
Foam at top for extra biomedia capacity and to remove any debris picked up by the pump.
Water is sprayed onto top of brushes
If you use a pond filter with Alfagrog you do not need brushes in your pond filter
Take a note how pipe is connected to filter from the pump
Take care that a mess does not stay behind at the bottom of any pond filter see here. This would be bad news since it become an area for anaerobic bacteria to build up and these bacteria are responsible for various fish diseases. Clean out occasionally.
Click here for expert advice on bead filters for koi ponds
How a biofilter worksclick the link to understand principles of biofiltration.
Coffee cup description of biofiltration
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.
| 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
Pond Filters Include 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 |
"The Complete Pond Solver" by Tony Roocroft
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)