Depending on the size and use of your pond you may need to purchase a pond filter. Pond filters allow the growth of natural bacteria that cleans the water of toxins. Plants are natural pond filters but most ponds will need a man-made filter as well.
It’s up to you whether you choose to use a filter, but it can really help reduce pond maintenance and keep your pond sparkling. You’ll need a filter if you decide to keep fish because toxins such as ammonium, nitrates and heavy metals are deadly to fish.
There are 2 types of filters:
1) Submersible
2) External
Submersible filters are hidden beneath the water in the pond itself and external filters sit outside of the pond. Both will need to have a pond pump which sits in the pond. As submersible filters live beneath the water they can sometimes come with the pond pump attached to them. The advantage of submersible pumps is that they are hidden out of site, but bear in mind that you will have to access them at least once a month to clean the filter. This may involve physically entering the pond depending on where you situate the filter. Submersible filters are great for small ponds under 2000 gallons. They start at $40 for single (no pump included) units, or $180 for ones with the pump included. Installation is generally easy and there is no need for external plumbing.
External filters, whilst larger and more exposed than submersibles, are easier to access and hence clean. They are ideal for larger ponds, or ponds where you will have lots of fish. Bear in mind that you will need to plumb from the filter to the pond pump and this costs between $50-$80. The filter itself ranges from $80 to over $250 for filters with built in UV.
Although external filters are harder to hide, many pond owners have some great ways of camouflaging the filter: such as digging them halfway into the ground or hiding them with landscaping.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
