| Keeping a clear pond in the warm or hot summer | | | | pressurized filter- bio falls combination, or a |
| months involves these key ingredients for proper | | | | pressurized filter- sponge filter combination.[3] |
| filtration:[1] Adequate water circulation and | | | | Plant Filtration (Often called Veggie Filters)This is a |
| movement.A general principle (not a rule) of about | | | | very important part of pond keeping and filtration. |
| 100-200 gph per 100 gallons can work for this. | | | | A well planted and diversified planted pond is |
| This can be achieved with more than one pump | | | | VERY important for clarity, pond and fish health, |
| and even a large aeration device (air stone). As | | | | and even fish breeding. Any plant with a good |
| for the air stone, I find they are excellent for | | | | root structure that grows fast and has the |
| vertical circulation, often better than water pumps | | | | majority of their leaves above water is a good |
| of greater gph. A large double air pump such as a | | | | candidate to start with. I recommend water iris |
| Million Air 600, Whisper 800, or Maxima with two | | | | for their strong root structure, fast growth, great |
| air stone can circulate at a rate up to 500 gph. A | | | | nutrient absorbsion, and a great place for baby |
| way to check this is to place the air stone down | | | | fish (fry) to hide feed and grow. There are many |
| a narrow PVC tube or aquarium lift tube, then | | | | other excellent plants as well such as bull rush. |
| place the top of the tube just above the water | | | | Make sure these types of plants (plants with |
| level and measure the rate the water fills up a | | | | roots in water and leaves above) are planted in |
| gallon container (one gallon in 15 seconds= 240 | | | | an area of good, but not strong water |
| gph).A good water pump is the Via Aqua 2600, | | | | movement. This ensures that they will do their |
| 3300 or 6500 hydrant pump. Both have sealed | | | | job as plant filters.Other plants such as lilies and |
| electromagnetic motors and ceramic shafts.[2] | | | | hyacinth are excellent for nutrient removal too, |
| Good Filtration.I prefer pressurized pond filters for | | | | but not at the rate of iris and similar plants. They |
| their efficiency and ease of hiding in the ground. | | | | are useful for shade, which will slow algae |
| But there are many excellent filters available. For | | | | growth[4] UV Sterilization.Although not always |
| small ponds (and even medium-large), large | | | | necessary in a well planted, well shaded, well filter |
| sponge filters are excellent bio filters and | | | | aquarium; they are still very useful. UVs help with |
| reasonable mechanical filters. They are | | | | algae control, disease prevention, and the Redox |
| inexpensive, easy to service, and simple to attach | | | | potential (which is important for fish health and |
| with either a power head pump or and air stone. | | | | proper filtration). For the UV to properly function |
| Bio falls are also excellent pond filters. I do not | | | | in a pond, the flow rate should not exceed 20-45 |
| recommend the old style Becket or Pond Master | | | | gph per watt of UVC. In larger ponds with high |
| Submersible filters; they clog easily, are hard to | | | | flow rates I recommend more than one UV |
| service, and are not efficient filters. Multiple types | | | | sterilizer, with a by-pass from the main line, |
| of filtration are also excellent, such as a | | | | connected in PARELLEL not in line together. |