| Why Is A Vortex Pond Filter And Japanese | | | | to come into contact with the Japanese matting |
| Matting So Successful? | | | | and is therefore unable to block the openings in |
| A biological pond filter, no matter what shape or | | | | the matting, resulting in the extremely large |
| design is responsible for converting toxic ammonia | | | | surface area being maintained. |
| into nitrate. The breakdown of ammonia requires | | | | I have in this article so far discussed the benefits |
| plenty of oxygen, a filter media with a high | | | | of vortex filtration. There are however some |
| specific surface area for nitrifying Nitrosomonas | | | | disadvantages for the average pond keeper with |
| and Nitrobacter bacteria to live on and last but not | | | | a small to medium sized fish pond, up to 1000 |
| least turbulence. Turbulent conditions encourage | | | | gallons (US): |
| maximum contact between ammonia, oxygen | | | | * They are designed for use in large ponds by Koi |
| and the nitrifying bacteria, which in turn speeds up | | | | professionals and will probably be over kill for the |
| the rate at which ammonia is oxidized. | | | | majority of smaller fish ponds. For those pond |
| Vortex pond filters have been designed in such a | | | | keepers with smaller ponds I would suggest a |
| way and when combined with Japanese matting | | | | pressurized pond filter from industry recognized |
| are one of the best Koi pond filtration systems | | | | manufacturers such Fishmate, Oase or Hozelock, |
| available. The home of Koi keeping and the | | | | as their pond keeping products are supplied with |
| foremost experts when it comes to this prized | | | | excellent warranties and have been designed to |
| ornamental fish are the Japanese. In Japan, | | | | keep running costs to a minimum. |
| vortex filtration is used used extensively due its | | | | * They can be expensive to purchase and can be |
| proven effectiveness, low maintenance and | | | | tricky to install. When installing a vortex filter it is |
| reliability. | | | | important to choose a model that is correct for |
| How Does A Vortex Filter Work? | | | | the size of the pump flow rate that you require. |
| A vortex filter must be installed as the primary | | | | If you choose a model that is too small for the |
| filtration system prior to pond water flowing into | | | | required pump flow rate then the water containing |
| the biological chamber, housing the nitrifying | | | | particulate matter will pass straight through to the |
| bacteria. As pond water containing particulate | | | | next filtration stage. A bigger models has a longer |
| matter such as leaves, fish excrement and | | | | retention time and therefore provides a much |
| decaying organic matter, from the bottom of the | | | | better opportunity for the solid waste to settle in |
| pond is pumped into the vortex chamber the | | | | the primary vortex chamber, where it can be |
| swirling motion of the water causes the waste | | | | easily removed. |
| matter to fall to the bottom of the chamber. The | | | | Having said this if you compromise the health of |
| settled matter is easily removed at a later stage | | | | you fish by using an inferior biofilter then you may |
| by opening a purge valve. The major advantage | | | | wish that you had used a professional biofiltration |
| of this filtration method is its ability to remove the | | | | system in the first place. Koi can be very |
| vast majority of the waste matter before it has | | | | expensive to replace and are susceptible to |
| a chance to mix with the beneficial nitrifying | | | | stress, unlike their hardier goldfish cousins. |
| bacteria living on the Japanese matting. This is | | | | If you are looking for the best Koi pond filtration |
| beneficial in the following ways: | | | | system available then a vortex Koi filter and |
| * Any unwanted heterotrophic bacteria, that | | | | Japanese matting is the option that many |
| causes water quality problems and fish health | | | | professional Koi keepers choose. The design not |
| problems is removed from the water before it | | | | only removes up to 80% of solids in the pond |
| has a chance to contaminate the pond. | | | | water but will also remove large quantities of |
| * The particulate matter does not have a chance | | | | ammonia quickly and easily. |