A healthy pond is more than just a beautiful addition to your outdoor space; it’s a delicate ecosystem rich with life. Maintaining the balance of this ecosystem takes more than just a love for nature – it requires the right tools, like an all in one pond filter system. This element plays an important role in keeping your pond water clean, oxygenated, and free of harmful toxins.
The Importance of a Pump and Filter System for Pond Health
A pond pump and filter system keeps your aquatic environment healthy and balanced by removing waste, pollutants, and toxins while circulating water to prevent stagnation.
Water Circulation
Pond water becomes stagnates when it doesn’t circulate. Because most backyard ponds don’t allow for circulation to happen naturally, a pump is so necessary to move the water around. Furthermore, during circulation, sun-drenched water is mixed with cool water from the bottom (and vice versa in winter), helping regulate water temperature. However, to maintain a healthy pond, you need more than just circulation.
Oxygenation
Fish and plants need oxygen to thrive. Oxygen also helps to degrade organic materials. All in one pond filters help maintain proper oxygen levels within the water. Basically, the system mimics the water motion that occurs naturally in other water bodies by pumping air into the water, allowing oxygen to dissolve and evaporate.
Mechanical and Biological Filtration
Most of the all in one pond filters available include integrated mechanical filters, such as blocks or foam pads. These filters keep waste such as leaves, twigs, and other physical impurities from collecting at the bottom of the pond, where they degrade and release dangerous compounds into the water. They also prevent bigger particles from entering and clogging your pump.
Biological Filtration
Combined pond pump and filter system also generally include biological filters, which provide a home for good bacteria. These beneficial bacteria degrade organic waste such as fish waste and leftover food, preventing the buildup of ammonia and nitrate. This explains why certain sponge filter blocks are referred to as ‘bio-filters’.
UV Clarifiers
UV clarifiers are also included in some pond pump and filter systems. These employ UV rays to kill algae cells and bacteria, which reduces green water and keeps it clean and clear.
Benefits of Using a Pump and Filter System
Some individuals opt for using a separate pond pump and filter in their pond. However, if you are a a first-time pond builder and keeper, you could benefit from an all in one pond filter system. These systems offer several benefits, including:
- Ease of installation, as there’s no need to connect multiple devices or run additional hoses.
- They also save space and reduce clutter in and around your pond, making them ideal for smaller setups or those with limited access.
- Many all-in-one filters come with added features like built-in UV clarifiers to control algae growth, enhancing water clarity and quality.
- They are energy-efficient, cost-effective, and simplify pond maintenance by integrating essential components into one streamlined system.
By integrating the capabilities of a pond pump and a pond filter in one device, this system assures that all you have to do is connect your pump/filter equipment to a main power source, and you’ll have everything you need in one place.
What You Should Look for When Buying an All In One Pond Pump?
When buying an all-in-one pond pump, there are some factors you’ll need to consider to ensure it fits your pond’s needs and performs efficiently. Here’s what to look for:
Pond Size
The first step in choosing the right pond all in one system is accessing the volume of water in your pond. This takes some calculations, but before you do that, there are some measurements you’ll need to take, such as the width, depth and length of your pond. For irregular-shaped ponds, average figures can be used to help with the measurement. When unsure about numbers, err on the high side. If you get a system that is too small for your pond, it will provide insufficient flow, impacting the health of your pond.
With the measurements in hand, there are a few simple calculations you can do to find the right volume in litres.
- For rectangular or irregular ponds: Average width x average depth x average length x 1000
- For circular ponds: Half the diameter (radius) x half the diameter x 3.14 (Pi) x average depth x 1000
With these calculations, you’ll find the basic volume number to determine the best pump choice for your pump.
Pond Type
The size of the pump filter you’ll need will also depend on the number of fish or plants you plan to keep. The more plants and fish you have, the bigger will be the load on the filter. Ponds with surface plants tend to offer more room for algae to grow, so they generally need a larger filter. As a general rule, if your pond has a higher density of fish or a lower density of plants, opt for a larger filter than your pond volume suggests.
Pump Lift
All pond pumps have a defined maximum flow and lifting capacity. As the pump is raised higher, the flow of water decreases, and at maximum height, there is no flow at all. To determine the pump lift, subtract the highest point that the water must travel from the pond’s surface. Then, using the relevant pump performance curve chart, see how the lift affects the flow rate to ensure that the goal flow rate is met at the desired height.
Flow Rate
The last step in choosing the right pond pump filter is to consider the flow rate. To keep the pond healthy, the water must be changed over at least once every two hours. So, if your pond holds 2,000 litres of water, you will need a pump with a minimum flow rate of 1,000 litres per hour at the proper pump lift. If your pond contains a large number of fish, try to flip it over every hour.
With this knowledge, you will get to compare the characteristics of different pumps and make the best decision for your pond.
