Filtration
There are three main kinds of filtration we need to deal with Koi Ponds. Biological, Mechanical, and Chemical. All three are equally important to the well being of the koi and our viewing pleasure. Here is a brief introduction to Koi Pond Filtration.
Mechanical
This is the trapping of solids suspended in the water in some type of mechanical or settling filter, where as we can at our opportunity remove them from the water by dumping, back flushing, or rinsing out mats. There is nothing made that will trap and remove solids all in one. It's up to us as koi keepers to physically remove the waste out filters have trapped. In most ponds water will be removed from the pond by "Bottom Drains" and "Skimmers", where the solids are then settled out of suspension or trapped and held in some kind of fine filter media until we physically remove it. The Bottom Drain will draw out heavier than water solids that collect on the bottom and the skimmer will skim off debris that is floating on the surface and also skim off the organic film that will develop on the surface. These filters can be gravity flow before the pump, pressure fed after the pump, or both.
Biological
In our ponds we will culture living aerobic bacteria that will break down the ammonia and nitrites the fish produce. The aerobic bacteria is just that, "Aerobic", or oxygen loving. This bacteria wants an oxygen rich environment with a lot of surface area to colonize. The bio filter should come after the pre filter or settling filter. There are many different media that can be used for a bio filter, far more than we can list here. But in all cases the bio filter should utilize an air pump to saturate the water with oxygen.
Chemical
Chemical filtration is usually something we flow the water through or around like Carbon. I also put UV sterilizers in this class. The UV sterilizer is a germicidal bulb that will kill all micro organisms as they pass by it.
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