Pond Filters

Pond filters are essential for keeping a fish pond clean, clear and healthy. Without a quality fish pond filter, your pond will accumulate sludge, surfaces will be covered in algae, the water will turn brown or green, and your fish are likely to struggle or not survive.

There are several types of pond biofilter on the market, all of them work well when sized correctly for the pond volume and the type of fish you keep. Larger fish such as koi and large goldfish need greater filtration and a more powerful pump, whereas a smaller frog pond or native pond with lots of plants can get away with a smaller filter system.

What Should a Good Pond Filter Achieve?

A good pond filter system will achieve three things:

How Do Pond Filters Work?

Despite the huge variety of shapes and sizes available, most pond filters break down into the same core components:

We stock a wide range of biofilters for water features and fish ponds of all sizes. When sizing up your filter, be sure to consider the volume of your pond, the type of fish you keep, and your waterfall height. Choosing the right pond filtration from the beginning will save you a lot of time and money.

There is a wide range of quality available on the market. We stock filters made by quality manufacturers in the US and Europe that perform exceptionally well and are easy to maintain, as well as more affordable chinese made options that still work well but require a little more effort in upkeep.

Our Favourite Filter Range

We have attended trade shows in China, the US and Germany and have not yet found a filter that comes close to the OASE range, particularly the OASE Filtoclear pressure filter.

1. UV Canister / Pressure Filters

UV pressure filters are the easiest way to filter small to medium-sized water features up to around 5,000 litres. These pond filters incorporate mechanical filtration, UV sterilisation and biological filtration all in one pressurised unit; making them our most popular filter type.

Being a high-pressure system, they can easily direct water to fountains or waterfalls. They are also highly versatile in terms of placement, they can sit next to the pond, far away, above or below the water level, and are easy to conceal from view.

Why We Only Recommend OASE Filtoclear for Pressure Filters

There are many UV pressure filters on the market, but the OASE Filtoclear is the only one with a backwash system that actually squeezes out the internal sponges. Every other brand leaves the dirt trapped inside the filter for you to clean out by hand. The OASE Filtoclear’s patented handle, when pulled up, simultaneously squeezes the sponges and backwashes — keeping your hands completely clean. Simple, yet incredibly effective. OASE has been considered the best in the industry for over 15 years, and their German-made engineering shows.

These filters sit outside the pond connected to a pump which draws water out of the pond, through the filter, and back again. You will require a 240V power supply for both the pump and filter.

2. All-in-One Filters

All-in-one pond filters combine a pump, UV filter and biological filter in a single submersible unit — no pipework required. Simply attach the fountain heads, submerge in the pond and plug in. It really is that simple.

These are ideal for small ponds up to around 1,000 litres with smaller fish, or for situations where an external pond filter isn’t practical. They come with a variety of fountain head attachments, or you can use the hose attachment to run a small water feature.

The OASE Filtral range is our most sold and recommended all-in-one filter. With integrated UV filtration and an intuitive design, maintenance is straightforward — simply unlatch the lid every month or so and squeeze out the two sponges in a bucket of pond water. Done.

3. Gravity Pond Filter Boxes

Gravity pond filters sit outside the water at an elevated position above the pond. A submersible pump (or skimmer pump) pushes water up to the filter where it is cleaned and returned to the pond via gravity.

Some gravity filters — such as the Aquascape BioFalls range — need to be filled with biological filtration media such as bioballs and Japanese matting, and can be incorporated into a waterfall to blend naturally into the landscape.

The OASE BioSmart range is another excellent option, with the ability to add UV filtration by slotting in the corresponding OASE Vitronic UV clarifier — preventing green water without the need for a separate UV unit.

Gravity filters tend to be larger, so they go longer between cleans and are well suited to medium-to-large ponds — generally over 3,000 litres.

4. UV Filters

UV pond filters are designed to be added to an existing filtration system that is struggling with green water.

Green water is caused by single-celled algae suspended in your pond water. Algaecides and treatments will only treat the symptom — UV filtration addresses the root cause. The UV light kills the algae cells as water passes through, restoring crystal-clear water. It also has the added benefit of sterilising your water from harmful pathogens and bacteria.

If your existing filter doesn’t include UV, or you simply want to boost your UV capacity, the OASE Vitronic / Bitron range is our recommendation. These units require 240V power and connection to a pump, and can be slotted into existing filtration plumbing either before or after the filter.

Custom Pond Filter Design & Installation

The Fish Works can work in conjunction with your builder, landscaper or architect to design and install a custom pond filter system for any type of fish pond. A well-designed pond filter should:

• Keep the water clean and healthy for fish
• Be easy to service and maintain
• Blend into the surrounding landscape as much as possible

We offer both full pond filter design and installation services, as well as expert guidance if you’d prefer to do it yourself.

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