If you are lucky enough to have a Koi or goldfish pond in your back yard then you know the importance of keeping them clean. To keep your pond clean you need to change at least twenty percent of the water in your pond on a regular basis is because most biological filters harbor a type of bacteria that coexists with good bacteria. This eats nitrite and excretes nitrate. Nitrate is non-toxic to fish in small quantities and is used by plants as fertilizer.
There are basically two types of mechanical pond filters: gravity filters and pressurized filters. Gravity filters need to be placed at some height above the pond and are best concealed behind a waterfall. If you need a filter that needs to be positioned lower than the pond or several feet away from the pond then you need to use a pressurized water filter. Ultima II filters are a recommended brand because they can be cleaned with a twist of a valve.
You might also want to note at this point, that a swimming pool filter would not work on a fish pond. The reason is, in a swimming pool you use chlorine, and the pool water has very little solids and ammonia (fish wastes) in it. A swimming pool filter used on a fish pond will require frequent back flushing. Also a high powered pump will be required to push the water through the filter. Remember, that no matter what kind of water pump you choose, you will need to run the pump 24 hours a day, and this will likely show up as a huge cost your electric bill.
Chemical filters are also solutions that are added to the pond to correct the pH level for you and also rid the pond of excess ammonia and nitrates.
A recent and very simple innovation is an item called an ultraviolet sterilizer, which although expensive, are easy to install and keep your pond water crystal clear. However those going for a more swampy or natural effect may not want to opt for a filtration system at all and instead depend on a hand held skimmer and solutions that correct the water’s pH to clear the pond of debris and algae.
In the koi world, these nitrates are like smog. A lot of pollutants in your pond is life threatening, but a, long term exposure to a medium amount is also unhealthy for your fish.