Koi Filters Why Are They So Important

The filters have to be cleaned by removing the pond debris and the rotting fish matter from them. This is a very labor intensive, filthy and stinky work!

Among the different koi filter models, there are biological filters. These are specially made to sieve off organic and particulate matter. The bio-filter uses media that is laden with anaerobic bacteria to break down dangerous toxic matter into by-products that are harmless. If your koi pond is a big one and doesn't have a bio-filter, its environment will be harmful to the koi fish due to the build-up of decaying leaves, fish waste, pond creatures, and other matter that settles at the bottom.

The size of the koi filters used in the pond should be directly proportional to the number of fish in every gallon. More fish means more waste and therefore you will need a much larger filter. However, it is not necessary to have a filter if you have a small pond. This can be confirmed by investigating the natural habitat of the koi. Such habitats have no filters and yet many fish survive in the environment.

In case your koi fish population becomes very large such that your pond starts spilling over, put off food supplies, the koi would naturally thin out until a small population that can be sustained by the prevailing environment is reached.

With such an occurrence, there would be an imbalance in the nitrogen cycle, as much nitrate would be produced from the fish waste. As a result, the water pH could increase and this would favor the growth of algae that may inhibit the growth of the koi and eventually choke them off.

The most popular koi filters are the down-flow, up-flow, recycling, pressurized and submersible types. Most keepers experience problems with their filter operations when it comes to channeling. The filters use different media to trap other matter and allow water to pass through. When these matters clog the filter, water will find its way using another path until it can no longer pass due to clogging.

As a result, the water will look for a path where there is least resistance and will make it the natural way of passing over the pond. After this, even if you unclog the filter or replace it, the water will have already found a permanent channel that avoids the filtration process.

A down-filter operates on the law of gravity as opposed to up-flow or pressure. When matter clogs the filter media, gravity cannot force the water to pass through the clogged channel at the same rate that it is being pumped through it. As a result, the water will find its way back into the koi pond unfiltered by spilling out of the overflow drain back.

The most efficient koi filters are the pressurized filters, as they do not require any maintenance.