Pond filters | You don't need a pond filter with a pump if your pond is set up properly

Everyone who chooses to have a pond in the garden wants the pond to be healthy. Many people think that a pond pump or pond filter is essential for balanced and clear pond water, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, if the pond is set up correctly, then environmentally harmful devices such as a pump and filter are unnecessary.

All about pond filters

• What is a pond filter?
• What types of pond filters exist?
• Which filter is needed for which type of pond?
• Aquatic plants as pond filters
• Benefits of pond plants as filters

What is a pond filter?

A pond filter is a device used to clean and purify the water in a pond. It is designed to filter out unwanted substances such as food debris, pond fish droppings, leaves, algae and other particles from the water, keeping the water clear and healthy for the plants and animals in the pond. There are several types of pond filters, including mechanical filters that remove particles from the water using a fine mesh filter mat or filter brushes, biological filters that use pond bacteria to break down organic waste, and chemical filters that treat the water using special substances to regulate such things as the pH or hardness of the water.

What types of pond filters exist?

You have created a pond in the garden and want it to stay clear and healthy. There are several types of pond filters that can be used to do this, including options that are not harmful to the environment and promote biodiversity. Below I list a few of them:

Mechanical filters

First, you have the pond filter as many know it, which is the "Organic Pond Filter. These filters work by removing particles from the water through a fine mesh filter mat or filter brushes. The water is pumped through the filter and the larger particles are left behind in the filter mat or on the filter brushes. Disadvantages of this filter are that it is expensive to purchase, it looks unnatural in the pond, it causes higher energy costs and the filter requires maintenance to remain functional in the pond. Other pond filters that are mechanical and perform a similar function in the pond are: 'the UV filter' and 'the Skimmer'. The UV filter uses ultraviolet light to kill harmful bacteria, viruses and algae. Water is pumped through the UV lamp and the UV light kills the harmful organisms. Skimmers keep the water surface clean by removing leaves, branches and other floating debris from the pond. They have a basket in which the debris is collected.

Biological filters

What people sometimes do not know is that a pond can also be filtered completely naturally by planting sufficient and different types of aquatic plants in the pond. The plants that are indispensable in every pond are: 'oxygen plants', 'marsh plants' and 'water lilies'. These pond plants each have an important function in maintaining a healthy and balanced pond. Oxygen plants, as the name suggests, oxygen plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and water and produce oxygen as a byproduct. Oxygen plants are therefore essential for maintaining a healthy and balanced pond ecosystem because they provide a continuous supply of oxygen for fish and other pond animals.

Marsh plants purify pond water by removing excess nutrients from the water. These nutrients can lead to excessive algae growth and water pollution, but marsh plants help prevent this by absorbing excess nutrients and reducing their availability to algae and other unwanted organisms.

Water lilies cover the surface of the water and provide protection from the sun. This helps regulate water temperature and prevents too much light from penetrating the water, which can lead to excessive floating algae and filamentous algae. Water lilies produce oxygen through photosynthesis. Oxygen is essential for the respiration of fish and other aquatic organisms, and water lilies help maintain a healthy and balanced pond ecosystem.

Which filter is needed for which type of pond?

For a beautiful, clear and healthy pond environment where aquatic plants can grow abundantly and fish and other pond animals feel at home and which also promotes biodiversity, it is important to design the pond in a natural way. Pumps and filters do not belong here, aquatic plants do, therefore it is important to plant your pond according to our pond planting plan. One option is to plant all kinds of water plants loose in the pond to create a natural filter, but you can also choose to build a plant filter, these are both natural options. For constructing a plant filter, we have all kinds of cleverly composed plant filter plant packages.

Natural pond plant filter at a swimming pond

You can also when you have a swimming pond have a natural pond filter. Because you most likely swim often in your swimming pond, it is important to build a plant filter in addition to a natural pond filter. This is necessary because there will be more bacteria in the water of your pond when you swim in it.

You can build a plant filter in a few simple steps. It is important to choose the right amount of aquatic plants, marsh plants and substrate. Follow all the steps to create a plant filter for your swimming pond.

Aquatic plants as pond filters

It is quite possible to keep your pond healthy and balanced without the need for complicated pumps or Uv filters. This can be done by planting the right aquatic plants in the pond. Aquatic plants such as: "marsh plants, riparian plants, oxygen plants and water lilies" actually create a natural balance in the pond so that the water remains healthy. In addition, it is always advisable to add pond substrate and pond bacteria when setting up the pond because this provides the perfect substrate for plants and bacteria to take root and establish themselves.

Benefits of pond plants as filters

Here are some advantages of aquatic plants as a pond filter over a pond filtration system:

1. Natural and sustainable: Aquatic plants offer a natural and sustainable way to improve pond water quality. Unlike mechanical filtration systems, aquatic plants do not require electricity to function, making them energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
2. Lower costs: Using aquatic plants as a pond filter can be more cost effective in the long run than using a mechanical filtration system. Aquatic plants have minimal maintenance costs and do not require replacement of filter media.
3. Aesthetic value: Aquatic plants add beauty and aesthetic value to the pond. They can give the pond a more natural look and help create a healthy and vibrant pond environment.
4. Provide a habitat for fish: Aquatic plants not only provide oxygen and fish food for fish, but also provide habitat and hiding places for fish and other aquatic organisms. This helps maintain a healthy and balanced pond ecosystem.
5. Reduce algae growth: Aquatic plants absorb nutrients from the water, reducing algae growth. This helps to improve water quality and keep the water clear and clean. In combination, you can also add freshwater mussels to keep the water clear, as one mussel filters 10 gallons of water per hour.

In short, aquatic plants as pond filters offer several advantages, including their natural and sustainable nature, lower cost, aesthetic value, provide fish habitat and reduce algae growth.