Selecting the Right Pond Filter Media
When choosing a pond filter media to use in a biological pond filter it is essential to consider the Specific Surface Area (SSA). The higher the biomedia’s SSA, the more effective it will be in colonizing nitrifying bacteria. The role of any pond biofilter is to convert ammonia, produced by fish waste, excess fish food and decaying vegetation into much less harmful nitrate in a process known as the Nitrogen Cycle. Any biological filter is only as good as the bio media used. The higher the number of beneficial bacteria living on the pond filter media the better quality the pond water will be. By selecting a pond biomedia with a high SSA you will in time save yourself a lot of time and $$$.
Choice of Pond Filter Media is Important
When selecting media, the SSA helps you decide how much media volume you will need to process the fish load you are expecting in the pond. If a media has a low SSA, you will need to have more of it. This may not be a bad thing, depending on how much space you have available, and how important ease and frequency of cleaning is to your client. Ease of cleaning is different for every media, so that may be more important to your client than how much space must be set aside to house the media. It is the bacteria living on the media that do the work. Keeping them healthy is vital.
Look after the beneficial bacteria living on the biomedia, as failure to do so can have very negative effects on the water quality within your pond. Minimize the potential for growing unhealthy or unwanted bacteria in your pond by staying away from anaerobic conditions as far as possible (low oxygen conditions).
Pond water conditions and low oxygen levels easily affect beneficial pond filter bacteria. (Lack of oxygen for eight hours will result in total eradication of the colonies living on the pond filter media.) It can take several weeks or even more for the colonies to reform on your pond filter media. Nitrobacter and Nitrosomonas are pH specific and do best in water with a pH between 7.5 and 8.6. They are further affected by temperature and chemicals added to the pond water.
EasyPro Bio-Blox Bio-Media
Easy Pro Bio Blox Pond Filter Media is an ultra-high surface area media that is created from a variety of different filter thicknesses and densities. Bio-Tech is a loose fill media that is inexpensive and ideal for filling large filters. Use a mesh bag to hold Bio-Tech for easy handling. Approximately 525 sq. ft. of surface area per cubic foot. Easy Pro Bio Blox available sizes … Easy Pro Bio Blox 1 CU FT … Easy Pro Bio Blox 24 CU FT.
EasyPro Filter Floss Bio-Media
This black, spiral shaped plastic filter media has been designed for filtration in garden ponds and other aquatic systems. Loose fill media will fit into any filter box or pond filter, including up-flow filters, trickling biofilters and pressurized filter systems. This filter media provides a large surface area of 95 square foot of space per cubic foot for beneficial bacteria to colonize.
EasyPro Bio-Balls Black Plastic Bio-Media
EasyPro Bio Balls is a loose plastic biofilter media that will form to any shape and is hard, so it will not compact. Ideal media for deep applications where compaction is a concern. Bio Balls are buoyant so trickle filter applications are best. Bio-Balls are 1.5˝ in diameter. Easy Pro Bio Balls Pond Filter Media is available in the following sizes … EasyPro Bio Balls 1 CU FT … EasyPro Bio Balls 4.50 Cubic FT.
EasyPro Ultimate Tube Media
Round media with multiple internal baffles which create tremendous additional surface area. Contains nearly 500 square feet of surface area in every cubic foot of media. Available in 1, 10 or 25 cubic foot boxes. This Bio-Media included in EasyPro bead filters.
Filter Brushes
Japanese in origin they are suited for both mechanical and biological filtration. As pond water passes through a series of brushes, the bristles filter out suspended solids, while providing ample surface area where the nitrifying bacteria can colonize and thrive. Cleaning of the filter brushes is a simple task of removing them from the filter and shaking them out. Remember not to use tap water to rinse them, as this will only serve to reduce or eliminate the beneficial bacteria, which is growing on the brush.
Matala Pond Filter Media Sheets
Matala Pond Filter Media Sheets are an extremely durable and hardwearing bio-filter media. This versatile pond filter media can be used in bio-filters, settling tanks, and pond pump pre-filters. Simply cut to size using a pair of scissors or serrated kitchen knife. Matala Filter Media Sheets are available in either Half Sheets or Full Sheets and in the following colors … Black Super Coarse … Green Coarse … Blue Fine … Grey Super Fine
Conclusion
When considering a media for a filter system, be sure to look into all the characteristics of the media. Does it float, or sink? What do you need to build into your system to clean it? Air jets, water jets, bottom drains or backflush plumbing. Every commercially available media will work to some degree for a period of time. How it performs over time is as much about the design of the filter you put it in, as the media itself. Do your homework and it will be time well spent.