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Thanks to filters working in garden reservoirs, it is possible to get rid not only of unsightly impurities, but also of nitrogen compounds harmful to the water ecosystem.
At the beginning of summer, the water in the pond is usually still clean, and the fish happily splash in it, and the pool delights the eyes with its blueness. However, we will be vigilant, because the water is constantly changing, and there is no end to the chemical processes here. Often, the deterioration of water quality in a reservoir is indicated by the mass appearance of algae, its turbidity or the behavior of fish, which, exhausted by the lack of oxygen, swim directly under the surface of the water. Filtration allows you to solve these problems.
That pool filter or the pond was effective, it must have a sufficiently high throughput. How much water will pass through the filter depends on the pump. Its design must ensure the suction of water and mud with a diameter of at least 8 mm. The pump consumes electricity regularly, since the filters must work continuously. But you should also choose it correctly, because fast flowing water will not be well cleaned, and what is even worse - its strong jet can wash the sediment accumulated in the filter back into the pond.
Pump operation scheme:
1. Collection of contaminated water. Usually the pump is placed in the reservoir - preferably at its deepest point. To be able to simultaneously collect dirt from the other part of the pond, you should buy a pump with an additional suction pipe for connecting a "satellite" or a skimmer, that is, a filter that collects dirt from the surface of the pond. If there is already a pump with one suction pipe, it can be adapted to pump water from two different places. Then the collector (tee) should be installed on the inlet pipe and the suction hoses should be connected to it. Pumps used for simultaneous pumping of water from different places must have a capacity of at least 5000 l/h.
2. Release of clean water. Try to place the water outlet from the filter as far as possible from the water intake point with the pump. This will lead to better water circulation in the tank and its more effective cleaning. It is also important to keep the filter in the shade, since it heats up in the sun and causes an increase in the temperature of the water in the pond.
The most effective water purification is provided by external filters installed outside the tank. They are easy to access and service. Moreover, the pollutants contained in them do not come into contact with the water in the tank. There are two main types of such filters on the market.
They are selected according to the size of the tank:
1. Flow filters
They are especially recommended for large tanks (with a capacity of more than 5000 liters). They are placed on the edge of the pond or a little further, using a cascade or stream as a water source. Water flows through them by gravity, so these devices are installed above the surface of the water.
Their biggest advantage is very good water purification, and their biggest disadvantage is the difficulty of masking them. Flow filters have a box design. There is an inlet for dirty water on one side, and an outlet for clean water on the other. Water slowly flows through them, passing through various stages of filtration with increasing density.
Firstly, through sieves or brush systems, the task of which is to separate larger pollutants, such as plant fragments, snails or fish feces. Then through chambers filled with special granules, and, for example, through rows of spongy walls. They preserve the thinnest suspensions, and also contribute to the biological purification of water, since their porous surface is inhabited by nitrifying bacteria that neutralize harmful nitrogen compounds. All levels of filtration can be placed in one housing.
However, so-called modular filters, consisting of separate boxes (modules), which, depending on the needs, are combined into a cleaning kit of any length. Such filters give greater freedom in expanding the cleaning system without high costs - as the fish population in the aquarium increases, one new element can be added to the existing set instead of replacing the entire filter.
2. Pressure filters
They are recommended for small tanks, usually up to 5000 liters. These devices, unlike flow filters, have a dense, even hermetic construction. The water pumped by the pump creates a pressure in them of approximately 0,5 atmospheres, so they can work even below the water level in the pond. For this reason, they are easy to hide - for example, buried in the ground or placed in a sump. They can push water to higher places, for example, to the source of the cascade.
Usually, special sponges are used for water filtration, and in some models there is also a basket for filling with filtering granules. Cleaning occurs both mechanically and biologically. The advantages of bucket filters are their small size, the ability to be easily disguised at the edge of the pond, and ease of maintenance.
