There
are two general types of pond filtration - mechanical and biological.
A mechanical filter traps particles in the filter medium which is
later removed by cleaning the filter pads.
A
biological filter uses beneficial bacteria to break down fish waste
and other organic material. These bacteria convert harmful organic waste
into harmless nitrates and nitrogen, which then become food for
plants. This process also helps reduce algae growth in your pond.
Many
filters and/or filterfalls incorporate both mechanical and biological
filtration. However, in our installation and maintenance business we
are surprised by the number of new customers that are not using any bio
media in their filter. You want to maximize the amount of bio media you
use in your filtration device. This simply means using as much media
as you can without overly impeding the flow. Two common bio media
choices are Bio-Balls , or Lava Rock.
If your pond filter or filterfalls does not provide for biological filtration, there are two choices:
1) Add a filter or filterfalls with biological capability; or
2) Adding a biological filter pad to your existing mechanical filtration system, such as the Poly-Flo Biological Filter Media.
Whatever your circumstances, it is essential to have biological filtration for the health and well-being of your pond system.
