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Pump-fed or gravity-fed?
Pump-fed filters are perhaps the quickest and easiest form of filtration to install, because they can easily be added to any pond. On a pump-fed system, the pump is simply positioned in the pond, and the water is pumped from here to an above-ground filter system, which must be located so that the return is higher than the pond because the water returns to the pond via gravity.
Although they are easy to install, pump-fed systems do pose problems. With the pump located in the pond, this creates a potential obstacle for your Koi to damage themselves. Plus, with the pump located in the pond, it is pumping dirty water and so may require more frequent cleaning.
Gravity-fed filters need to be considered at the construction stag
e of your pond because it is very hard to install this style of filter at a later date. Gravity-fed systems work with a drain, commonly a 4in or 110mm version that is installed in the bottom of the pond. This drain connects to the filter system, which is located so that the top of the unit is the same height as the water in the pond, so if the pond is level with the ground, the filter will be sunk in the ground.
After the filter, a pump is installed, which pumps the clean, filtered water back to the pond. Gravity-fed system have many benefits in that they remove all waste from the pond continually, they are generally easy to maintain, and because the pump is only dealing with filtered water, there is little maintenance needed.
The drawback with gravity-fed systems is that there is more work involved in actually installing such a unit, because it must be done at the construction stage. Plus, there will be a slight increase in the amount of construction required and hence a small increase in cost.
Gravity-fed systems have become the primary option for anyone serious about building a Koi pond. It is vital that you make your choice early on, because this will have an effect on construction, plus some of the filters on the market cannot be used with a pump-fed system. So your choice may affect the efficiency of the pond because of the equipment you’ll be able to install.
Written by Keith Holmes