| The Filtration Process | ||||||
|
The Filtration Process is a multi-step process which requires all parts of a koi pond
to be designed around this process.
The first stage is to accomplish Mechanical Filtration, which is to physically remove particles from the water.
The first stage in this part is typically a settling chamber. Water flows by way of gravity into a settling chamber
where the heavier particles are allow to settle to the bottom. The second stage is using a fine mesh poly fabric or other dense matting material, or by way of a settling chamber which allows debris to settle on the bottom where it can be removed. This is called Mechanical Filtration (pre-filter). Amonia is created from fish waste, fish respiration, and decomposing plant matter. In order to remove amonia, Biological Filtration must occur (the de-nitrification cycle). 
This is a process where water passes through/over a material high in surface area. Nitrosomonas bacteria colonize this surface and consume the Amonia. They produce Nitrite as a waste product. Another bacteria (Nitrobacter) converts the Nitrite to Nitrate (Plant Food). These bacteria colonize on rocks, pond liner, virtually anything that is in the water. If there is not enough area for them to colonize you will wind up with high amonia or nitrite levels in your water. If this should occur, either reduce the amount of fish, or install additional surface area for bacteria to colonize. I would recommend an external container, with a bottom drain for easy cleaning. Fill the container with anything not toxic. Some people use Lava Rock (heavy and plugs up easy), I have also heard of Hair Curlers, Chopped up straws, Styrafoam Packing Peanuts, Bean-bag beans. The possibilities are endless, just make it cheap, and easy to clean.The Nitrates produced from the biological filter must be removed by stocking enough plants or possibly a Trickle Tower filter (TT). If you don't have enough plants, Algae will grow. You can also remove nitrates by doing a partial water change, but this is only practicle with small amounts of water. Could you imagine trying to do a partial water change on a 15,000 gallon pond ? I can, but I use a 5hp gas powered transfer pump and pull water from a stream 400 feet away. The following are filters which I have built. |
||||||
|
How to build an Extra-large filter with 3 Settling chambers using pond liner. This filter is for a very large pond. It has three 200 gallon passive settling chambers and one 300 gallon horizontal flow bio-filter. It is hidden competly under a 12x8 deck that cantelievers over the pond. There is a access panel for each settling chamber, and a access panel for the drain valves. The entire bio-filter chamber and pump-house can be entirely un-covered. 
How to build a Large filter using pond liner. |
This filter is for a large pond. It is a 500 gallon upflow filter with a cone shaped bottom and designed to hold 20 cubic feet of media. 
How to build a Medium filter using pond liner. |
How to build a Medium filter using a Stock Tank. |
How to build a Small filter using a 55 gallon barrel. |
How to build a Small "Trickle-Tower" filter using a 55 gallon barrel. |
Step by step instructions are available on my DIY CD. |
|