BIOLOGICAL POND FILTERS

What is a biological pond filter?
A biological pond filter is a filter that uses biological means to remove harmful ammonia and excess nutrients from the water.

How does it work?
Biological filtration is a system of creating an artificial environment for beneficial bacteria (micro-organisms) to live within a man-made pond. During the cycle of the biological filter, ammonia, by products of fish, decaying excess fish food, leaf matter and algae are converted from harmful waste materials into nitrites and then into a useful substance, nitrates, which can then be utilised by pond plants.

Biological filters are mostly available as two or three stage filters. The Chapman & Rivett Biological pond filter is a three-stage filtration system.
Here is how each stage works:

Stage 1: Mechanical filtration of solid particles is attained by the use of a non-deteriorating biological filter matting.

Stage 2: Removal of poisonous ammonia from the water utilising Zeolite, a naturally occurring product with no chemical additives.

Stage 3: Biological filtration by means of harnessing beneficial bacteria within bio-balls.

As water is passed through the Biological filter, all of these individual filtration stages come together to remove ammonia and other harmful waste materials from your pond.

USEFUL INFORMATION

How long should the Biological Pond filter be run?
The filter must be run 24 hours a day. If it is not the beneficial bacteria will die.

How long will the Biological Pond filter take to work to its full potential ?
It may take 4-6 weeks for the filter to establish a large enough bacterial culture to begin effective filtration. However, the longer the filter has been running the more effective it becomes. This process can be accelerated by the addition of BIO-START, a biological culture starter. A sachet of BIO-START can be purchased through Chapman & Rivett, this will treat 2,250 litres of water.

Will I need to replace or clean any items in the Biological Pond filter?
The only item that will need to be cleaned is the filter matting this should only be cleaned in pond water, DO NOT use tap water or let the bio-balls dry out, either of these situations will kill the micro-organisms required for the filter to work.

No items need to be replaced, although the zeolite will need to be recharged. If you feel this too be to much trouble it can be purchased from Chapman & Rivett.

How deep does my pond need to be to use the Biological Pond filter?
The Biological Pond filter is 200mm in height and needs to be a minimum of 50mm below the surface of the water for it to work efficiently. However should your pond not be 250mm deep a bank model can be purchased?

What sized pump will I required?
The optimum pump size will turn over the water in your garden pond every 1 to 2 hours, eg. If you had a 1500 litre pond, a pump that will pump between 800 and 1500 litres an hour would be ideal.

INFORMATION REQUIRED BY CHAPMAN AND RIVETT

• Brand & Model of your existing pump.
  
• Dimensions, including depth of your pond.
  
• Should you require a new pond pump, we will need to know the distance to your power source and details of any water feature you wish to run with the new pump.
  
  For more details contact us now.