How To Keep Pond Water Clear Without A Filter
A filter is one of the things most experts would suggest that you can’t skip on when setting up a pond. They are important not only for keeping the water clear from dirt and harmful bacteria, but also keep the water crystal clear and pleasant to look at.
You may wonder, if you are looking to save time and money when establishing your pond, if it is possible to keep it clear without a filter. The answer is that it really depends on the size of the pond and the fish you intend to keep.
Generally speaking though, the higher your volume of bio-load, the greater amount of filtration your pond will need. Most of the bio-load produced comes from your fish, during feeding and from waste. When you have fish in your pond, it is harder to keep the levels balanced though. This is because of the beneficial bacteria you need that play a crucial part in the filtration process. They break down the toxic chemicals and components via the nitrogen cycle and while it is true that ponds naturally have beneficial bacteria, a more concentrated and larger volume is present in a filter.
That being said, it doesn’t necessarily mean you can rule out having a pond without a filter. While it is almost always recommended that you don’t have a pond with a heavy load – i.e. a lot of fish – without a filter, in a smaller pond or pond that has only small fish or no fish at all, you may not require one.
In these circumstances, it can be easy to maintain healthy and clear water with regular cleaning and maintenance and naturally occurring beneficial bacteria to filter the water. To help make this possible, we have put a list of some tips and techniques to keep your pond clear and clean without a filter.
Use Pond Plants Effectively
Pond plants are perhaps one of the most effective methods for naturally keeping your pond clear and clean in the long run.
Pond plants can help to remove unnecessary nutrients from the water add extra oxygen and keeps the growth of algae right down.
Supply Aeration and Oxygenation
By adding some kind of accessory to provide aeration to your pond, such as a fountain display, electric aerator or solar aerator, you can help with your pond’s surface movement and oxygen content. Normally a pump will be attached to a filter system, but there is no reason why you can’t just set-up a pump directly into your pond. As well as allowing beneficial bacteria to prosper, it will stop mosquitoes and algae from making your pond their home. if you keep fish, the added aeration is vital to ensure they get enough dissolved oxygen.
Supplement Your Pond With Beneficial Bacteria
Although beneficial bacteria is naturally present in the water, adding a supplement can help boost the populations and improve the bio-filtration of your pond, while reducing the waste accumulated inside it.
