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At Vijverleven, you'll find a wide variety of flow-through filters. But where do you begin your search for a flow-through filter? What is a flow-through filter? How does a flow-through filter work? Why buy a flow-through filter? At Vijverleven, we love sharing our knowledge with our customers. On this page, you'll find all the information you need to make the right choice for a flow-through filter.
What is a flow-through filter and how does it work?
A flow-through filter is a filter tank that must be placed above the pond's water level. The flow-through filter must return the water to the pond using gravity. The water supply is provided by a pond pump . Due to its simplicity and large capacity, a flow-through filter is ideal for both smaller and larger ponds. The water in a flow-through filter often goes through two or three filtration stages.
- UV filtration: Using a UV-C system with a UV lamp. The UV radiation kills algae and pathogens, keeping the pond water clear and healthy. Many flow-through filters come with an optional UV-C unit with a UV lamp , making it easy to install in your existing flow-through filter. If you want to install a separate UV-C unit, always connect it between the pump and the flow-through filter using pond hoses. Placing it after the flow-through filter will cause pressure loss at the UV unit, causing your flow-through filter to overflow.
- Mechanical filtration: Using foam blocks or foam mats. This is also called filter foam. This material ensures that small and coarse dirt particles are retained.
- Biological filtration: Using bioballs, biomedia, substrate, lava, zeolite, or filter carbon. Anything that beneficial pond bacteria can adhere to can be used as biological filter material. These bacteria ensure a biological balance in your pond.
Below you can see a schematic representation of how a flow-through filter works.
How do I install a flow-through filter?
Installing a flow-through filter is very simple. It starts with finding the right spot, above the water level, to place it. Perhaps there's a nice, sheltered spot where you can install the filter, minimizing its visibility. Once you've chosen a good spot, you can connect the pond pump to the flow-through filter using a pond hose . The outlet of the flow-through filter can be directed directly into the pond. Connecting an optional UV-C unit is also very easy. This varies by brand, but you can find instructions in the manual for the flow-through filter or UV-C unit.
Maintenance of a flow-through filter?
If a UV-C unit is connected to the flow-through filter, it's important to know that the UV lamp should be replaced at the beginning of each season. The UV lamp has a certain number of operating hours, which last approximately one season, so its effectiveness will diminish over time. Regularly cleaning the filter materials is also important. Depending on the level of pollution in the pond, you can clean the filter materials. The filter mats or foam blocks can be replaced every 3 to 4 years, also depending on the pollution. These can become saturated over the years, requiring replacement. When you first start the pond filter, you can help it get started with some filter starter bacteria. This way, you'll immediately have beneficial bacteria in your filter that will balance the water. It's best to bring a flow-through filter indoors during the winter. Otherwise, you run the risk of frost damage.
Benefits of a flow-through filter
A flow-through filter often houses a large capacity and is very attractively priced. All you need is a pond pump and a flow-through filter, and you're well on your way to a clear and healthy pond. A disadvantage of a flow-through filter is the large tank that often remains unseen. You can, of course, neatly conceal this filter tank or find a suitable location where it's less visible. If you're looking for an affordable solution to filter your pond water with a large capacity, a flow-through filter is a good choice.
Which flow-through filter should I buy for my pond?
The capacity of your pond is always a determining factor when choosing a pond filter . This also applies to flow-through filters . If your pond is 3 meters wide, 2 meters long, and 1 meter deep, the pond's volume is 3x2x1 = 6 m³ . This equals 6,000 liters of water. For a pond without fish, a flow-through filter with this capacity is sufficient. For a pond with fish (no koi), this volume is doubled, so you should look for a flow-through filter with a capacity of 12,000 liters or more. A pond with koi requires even more filtration, so you'll double this capacity again. Therefore, you'll need a flow-through filter for at least 24,000 liters of water. Always follow our recommendation for each flow-through filter. This calculation isn't always definitive, as the UV lamp can vary from one flow-through filter to another. You'll find useful filters on our website, and the specifications always indicate the required capacity for each type of pond.
