I built a koy pond in my garden 3 years ago. 4 cubic meters or so.
I've had all the normal issues about a pond, mainly the massive growing of microscopic algae that turns the water opaque green. This always dissapointed me because it was not possible to see the fish. After two weeks from a deep cleaning I couldn't even know if they were alive.
After doing some research in the internet I took ideas from different designs and decided to built my own filter.
It's an external tank-type filter. The water is pumped from the pond, goes through a Tetra-brand UV lamp, then goes to the bottom of the tank (there is a circular flow which produces a cyclonic effect on the solid debries). Some bio-balls help with the first biologic processing of the organic solids. Then the water passes upwards thru four layers of Matala Mats (black, green, blue and gray), combined with a last group of bio-balls at the top of the tank. At the top of the tank the water falls thru a side sink directly to the pond. It's a very simple design, and I am happy to say that IT REALLY WORKS!!!!
This system kills the microscopic algae, filters almost all the solid debries, treats biologically and chemically the water and makes a very efficient processing of the solids.
I started the field test with the pond totally opaque green, since I needed to prove the efficiency of the system. The combination of these different elements was able to totally clear the water in only 9 days!!
By now it's been more than 3 months since the last time the microscopic algae showed in my pond.
My fish are healthy and are growing noticeablely, I am sure they never lived in a better quality water.
The maintenance couln't be easier: I just have to turn the pump off, dismount the Matala layers and rinse everything with a regular hose. The tank also is rinsed and the waste water is disposed of thru a control valve mounted at the bottom of the tank. Finally I reassemble the parts and the system is ready to work again.
The Matala mats came in 39"x24" sheets, so I still have spare material for two more filters, If I decided to build more ponds for my friends.
I strongly recommend Matala Mats, Tetra UV lamps and the bio balls for any pond enthusiast.
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Reviews with images
It will make cleaning a breeze, sort of...
My wife owns 3 Dart frogs down from 4 (#4 like to escape & was found legs up on his second attempt) and it's a pain cleaning the tank routinely so she did some research and found Matala's filter media.The guy promoting the media has a link to a different product but as usual Amazon to the rescue!It looks like the 1st picture and I have 4 pieces installed in the tank one on top of another on each side. (yellow rectangles). It allows "clean" water , thanks to SongJoy 120GPH Submersible Filter Pump for Turtle & Aquarium, to flow freely at the bottom without saturating the habitat.Great product that makes the tank easier to maintain and clean.
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