My pond installer did not provide very clear maintenance instructions. How often does my filter need cleaned?
Most water gardens utilize a box filter that consists of a number of filtration pads and some type of bio filtration media like lava rock, plastic “bio balls” or a ribbon media. The quick answer to this question is that your filter needs cleaned on a monthly basis. If your filter pads only have a light accumulation of debris, then try rinsing them out in a bucket or tub of pond water. More often than not you will need to hose them off in order to remove heavier debris. Do not clean the bio media unless you have noticed a significant degredation in water quality. If your filter uses a quality bio media, then the only time it needs cleaned is in the spring and fall. Water gardens with a large fish population, undersized filters, gravel on the pond bottom, near trees and shrubs, bordered by mulch beds or frequented by birds on a regular basis may require cleaning every two to three weeks. A general rule of thumb is to clean the filter every four weeks and observe how dirty the filter pads
Most water gardens utilize a box filter that consists of a number of mechanical filtration pads and some type of bio converter media like lava rock, plastic “bio balls” or a ribbon media. The quick answer to this question is that your filter needs cleaned on a monthly basis. If your filter pads only have a light accumulation of debris, then try rinsing them out in a bucket or tub of pond water. More often than not you will need to hose them off in order to remove heavier debris. Do not clean the bio media unless you have noticed a significant degredation in water quality. If your filter uses a quality bio converter media, then the only time it needs cleaned is in the spring and fall. Water gardens with a large fish population, undersized filters, gravel on the pond bottom, near trees and shrubs, bordered by mulch beds or frequented by birds on a regular basis may require cleaning more often. A general rule of thumb is to inspect the filter every four weeks and observe how dirty the fil
