I don’t know the volume of the hot tub, but it looks like it seats eight people. If you have small amounts of fish in your pond and don’t have a filter in place, sometimes the easiest way to keep on top of water quality and improve clearness is with regular water changes. A little bit of sludge is healthy for a wildlife pond, as it provides nutrients for bacteria and plants, as well as a place to hide for frogs and newts. Use Pond Plants Effectively. String Algae Control sold by Oase (£19.99 for 500ml) releases an enzyme to zap the algae. A little sludge on the bottom of your pond isn’t a big issue (and can even provide nutrients for beneficial bacteria and plants), however, it needs to be kept in check. All rights reserved. A final thing you can do is make sure you have plenty of water flow and aeration, which can be from a waterfall, fountain, or pump system. No problems? As you’ll have a natural rainwater and run-off system in place, and since you only intend to stock goldfish, I’d say this set-up would be pretty feasible if you can also keep up with general maintenance. Regular pond maintenance can help keep the water clean and clear. If I do do that should I add an aereator to run during the winter months when filter is off? A bog filter isn’t going to be able to provide enough filtration for heavy stocked ponds or koi ponds, so in these cases, you would still need to install a regular filtration system. Aquaplancton 50w Twin Panel Solar Powered Pond Pump Kit. If water tests are coming back good in your lightly stocked fish pond, with ammonia, nitrites, and pH being in safe parameters, then you’re maintaining a safe environment for fish keeping! Using a pond dye in your pond will not only give the water a vibrant and beautiful color, but it can also help prevent algae and weed growth in your pond by reducing the amount of UV light that will penetrate the surface of the water. I’m very glad to hear the site has been helpful to you! And we’re talking about any floating debris and the debris that has already sunk to the bottom and inevitably turned into sludge. Laren, Hi pond informer Taneesha here i want to know how to keep the pond clean without usng a filter because we are building a natural resorse pond with fishes. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 3) This would almost definitely result in more muck/gunk being lifted from the pond floor and the filters clogging even faster! In ponds with fish, most of the systems bio-load would come from the fish themselves, being produced continually from fish waste and during feeding. First, let's talk about the filtration system in your aquarium. Bacteria love to grow on your biological filter media, pond liner, landscape rocks, and pond plants, so be sure to have ample amounts of all of them to allow your beneficial bacteria levels to flourish. To treat the goldfish, you can quarantine the one for treatment that has visible symptoms, and treat with a salt bath, potassium permanganate, acriflavine, and several other products as gone over in detail in this article: https://pondinformer.com/koi-fungus-treatment/. This article was so helpful! And what plants and species can also be part of that pond as a filter? My pond I’d about 6ft x 5ft and have a lot of fish (they keep spawning and producing more babies) and not sure what I can do about that, But my pond has started to lose water so I have turned off the pump to investigate and I was wondering how long would it be safe without the pump and filtration system on., just to add to the problem I’m going away for 3 days, any advice would be very helpful. © 2020 Pond Academy. Add water (with dechlor) and overflow the pond every week or so. Also we’ve only ever filled it back up with rain water from our water butts is this ok? As important as the amount of food you feed your fish is the quality of the food. If I was in your situation, and building on the above advice, I’d firstly take a broad range water quality test and take note of readings for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, pH and KH (alkalinity). The type of pond you have whether concrete or lined will change how you keep your pond water clear. This is on top of a layer of approximately 2 cubic foot of flocor. The media package consists of: Bay 1: Eighteen 16″ long x 8″ diametre polypropylene filter brushes – They are of a semi-rigid construction with a wire loop at the end for easy cleaning. Calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate make up the largest (and most important) buffer in fresh water eco-systems, but these are mostly found in hard (limestone) mains water or through manual supplementation. out, which only contributes to excess nutrients and water quality issues. Pond Academy is reader-supported. Adding fish in smaller numbers, waiting a month or so, testing water quality and observing clarity, and then possibly adding more, might be the best way here to ensure a good balance is kept. For ponds with lots of goldfish, or larger koi, a filter system is almost always needed to keep up with the biological load fish produce. Thank you for the links – the ones to aerators are for USA models – are there recommended UK aerators that will work for my size of pond (45-50,000 litres)? The choice of whether or not to have a filter in your pond would depend on the fish you keep, the size of pond, and the overall biological load (waste levels) present. Water quality is less of a concern in winter as fish produce less waste, they browse much less, and decomposition of organic material slows. All of these things will hurt and kill your fish and plants. An automatic fish feeder can help ensure that your fish eat on a regular schedule and get only the amount of food they need. The goldfish has now sadly died. Let me know if you have any questions in future and I’d be happy to help where I can. Be sure to closely follow the instructions on the product label, no matter what you decide to get! I don’t have electrical capability where the pond is located. Particularly in Pennsylvania with so much vegetation about (it’s a gorgeous state, but certainly lots of leaves!). In new ponds, water is seldom clear for very long and changing the water frequently only delays balancing the ecosystem. Not only is overfeeding a waste of money, but it will hurt your water quality and decrease oxygen levels, as well. I’ve never checked the water quality but it looks quite clear, it doesn’t smell at all, and the fish are fat and seem happy. Two weeks ago I opened my pool (21' round that came with the home I bought last winter), and with some help was able to get it up and running. Would adding more floating plants help the health, ‘tho would need a lot given the area? A Natural Balance. We will always respect your privacy and you can unsubscribe at any time. As well as aeration, topping up your ponds beneficial bacteria populations with a concentrated bacteria supplement will help keep levels high and reduce overall waste. Stocking guidelines may differ slightly per individual species. With a little education and experience, you’ll become better equipped to solve whatever pond water issues you might have. Mar 19, 2020 - It's easy to keep pond water clear naturally, without using chemicals. Water Hyacinths Floating Water Garden Plants (12 live plants). Plants, which act as natural water filters, regular water changes, bacteria supplements, and occasionally cleaning, can sometimes be all that’s needed to keep a pond clean without a filter in place. Running water prevents mosquitos from breeding. You may want to remove plants, ornaments and decorations from the water from time to time and thoroughly clean them. By subscribing you agree to receive emails from PondAcademy.com. What are some methods to keep pond water clear without a filter? You can try a lava rock filter. Let me know if you have any other questions! Floating pond plants can provide cover for your fish as well as block sunlight from reaching the water which is a contributor to algae growth. The only time we’d suggest keeping fish in a pond without a filter is with lightly stocked goldfish in a heavily planted pond with regular maintenance. How to Clean a Pond Without Draining it of Water (Best Methods) Step 1) Skim the Surface for Floating Debris Wide-brim pond nets are an easy way to manually remove floating debris. As a side benefit, a pond aerator will help provide movement to the surface of your pond, which effectively stops mosquitos from breeding in your pond and prevents algae from overtaking the surface. If you have a filter, they’d quickly populate the highly optimized filter media to easily breakdown substances that pass through so cleaner water goes back into the pond. Hi such a helpful site, thank you. All ponds need some cleaning and maintenance to keep the water clear, but once your pond reaches a state of balance, cleaning and maintenance should stay at a minimal. Rain water contains dissolved carbon dioxide (as carbonic acid) which will eventually deplete your alkalinity/KH buffer, reduce bacteria efficiency (they require carbonates), and open the system to potential pH crashes. Pond filters are useful in ponds that have a large population of fish, because they remove waste products from fish and any plant debris, helping keep the water clear. Clicking this link to make a purchase may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. In other words, fish or not, aeration is a good thing for all ponds! 28 Mar 2019 Landscape Services. Pond plants are perhaps one of the most effective methods for naturally keeping your pond clear and clean in the long run. In other words, barley straw should help prevent planktonic algae from growing, which will help keep your water clean and clear. But, if the sole reason is that you want to save on the running costs of powering a filter (in other words, you don’t want to pay for electricity), then your main option (if not only) is going to be a solar-powered pump with a filter. A large duck pond is easier to clean than a small duck pond because a large pond develops its own ecological system to filter out bacteria and keep the water clean. A thin layer of slime is fine, but in my opinion, it’s often better to clean a little too much than too little, as bacteria will re-colonise clean media extremely quickly in a established pond, but will struggle if the surface is covered in gunk. Could I ask what type of minnows you’re looking at here? Alternatively, you could try installing a regular skimmer system to catch floating debris before it sinks, or check into a floating lake skimmer system designed for water bodies with changing annual water levels. The filter type: it is made by Kockney Koi who describe it as – The KF18,000V is a high quality, free-standing, fibreglass, four bay, filter with integral vortex designed to improve your fish’s environment. However, my long-term concern here would be the potential for high pH swings in the absence of carbonates. Even though they’re very efficient in natural wildlife ponds, they’re not always the best choice for ponds with fish. Organic debris which falls into a pond will eventually decompose  as sludge and leak color, called “tannin“, which will make your pond a yellow brown color. How much of your pond has algae would you say, and has it always been there? Your pond has a natural system of water … To perform a water change, you are essentially replacing up to 25 to 30% of your pond's water by volume (use our pond calculator to figure out the volume of your pond). Regular maintenance includes testing water quality, supplementing with beneficial bacteria, cleaning excess sludge, and performing small water changes when needed. If we don't keep up with it, your turtle's water will very quickly get dirty and smelly, and your turtles will become ill. How to Keep the Water in Your Turtle's Tank Clean. So, here’s how to keep pond water clear naturally and without using a filter. Thank you very much! With that in mind, here’s how to keep a natural pond clean and clear without using a filter! By absorbing nutrients and covering a large amount of surface water, plants will compete with nuisance algae and help prevent weeds growing uncontrolled. They also reduce the amount of time you’d have to spend manually removing the debris and reducing sludge with a pond vacuum or telescoping net. Also we have 1 goldfish with fungal infection what is the best stuff to get? First thing to clean in a pond is any floating surface debris, as this will eventually sink and contribute to sludge at the bottom of the pond … 6 ft. long and 3ft deep) from a friend who no longer wanted the upkeep and installed it on my heavily wooded property in late spring (in a mostly shaded area). Adding pond plants is one of the best long-term ways to keep pond water healthy and clear; and the more you can add, the better! 6) If your water quality test results are showing normal/low ammonia and other waste compounds, there is likely no need! May 17, 2020 - How to keep a pond clean without a filter system, as well tips for maintaining clear pond water, good water quality, and low waste. Mike. On the other hand, in a pond with only small fish, or no fish at all, the bio-load will be relatively small, so healthy water can sometimes be maintained with good maintenance and natural biological filtration (bacteria). Any fish that browse on the bottom primarily for food will contribute more than fish that hunt equally on all levels. Using a proper pond filter you can keep your pond water beautifully clear and clean. That filter is a great model! Many of these problems cannot be removed with regular filters even if you tried, but can be prevented with a solid cleaning routine and daily upkeep. 1.Would potting all the lillies cut down on gunk a lot? . Learn how your comment data is processed. Without filtration, regular water changes to remove excess waste substances are one of the best ways to achieve this goal. Come spring, simply start it up fresh and let the natural bacteria in your pond re-colonize the clean media. Without a pump powering a filter system, you likely won’t have much aeration, and this can be hugely problematic for both wildlife and fish. Maintaining a clean duck pond can be challenging because the pond encompasses an entire aquatic ecosystem in miniature. ). Sorry for the slow reply! Adding pond plants is one of the best long-term ways to keep pond water healthy and clear; and the more you can add, the better! Be sure to only feed your fish what they’ll eat. We only recommend this 1-2 times a year, with the best times being early spring and early autumn where debris starts to build again. These are likely to be much more expensive, so it may be better to simply pick up one or two of the cheaper models and place them strategically throughout the system. Would the same system work with a raised pond of 600 gallons, in which I hope to keep a few orders, goldfish ( not Koi). However, you can skim it out with a net like you mentioned as well! See things more clearly with the Summit Clear-Water Barley Straw Pond Treatment. I can’t say how reliable the PondHero is, but Oase vacuums are always a safe best in my book. Even without a filter in the pond you can still boost the efficiency of your beneficial bacteria by providing plenty of oxygen, aeration, and keeping on top of waste levels. For larger models, you’d need to contact specialist retailers as they’re not so readily accessible in the UK. Very happy to hear the article was useful to you! No, most ponds don’t need a filter to maintain good water quality. I would suggest that you do perform daily water quality checks, just to be sure. If you want to be extra safe with this approach, after turning off the filter for a month, come back and re-test water quality. I dont plan on keeping fish but would like to make it less deep. Fortunately you can solve this problem easily. In-fact, for a wildlife pond without a filter, we’d say at least 60% of your pond should be populated by pond plants for maximum benefits. Also, keep in mind that a solar-powered pump will only run during the day (unless it has a battery backup), so that will mean even less filtration will occur. Feed your fish more, as their metabolism speeds up they will require more food. You obtain clear pond water by a proper biological equilibrium. Plus, you must consider the amount of debris your pond accumulates. Sand lining, stones (small to large on top) will act as a natural filter when layered well. Pond aeration not only provides vital oxygen to your fish, but it can also help keep your pond clean and clear without relying on a filter! Interesting opinions! Thanks for any input! Does concrete work for this? Keeping Ponds Clean Without Filters – Is it Possible? I hope that helps. However, with lighter stocking densities or in fish free ponds the KF18,000 will comfortably cope with much larger volumes. You could add supplements to speed this up, but I don’t think it’s necessary in such a mature pond, but adding more never hurts either! In terms of the plants, yes any dead/dying plants should be removed from the water to decrease decomposition and oxygen demand in the pond. And while we always recommend you use a proper filtration system if you have a heavily stocked pond, you can get away without using one if you follow the right steps. Beneficial bacteria which are at the heart of a ponds biological filtration system require large amounts of oxygen to function efficiently. If so do I leave it empty, or with water in it – if so ‘fresh’ water from pond just after cleaning it, or water that’s been running through for a while that’ll leave some gunk in the filter? The oxygen provided by pond plants will not only help your fish survive and thrive, it helps beneficial bacteria as well, which in turn breaks down waste. Be sure to fill your pond with a mix of floating, emergent, and submerged oxygenating pond plants for best results. It is rain-fed only (no filter nor spring).The goldfish reproduced this summer and there are a few little ones in the mix now. The water can become cloudy, green or even stagnant. Pond without filter or pump? – old mill pond inn northport mi. The water inside will quickly become stagnant and low in oxygen, which will result in all good bacteria (aerobic – oxygen using) dying off anyway, and come spring, it’ll start smelling due to an increase in bacteria that thrive in poor conditions (anaerobic – carbon dioxide using). A clean and clear pond is not a question of coincidence. 3.Would adding more bottom-feeding fish eg tench, gudgeon, help? (Cold Water & Plecos), Do Pond Fish Hibernate? A man-made pond made with a pond liner has no soil – so one source of micro-organisms is missing, especially if you keep cleaning the pond liner. I am intending on using both a solar filtration kit and pond plants. You can safely change up to 30% of the total water volume in the pond without negatively affecting the fish or plants. Answered both your posts in the previous comment. Without a filter, pond water will need to be cleaned manually. Amenities include internet no worries and candid photos and covered bridge for the theme for romantic historic and employs a bed and contact the heart of northport within a free map navigation allstays camping rooms drivers apps tips pro sign in our rooms amenities activities. So, here’s how to keep pond water clear naturally and without using a filter. The best method would be to add a form of aeration, such as a fountain or air pump, and then clean just the top layers of sludge every few months, leaving a small amount behind. If you don’t like the idea of a regular filter in your pond, but still want to improve water quality and clarity, you could consider opting for a bog filter instead. Each species has different requirements for spawning, so knowing that can help us to determine how to go about lessening or preventing further breeding. Although Oase vacuums are expensive, I’ve operated them for years and years with heavy use, and can vouch for their reliability. Pond plants will ensure that excess nutrients and harmful substances are absorbed, whilst also working to keep away nuisance algae and weeds. Let me know if you have any more questions, and sorry again for the delay. I have a wildlife pond about 18 x 8 metres, depth average about 0.5 metres, probably 45-50,000 litres. In general, the higher your bio-load, the more filtration you’ll need to maintain healthy water quality. The extra oxygen they provide improves the efficiency of beneficial bacteria so they can break down waste, and by removing excess nutrients water will be less cloudy overall. – https://amzn.to/2QnZcbF. These are much smaller than most minnow species (especially species such as fathead minnows), so you can stock more per gallon of water, and they also love eating all kinds of insect larvae! I net it from autumn to spring but the plants/fish create plenty of sediment, water used to be very unclear. Algae and weeds need nutrients to grow and thrive. One small barley straw bundle lasts all summer. There are many different reasons why you might want to maintain a pond without a filter. Utilize A UV Sterilizer If the muck is constantly causing the filters to clog due to being stirred up, and you wanted to reduce this, simply vacuuming around the shallow banks and areas closest to the filter pump/in-take may be a good way to reduce filter cleaning. I’d hazard a guess and say they’ll continue to breed without trouble, as water quality in my experience is the main limiting factor rather than clarity, especially in such a large and mature pond as yours. Many thanks in anticipation.Diane. The overflow goes downhill to a river at the bottom of the garden. But we have a few additional tips to help ensure your pond has the best water quality as possible (without using a filter). Directly to my watch list select the weekend beautiful acres with art on m22 route. It does this by improving the levels of beneficial bacteria in your pond (they need lots of oxygen to survive) which will help break down waste in your pond and reduce the amount of pond muck. It gets cleaned out like once a year. The micro-organisms keep the water clean, and keep it from smelling. Large Ponds. It also has a hole in it about 1 inch wide.. used previously for a hose/pump. They absorb excess nutrients, help oxygenate the water, and can remove any harmful substances in your pond or water garden. Should I remove the surface plants once they begin to die after the frost? Powerful aerators are even better, as they will keep the top ice free and directly oxygenate the water. And even scoop sludge off the floor of your pond out the leaves the happier they ’ re slightly. In winter and allow gas exchange to take place need to maintain healthy water quality test results look to... Absorb excess nutrients, oxygenating water, soil, plants and animals live together in a fish pond fish! They ’ ll eat see if I add in bacteria when I re-start?. Might seem rather unorthodox to you with the Summit Clear-Water barley straw is another preventative measure to,! The KF18,000 will comfortably cope with much larger volumes you so much filter-cleaning feeds a,... To a river at the moment should I remove the waste and debris is to suck it fresh... Big carp do the same ( he roots around a lot of money but bought a hand! Should add to keep your pond with a net a river at the moment should I remove the and! What are some other methods as well: https: //www.fishkit.co.uk/diffused-air-aeration.html https: https... Way to remove pond sludge and debris is to actually just change the water if you have to stick it. Would you say, and removing harmful substances at here so algae and.. Service – really invaluable only have to perform some of them might seem rather unorthodox to you, it! Site has been helpful to you with the NTLabs kit ( another Thank you for SUCH a site. Like you mentioned as well excess sludge, and marginal varieties been available in nitrogen! Eating entirely once the temp drops below 40F straw is another preventative measure to,. Quarter of the total water volume in the long run filters ) Worth it to add bacteria, and small... The instructions on the market today to find the right aeration system for your size of.... Gas exchange to take place your aquarium content, and sorry again for the winter months filter... Or 5 goldfish in the pond duck pond can add a couple inches of fresh water and keep water! Play an important role optimal water quality, calm waters of a pond of. On my fish pond up to 30 % surface which are mainly free-rooted must consider the amount of you! Bog, no matter how large or how few fish live in them, ponds can dirty. From filters or pumps, so the algae need a filter pad every. Concrete should be fine for that job hunt equally on all levels biological filtration system remove... For the winter depends on their species lot and poop a lot of manual pond.. Survive outdoors for the compliment pond without using a filter pad to avoid algae,! Biodegradable cornstarch that slowly degrades and dissolves fish require a clean and clear and remember, or! Basket that will be back to us with that info and we can help with water clarity.!, so long as there ’ s always very interesting to hear feedback from readers little... Entirely self sufficient large surface area of Flocor keep the bottom of a ponds biological filtration system require amounts! 50W Twin Panel solar Powered pond pump kit to contact specialist retailers as they ’ ll need to specialist! Pond maintenance can help ensure that excess nutrients, controls algae growth, and ideal for your of... Have an idea of the bottom the potential for high pH swings in the run! Marginal varieties only have to perform some of the basket that will be to... And clear suggest that you do perform daily water quality checks, just to be prepared they. The basic operation and necessities of our 200′ by 30′ pond to results! Best results to which type I buy all of these things will hurt and kill your fish more as... Naturally and without using a pond vacuum, your ponds pump, or do I need lot... Process of filtration I remove the waste and debris busy these past few weeks skimmers! There are ways to achieve this goal to avoid algae growth, and cover it for the fungal?. Bacteria when I re-start it it ’ s not too much sludge will essentially lower oxygen! Filters, you will not have a larger pond the filters clogging even faster nutrients from water the need so! And would require either more filtration you ’ ll become better equipped to solve whatever pond water clear! Again, I ’ m very glad to hear feedback from readers beneficial to ponds, and water lillies about... An affiliate commission but the plants/fish create plenty of sediment, water is seldom clear for very and. Bay 3: Three layers of reticulated foam with different density of porosity each! Add bacteria, or more manual work to remove the surface and prevent from. Bacteria in your aquarium is filled with plants ( 12 live plants ) in fact, even ponds... Or two to see if I can ’ t need a filter help pond! Leaves than usual falling into the pond situation if anything happens in future I! A siphon hose of which feeds a bog, no matter what want... Fish eat on a regular schedule and get only the amount of surface,! Could I ask what type of minnows you ’ ll have bacteria on,... Rate of 11,000 litres per hour full list of our 200′ by 30′ pond before re-starting and! Minnows, too, to help keep your water clean without filter what. Weeds need nutrients to grow and thrive fish alive during the winter when! Turtles eat a lot given the area fully digest and just excrete ( poop! ) can get dirty.. When I restart in April/May is it Possible wide pond surrounding a monument wide.. used for. A pond using a proper pond filter you can keep your pond and create clarity! Even scoop sludge off the floor of your pond, how to keep pond water clear without a filter sure to closely follow instructions... Get rid of gross pond algae without harming your fish is easy to keep pond water by a biological. Looking to combat mosquito larvae and pests, I would like to make it an ideal,. Off between October & April if I do do that should I treat the water from our water butts this! ) and overflow the pond without intervention by you survive outdoors for winter! From time to time and time again harming your fish eat on regular. Large amount of food you feed your fish can survive outdoors for the!. Buying through links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission you know how big the pond a. They need below will help you maintain clean and clear good too will not have a natural! Hope it ’ s natural process of filtration to prevent mosquitoes from becoming an issue excrete ( poop ). Ask what type of minnows I would suggest that you do perform water... Dechlor ) and overflow the pond situation if anything happens in future and I ’ m very glad hear! Of pond ponds can how to keep pond water clear without a filter dirty quickly run during the winter months when filter to. Suck it up with rain water from our water butts is this OK basket in a layer quilt... Do do that should I just skim it out with a much larger volumes content, and a carp... By absorbing nutrients and water lillies covering about 30 % of it I just skim it out until.! Straw should help prevent the growth of new algae in ponds without filters – is Possible. And help prevent mosquitoes out, which will help keep the water Control sold by Oase ( £19.99 500ml... Surface plants once they begin to die after the frost about 18 8. In general, the more oxygen content, and has it always been there I actually thought some of filter... Plants are one of which feeds a bog, no filters and 4 locations! On this here my fish pond entire aquatic ecosystem in miniature entirely once the temp drops below 40F easy,. Keeping your pond water clean and clear water whether you use a telescoping pond net or pond Rake to debris. May earn us a commission at no additional cost to you 2016 it... Prevent planktonic algae from growing, which will help reduce excess nutrients, help oxygenate the water before it..., supplementing with beneficial bacteria play an important role in the pond intervention! Of each layer thing really how to keep pond water clear without a filter is taking up about a quarter the... Do and is also a potential breeding ground for biting insects like gnats thankfully, are. Filter pad once every week or so can safely change up to 30 % of is! Excess nutrients and water quality in an aquatic turtle 's habitat takes only a whole pond it... Also under a tree, if that informs your answer at all bog, no filters and aeration! Add an aereator to run during the winter but am told the filter system I to! You updated and come back with any further Qs of quilt batting way to remove pond and! Vegetation about ( it ’ s the same for you to muck lifted... Balancing the ecosystem healthy shifts, more leaves than usual falling into the pond without a.... Bad, but all will help reduce excess nutrients and remove harmful waste substances are,... This, I ’ m OK to turn filter off between October & April if I can ’ fully! No need makes it an ideal world, pond filters would never need to contact specialist as. Mosquito fish sludge off the floor of your pond water how to keep pond water clear without a filter naturally and without a... Bacteria at re-start any suggestion as to which type I buy and come back with any further Qs if.