Natural Pond Filters – Let Nature Do the Hard Work!

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You may think that it is silly to have to use a pond filter in your garden pond when no pond out in nature uses a filter. Why should you have to? Well, although a pond filter is still a good idea, there are some things that you can do to encourage nature to keep your pond clean, too. Why not let nature do the hard work?

· Water lilies – If you do not have any water lilies in your pond, it is definitely time to get some. Most obviously, you should include water lilies in your pond because they are beautiful. What you may not have known, though, is that water lilies will also help keep your pond clean. How? If you have problems with green water, you should cover over half of the surface of your pond with water plants, and water lilies spread out across your pond with ease. Another benefit to water lilies is that they give your fish a place to hide when it is sunny or when there are predators about.

· Other plants – other plants are also beneficial in your pond. Plants do not just add beauty to your pond (although, the beauty that they add seems like reason enough to include them in your pond). Plants are a living filtration system. They remove and process organic waste materials. Use both floating and submerged plants. Submerged plants are great for releasing oxygen into the water, and they provide an overall clearer water and better water quality. Floating plants great also because their roots are the home to lots of beneficial microorganisms that eat up the organic debris that clouds up your water.

Discuss – However, if you still do want to keep potted plants in your KOI pond, we recommend wrapping netting over the tops of the pots, to keep the fish from digging in the pots. Another thing you can do is to top the pots with 1′ of pea gravel, and then larger river stones or similar over that.

· Waterfalls – again, like water lilies and plants, waterfalls are not just beautiful additions to your pond: they are also helpful additions. Having moving water in your pond helps transport organic materials. Moving water also creates a more oxygen-rich environment which is required for beneficial bacteria to function well.

· Bacteria – as you may have been able to tell already, bacteria is necessary in your pond. Many of us think of bacteria as being bad, but there are, in fact, plenty of beneficial bacteria. You can encourage bacteria to colonize in your pond by having a good pond filter.

All of these things are helpful for pond filtration (including a store-bought pond filter), but let us just go over the benefits one more time of aquatic plants in your pond – they act as pond filters and also protect your fish in these ways:

Discuss – Ensure that you have good mechanical and biological filtration and that your pump will turn the pond water over totally at least twice per day.

·	They move carbon dioxide from the water while adding oxygen.

 ·	They rid your pond of pollutants like toxic heavy metals, ammonium, nitrates, etc.

 ·	They provide areas for beneficial bacteria and biofilms.

 ·	They control algae - no peas-soup water!  They both consume and inhibit algae.

Let nature help you keep your pond nice and clean and a nice habitat for any fish that you keep in it. Paired with a store-bought pond filter, these natural filters can do wonders for your pond.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on gardening and ponds, please visit Pond Filters.