No, most ponds don’t need a filter to maintain good water quality. … Whether or not your pond should use a filter will come down to the amount and type of pond fish you have stocked, the size of the pond, and the amount of waste and debris your pond accumulates.

Can you have a pond without a filter?

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. Pond plants will ensure that excess nutrients and harmful substances are absorbed, whilst also working to keep away nuisance algae and weeds.

Does a small garden pond need a pump?

If you are planning on habiting fish in your small pond, it could be crucial that you install a pump and suitable filter system. The pump and filter not only help filter their excrement from the water but also helps keep the pond oxygenated at the correct levels for them to survive.

Do you need a filter for a pond without fish?

In a natural pond the water, soil, plants, and animals all live in harmony. … If you don’t filter such an unnatural pond it will become full of algae and the water will be dirty and smelly. The only way to have a pond with a liner is to add aeration and filtration.

Can Koi survive without filter?

Originally Answered: Can koi fish live without air pump? Yes, air pumps are half assed way to make up for lack of a proper filter, maintance, and water movement.

Can I have a pond without a pump?

If you don’t have any fish in your pond, you don’t technically need a pump or filter box if your eco-system is in balance. This type of pond is usually called a “wildlife” pond, and is kept healthy with natural bacteria, plants, and a strong nitrogen cycle which will benefit from added aeration and oxygen.

How can I keep my pond clear without filter?

1. Do Not Overstock. You need to be sure not to overstock the pond when using a filter. …
2. Avoid Overfeeding Your Fish. …
3. Regularly Change Water. …
4. Utilize A UV Sterilizer. …
5. Nano Media Reactors. …
6. Using Pond Dye. …
7. Have The Correct Plants.

Does a backyard pond need a pump?

Water circulation is not essential but the use of a pump will allow you to keep more fish and it will keep your plants healthier. A pump is required to run a filter, fountain, or waterfall. The sound of running water adds greatly to the enjoyment of the pond. Most ponds will benefit from the use of a biological filter.

How do I circulate water in my pond without a pump?

1. Solar Fountain Pumps. A solar fountain pump is a solar-powered machine that creates movement at the water’s top surface for dissolving oxygen. …
2. Solar Aerators. …
3. Windmill Aerators. …
4. Pond Plants. …
5. Water Depth. …
6. Cover the Pond. …
7. Water Floats. …
8. Do Not Overstock Your Pond.

Does rain put oxygen in a pond?

Simply, yes; rain will contribute oxygen to a pond. Rainwater is a helpful source of the dissolved oxygen your pond needs to thrive. It is also (usually) a clean and natural water source that can be confidently added to your pond water, due to the absence of harmful substances like chlorine.

Article first time published on

How long can I leave my pond pump off?

A pond’s pump should run 24 hours each day to ensure the pond’s water circulates through the filter to keep the water clear.

Are koi dirty fish?

Koi need a well balanced pond with plenty of filtration and oxygenation as well as no overcrowding. My pond is 4 feet deep, with a separate filtration pond and the water is crystalline. No. It is not a dirty fish. Japanese would not tolerate a dirty fish living for decades in their aquarium tanks.

Do frog ponds need filters?

Maintenance. Clean filters regularly. Top up the pond with the garden hose if it needs it, but don’t add more than 10-20% at any one time. Scoop out a little dead plant material—it makes great compost.

How can I oxygenate my water without a pump?

One of the easiest ways to aerate the water in your aquarium without a pump is to use a pitcher or cup. Simply fill a pitcher or cup with the aquarium water, lift it up nice and high, and pour the water back in. The water will pick up oxygen on the way down to the tank, thus inserting oxygen right into the water.

Does a goldfish pond need a pump?

No, you do not need a pond pump for goldfish if your natural pond (no pump or filter) is set up properly. Goldfish can survive and even thrive in a pond with no filter or pump as long as you have a properly planted pond and don’t overstock your pond with goldfish.

Can goldfish live without a pump?

As it has been stated, goldfish do not always require an air pump to survive. It can do well in a tank that is well oxygenated for as long as it normally can. As long as there is enough surface movement that translates to oxygen, then the goldfish can live just fine without an air pump.

Does a waterfall oxygenate a pond?

A waterfall will aerate a pond, but it has its limitations. If your pond is small and shallow, a waterfall might create enough circulation to cover the entire volume of water. However, if you have a large, deep pond, a waterfall will likely be inadequate on its own, and you may need extra help.

How often should you do water changes in a pond?

Just as with an aquarium, you should replace a small portion of the water once a week to prevent it from going stale. Keeping on top of this means that you can remove some of the debris that collects in the pond from rainwater and the wind.

How long do goldfish live in a pond?

In a pond, goldfish can live anywhere from 5 to 25 years. For fancy goldfish, their pond lifespan is usually 5 to 10 years. Common goldfish can live in a pond for 10 to 25 years. It depends on the type of goldfish, the quality of the pond, and their care.

Can I put regular goldfish in a pond?

The trusty goldfish is an old favourite for many, and they are regarded as perfect pets for the garden pond. Of course, goldfish may be kept in spacious, well-filtered aquaria (with a large surface area for oxygen exchange), but they will very much appreciate the freedom and space that a garden pond can provide.

Do I need to change pond water?

There is no single answer as to how much of your pond water should be changed. The size of your pond, number of fish and plants, effectiveness of your filtration system and time of year can all be factors in water quality. It is important not to change too much of your pond water at once.

Why are my goldfish dying in outside pond?

The filter is mature but cannot cope with the amount of fish (overstocked,) and the waste. The filter is mature but cannot cope with the amount of food you are feeding (overfeeding,) There may be a dead fish that is decomposing and causing poor water quality.

How do I know if my pond needs oxygen?

1. Fish will come to the surface to breathe. You’ll either see the fish on the surface of the pond, struggling for oxygen, or near any water features. …
2. Your pond will give off a foul odor. …
3. You’ll observe a thick layer of algae growing on the surface of the pond.

Do pond pumps use a lot of electricity?

Pond pumps have become much more efficient over the past twenty years, but a fair amount of power will always be required to move substantial volumes of water. As a guide, electric costs for: A small spouting frog ornament (9w) — 4p per day. The very smallest in-pond filter/UV system (18w) — 8p per day.

How often should you feed fish in a garden pond?

Start feeding fish daily again at a water temperature of 10 °C or higher. At lower temperatures metabolism of (cold-blooded) fish is so slow, that they hardly need any feed. In this period you should restrict the amount of feed.

How do I keep my pond clear?

1. Understand that a little bit of algae or discoloration is normal.
2. Use beneficial bacteria to starve single-cell algae that turns water green.
3. Add a wide variety of aquatic plants to starve string algae.
4. Add a larger biofilter.
5. Don’t overfeed your fish.
6. Don’t overcrowd your fish.

Why do koi jump out of water?

A lack of oxygen is a common reason that Koi fish jump out of their pond. Increasing the oxygen level is often a simple process, though you may have to try multiple solutions to raise it sufficiently. Dissolved oxygen is lower the warmer that the water gets.

Can koi and goldfish live together?

Koi and goldfish can be kept in the same pond, but there are a few things to keep in mind. … Both koi and goldfish can be beautiful and they come in a variety of colors. Koi will breed with the goldfish. Some of the baby fish (fry) will be born brown or grey and may turn orange as they get older.

Do koi produce a lot of waste?

While koi fish may be known for their grace and beauty, few know that they are also one of the dirtiest and high-maintenance fish to own. Because they like to root up the pond’s bottom surface, and because they produce a lot of waste, koi pond water can easily become mucky and dingy.

Does a fountain aerate a pond?

Fountains and bubblers are two types of surface aeration systems that work by agitating the surface of the pond to mix oxygen into the top layer of the water. Fountains pump water into the air, creating small droplets that collect oxygen from the atmosphere and fall back into the water.

What should I put in the bottom of my wildlife pond?

Pond substrates – Use sand and washed gravel, to provide a substrate for planting into, and places for creatures like dragonfly larvae to burrow into. Let wildlife come to your pond naturally You don’t need to add sludge, from another pond, to your pond to ‘get it started’.