Many modern devices already have a display that indicates that the filter system needs to be cleaned. For systems without such a display, the question often arises as to how often cleaning actually needs to be done. Our article provides answers to this.
How often should I clean my pond filter?
The frequency of pond filter cleaning depends on the device. Many UVC filter systems have a cleaning indicator. For devices without a display, cleaning should be carried out when the water in the hose becomes cloudy or the flow drops significantly. However, avoid excessive cleaning to maintain bacterial cultures.
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Many high-quality UVC filter systems have a control display that always signals when cleaning is required.
Other filter systems, on the other hand, often have a transparent hose cover from which you can see whether the water in the hose is cloudy or clear. If it is cloudy, cleaning is necessary. The same applies if very little water flows through.
Before installing the filter, check the operating instructions (€163.00 on Amazon) to see what type of cleaning indicator your filter has and familiarize yourself with it. Only a few filter models have no display at all, but in these cases the manufacturer often provides information about when cleaning needs to be done.
Basic Cleaning Supplies
Especially with systems with UVC technology, you first have to familiarize yourself with how the filter works in order to understand when cleaning is even necessary.
The cleaning in the filter is carried out by bacteria that settle in the filter sponge. First of all, they have to multiply in order to be able to carry out the task in sufficient numbers.
The multiplication and colonization of bacteria can cause a greasy, sometimes malodorous coating on the filter sponges. This is not a sign that cleaning is necessary, but a sign that the filter is working!
If you were to remove or rinse this coating, the bacteria would be washed out at the same time. But they are the ones who do the actual work in the filer. Every time you rinse the filter sponges, the bacteria would have to colonize again - during this time the pond is not cleaned effectively.
So avoid cleaning the pond filter too frequently at all costs, as this will drastically worsen the water quality in the pond itself and the pond filter will only have little effect.
Tip
For individual filters, rinsing the filter sponges is permitted - but this must be stated in the operating instructions. In these cases, you should only ever use cold water for rinsing - hot water would destroy the entire bacterial culture! Here, too, cleaning is only carried out when the filter is so clogged that hardly any water flows through - then the bacterial lawn must be carefully “thinned out”.
