“This Pond Has No Filter”: The Gravel is the Filter, Bro.

“Everybody knows that Koi, to be in a proper Koi pond, require an external filtration system, and a bottom drain, and that gravel is bad for them. “

And the problem is, people are going to see that everywhere they look on the Internet.

You may hold any opinion that you want, as far as filtration, and how fancy it has to be, but don’t be so ignorant as to believe that an ecosystem pond which uses a gravel bed as the primary residence of the biofilm and capture of small solids, isn’t a filtration system and isn’t sufficient to support Koi. Because there is a ocean of proof to the contrary.

In this recording, we talk about perhaps one of the worst conversations that face the pond owner as they try and make sense of the conflicting advice that they get, in particular, when the pond that they just spent a lot of money on, is attacked by somebody who doesn’t understand it.



‘Fact is, NO FILTER is going to perform without its proper maintenance for a year or two. When beads are your media biofilm substrate, you monitor flow rates and pressure, and backwash when flow decline. When gravel is your media, you have to maintain that, it’s own way!

 

 

Author: Dr. Erik Johnson
Dr. Erik Johnson is the author of several texts on companion animal and fish health. Johnson Veterinary Services has been operating in Marietta, GA since 1996. Dr Johnson graduated from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. Dr Johnson has lived in Marietta Georgia since 1976.