Perfect Koi fish pond filtration - everything you need to know

In order to create the perfect filtration for your pond and your koi you need to know the principles behind filtration and the specific challenges koi in particular bring. In this video I talk about everything you need to know to help you choose, setup and/or build the perfect filter system for your particular conditions.
Filtration can be broken down in to 3 areas, I explain in simple terms, that everyone can understand, the 3 stages and give you the information to enable your koi to thrive, rather than simple survive.
Thank you for watching and do feel free to share this video and be sure to check out my other videos and consider subscribing to my channel.
Daz
Check out my website at www.dazzlekoi.com/
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[@Marks_Channel]

Another informative video and explained clearly. I found your channel about three months ago and since then my koi’s health have improved tremendously as have the water test results. Just sitting watching my koi you can see they do look more active than they use to. For the past two months I have cleaned my pod out everyday which I then top up the pond with about 80 litres of water so my next project is to sort out a trickle in and out system using the pod as an overflow. I have also built a bakki shower to your spec but the medium I used is ceramic shower media from Queni Koi which is only about 20 miles away and it seems to be working fine. I am looking forward to your video on oxygen, thank you Daz and please keep the videos coming.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Mark, thanks very much, that's brilliant to hear 🍻🍻🍺🍺🍻🍻 How active, and how willing they are to eat, particularly when you are stood there watching them, are great indicators of your koi's general health and well being. Yes the Queni koi media should work every bit as well as the kano 👍 I need to get on that oxygen video. It was a matter of priority as everyone was having problems due to the warm weather but before I could get it made it had cooled and I had missed the boat.

[@BucketIist]

I find your videos super informative and helpful. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge. Very best from California!

[@DazzleKoi]

Hello mate and thank you very much 🍻🍺🍻

[@richardthurston92]

GREAT VIDEO TOP MAN WELL EXPLAINED FROM A KOI OWNER FOR 40 YEARS.FROM OLD SCHOOL CHAMBERS TO DRUM FILTERS THANK GOD FOR DRUMS 'AND EASY PODS .RICH CAMBRIDGE

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Rich and thank you very much, I appreciate that mate 🍻🍺🍻

[@marmar3431]

Now I Get it. The coralation between stocking v dilution. Very clear Daz

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks mate 🍻🍺🍻

[@richd-koi6974]

Another brill vid. Great for any beginners out there but still enjoy listening to the advice 👍🐟

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks mate, how's things with you? What do you think of the new channel banner and logo mate?

[@garydrablow853]

Excellent video. We as Koi keepers should know this already but if any were unsure then this video is extremely knowledgeable and valuable to watch. Keep it up Darren

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Gary 👍🍻🍺🍻👍

[@lindosbay]

Very informative as usual. Keep up the good work. It's all a great benefit to Newbies like us. I was very pleased after this video to realise that we are at least doing something right.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Hi and thank you very much, I really appreciate that 🍻🍺🍻

[@colrobbo2821]

As ever simply and well explained cheers daz! 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Col 🍻🍻

[@mykoiobsession]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, your videos are always informative and done with language that everyone from novice to expert koi keeper can understand. Another great video. Cheers. 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers mate, that's great to her, thanks 🍺🍺🍻🍻🍺🍺

[@carollycett1329]

nice to see you Daz hope you are well, brilliant way you put out this video so simple to understand Thank you

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Carol, I'm going along ok, thank you. How are you?

[@gerritdevos4707]

Another great video. Thanks Dazzle. I use pond water to water the garden, top up the pool and do the water changes on the aquariums. That way I do not waist any water. Live in one of the dryer parts is South Africa.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, yes that's something we dont tend to think about here but I imagine it can be a problem in warmer countries

[@IcenI_Koi]

A good helpful guide for the novis Daz, thanks for sharing, have a great weekend.

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers mate, a little belated but you to 👍👍👍

[@CATANDEYEKOI]

Many, including me, will know about the topics you covered but I didn't know everything so thanks for filling in the education gaps. Well presented and explained. Cheers mate.

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Steve, how's things with you? What do you think of the new channel banner and logo mate?

[@davidcook380]

Absolutely Fantastic video , I have learnt a lot from it thanks Dave

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks David, I appreciate you taking time to comment 🍺🍺🍻🍻🍺🍺

[@micky2oo2]

Very helpful video. Always good to improve pond and koi knowledge 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Micky, what do you think of the new channel banner and logo mate?

[@observer8838]

Great explanation for beginners.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thank you very much 🍺🍺

[@theressomethingkoiaboutme4563]

Love your informative videos pal.Keep em comming and crackin pond and koi by the way.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thank you very much, I appreciate that 🍺🍻🍻🍺

[@keepingitkoi]

Great video most like my self would know most of this but always great having a refresher and I'm sure this would have helped many people very well explained 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks mate, I appreciate that 🍻🍺🍺🍻 What do you think of the new channel banner and logo mate?

[@garyhoward2628]

So I started watching the channel after coming across a random feed. It was the 3 part of how to build a bakki shower I think. I watch the first one as you advised, I've been hooked on the channel ever since. There is an awful lot of information out there some is clearly not so good others like yours is amazing. the simplicity of the explanations are key in keeping me interested for one,but it's the simple honesty and at times common sense approach. I'm off to rethink my filters, always had a bit of an issue with ammonia and fines. listening to you explains exactly where I'm going wrong and why. Overstocked yup, no dilution yup, poop on the bottom yup. it's not all bad I work hard vacuuming and keeping it as clean as I can but there are days when I do out the cleaning off. feel bad for my babies now. great content thanks and keep me coming. cheers Gary

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Gary and thank you very much for your kind words, I really appreciate that. Its great to think just one person may have got something from it. For me you hit the nail on the head with simplicity. Along with consistency they are the two most important elements. When we over complicate things it invariably goes wrong and we lose enthusiasm. Keep it simple and the maintenance becomes simple and therefore we tend to do it more often. All the best 🍻🍺🍺🍻 What do you think of the new logo and banner?

[@andrewmason2879]

Brilliant mate 👍 It was nice to have a chat with you me and the wife. I managed to catch you outside when we were on are way home. I have the sieve and I clean it out everyday. But it still gets clogged up to much to quick. That’s why I was saying to you about a drum filter. And my water is clear I just don’t like the idea of the water constantly bashing the waste on the sieve all the time 👍👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Andrew, sorry for the delay, circumstance has meant I've just not been able to answer comments properly for a couple of weeks but I'm back in business now. Yes it was great to meet you, I had a great weekend, it was a bit overwhelming to be honest with all the attention, mostly on Nando 😁😁Hopefully I was still making sense by the time I saw you 👍 Yeah I'm not sure were I stand on sieves these days. They are definitely a step up on most other mechanical filters, but they do have some limitations. I've often tried to come up with a way to modify a sieve to take the waste out continuously but I always end up with something that's effectively a drum. I think your system sounds very good, probably a drum is the only way to go to make it better, but the cost is high and the improvement is probably small in your case. Draco make a very small drum/bio combi filter called the minima. I always fancied one of those but finding info on it was like pulling teeth so I gave up and went with the pod in the end. Maybe one day my circumstances will allow me to give it a go but its not going to happen any time soon. What do you think of the new logo and banner?

[@anthonyjackson4034]

Great informative video, good to see you on top form.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Anthony 🍺🍺🍺 What do you think of the new channel banner and logo?

[@popzsnow1141]

you can't imagine how much your knowledge helped experienced and inexperienced hobbyists. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge!!

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers mate, that really means a lot. that's what it all about at the ned of the day 🍺🍻🍻🍺 What do you think of the new channel banner and logo mate?

[@georgecromar4094]

Another great video Dazzle

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks George, all the best Sir 🍻🍺🍻

[@Dave_Lefever]

Very nicely explained - thank you

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Dave 🍻🍻🍺🍻🍻

[@jeremymanning2132]

Great video Daz. Very informative but put in layman's terms. 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Jeremy, much appreciated. What do you think of the new logo and banner?

[@waynebrown5852]

Another fantastic video

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Wayne, What do you think of the new channel banner and logo mate?

[@arvindnagar1761]

Thank you love the video.Will help a lot

[@DazzleKoi]

Thank you mate, good to know it was helpful 🍻🍺🍻

[@Djst-zv1sv]

Dazzle is the man wish i knew this when i started mate got sold a dodgy pressure one mate awful anyway keep the vids coming

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, yeah a lot start out down the pressure filter route. Its a learning experience but it can be an expensive one sadly.

[@suzypennycook3047]

Darren will you be videoing your autumn measure up and koi check? I really like those.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Suzy, yes definitely. Its a bit more tricky this year getting access etc but I'll definitely do it. They haven't progressed as much this year due to my circumstances but still some progress to report 👍👍👍

[@charlesrooney8308]

Great video.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Charles 🍺🍻🍻🍺

[@carole9819]

Another excellent video. I have certainly learnt a lot since finding you channel. Keep up the good work. I wonder if you could answer a question for me, Is there a reason you have not fitted a skimmer on your pond?

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Carole and thank you 🥂🥂 I'm not really a fan of skimmers, they invariably cause complication and issues. As such, if I don't need one I would never fit one. I don't have any trees overhanging my pond and I don't really get anything floating on the surface so I dont need one. I appreciate that they are vital for some situations but if I can avoid one I will 👍

[@Ar-xo3rk]

Good looking pond Do you clean your glass? If you do how often?

[@koisaf]

amazing video sir👍👍👏

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks very much, what do you think of the new channel banner and logo mate?

[@everythingbutkoi6898]

Thanks again

[@DazzleKoi]

No problem mate, thank you 👍👍👍

[@popseyskoi2141]

Very good 👍🏻

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks mate 🍻🍻🥂🥂

[@emersonc1]

my pond is roughly your size (newly built) and all i have is an easy pod. I have been told this isnt enough. What would you recommend - a tempest? What is your setup?

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi there, set up correctly with 5500 litres of flow and flushed regularly (ideally every day) the Eazy Pod is absolutely fine on your pond on its own. I have a 3" bottom drain to the pod gravity fed, from the pod to a pump and then tempest, UV, home made shower, back to the pond under gravity. The shower and the pod are both great additions that do two different functions. Either will give you good benefits but neither are vital.

[@alanoes1]

Very informative video Daz Where and how does your trickle in enter the pond Cheers Alan

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Alan, its on one of my videos somewhere but basically it is connected in to the return line just downstream of the tempest. I add it straight from the supply so there is a slight level of chlorine so I dont want it going in to my bio filters before its diluted.

[@dansage]

Keeps looking round to make sure the fish aren't listening to him 🤣

[@DazzleKoi]

😁😁

[@Chequr_Prostate]

Another first rate video. You should run courses on Koi keeping or create an online course people could purchase.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Andy, an onlone course sounds like a great idea mate, I'll definitely look in to that 👍👍

[@haider1032]

Hi, was wondering if I could get some advice. I’m really new to the pond game. The pond was set up (I watched some of your videos and well as others) and yesterday I added two koi’s to my tank which are around 7 inches each. One is a sakuma mix and one is an aoki tosai. My water temperature is around 17-18 degrees. When I added them they would run and try to hide behind the pipe of the pond pump. When I leave they swim around the pond (guessing they’re shy). The problem I have though is how long does it usually take till they’re no longer shy because I’ve noticed when I’ve put the hukari food pellets they’re not eating them either and when I go towards the pond to see if they’ve eaten them they hide again. Is this normal or do you think there could be a problem? Is the water too cold for them so their digestive system is slowing down? Not sure what to do next to be honest. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi there, its difficult without seeing it to be honest. You should have a test kit to test ammonia, nitrite and pH at least. Do this regularly. I have a video on starting up a new filter which may be useful. When they get bigger they will be more confident. Also if you had more koi in there they will be more confident. It isn't a surprise that they are shy, but test the water to make absolutely sure there isn't something else wrong. Feed them only on a good quality wheatgerm now until the water warms up next summer.

[@ericgorman4237]

great vidio i have a oase proficlear premium compact iam only 5months into oi keeping 3800 ltr pond 5 8 incn koi i set my fillter to clean once every 60 mins approx 1 ltr at a time i replace water though oase declorenater 24 ltr once a day is this enough water change 178 ltrs a day =712 ltr a momth

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Eric, that works out at 33% a week so I think that is fine, no problem at all 👍👍👍

[@stephenscarr]

hi Darren, did you build your pond yourself ??? if so how did you fit the window, just i'm wanting one but my koi dealer has told me that you have to re-seal them every year ..... is there a way around it ???

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Stephen, yes mate I built it during lock down. I'm not sure who has told you that but its absolute rubbish mate. I fitted a window in around 2000 and I know for a fact that window is still as good as the day it was fitted and hasn't leaked so much of a drip in 22 years. Zero maintenance. I'll make a video soon explaining how to do it but it is very simple. You created a recess in to which the window sits and you line the recess with silicone (I use HA6), you then push the window in and hold it in place for 24 hours for the silicone to cure. Job done. The water pressure pushes the window in to the silicone for extra safety.

[@gerritdevos4707]

I think the water changes is your most important 'filter'.

[@DazzleKoi]

I think you are probably right mate 👍👍👍

[@localwally6172]

Been struggling with my 1500 gallon pond. For 20 years it’s been perfectly clear (Aqua UV, Ultima II Aqua filter, Sequence pump running 7/24). After a major pond clean up (roots growing into pond) I hand washed the media. Been told to not backwash for 6 weeks to let bacteria grow but the pond looks terrible after a week so I break the rules and so a small backwash, mainly to keep the waterfall running. Was told not to add additional bacteria but what would you do?

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi there mate, forget the advice to not backwash, its 20 years out of date. I started my new pond up and flushed my filter every single day from day one to this day. It started up quickly and has been bomb proof since. Bacteria live on surfaces, they wont be flushed away. IF a small number do get washed away they were weak and you are best rid of them. I'm not sure were in the world you are but if you have access to EA pure+ I would recommend getting hold of some and adding a bit to your media every other day for a couple of weeks. Balance ammonia/nitrite with the amount of food you put in. Be patient and you will be fine 👍👍👍

[@charlesrooney8308]

If you keep cleaning the filters are you not decreasing the good bacteria?.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Charles, I think its a bit of a myth that to be honest. I cleaned mine every day since starting the pond and it matured very quickly with no issues. The bacteria will need live on surfaces and are not easily dislodged. I believe that even if some does come away, it is the weak ones and so you grow a more resilient colony in the end.

[@carldensman4099]

Toxic to your kar?

[@harringtonsheritage2380]

I think I have just killed my filter bacteria? I have had a ammonia spike due to a mistake cleaning my filter. I have done a half change with my water and bought a aeration pump to improve my oxygen levels. My 3 filters are doing the job and levels are down now the the air stones are adding extra help. I have noticed my fish flashing, and I decided to go to my local aquatic centre and asked advice. They gave me a treatment which is medifin. I couldn’t find anything useful on KZbin about it. As I’m not sure if it is a parasite issue I aired in the side of precaution . So decided to put 60mm in rather than the 300mm it advices for my pond. To my surprise it has turned my pond blue. Now after reading some forums, they say this stuff is quite bad. For fish plants and filters is this true? And do I need to do another water change? I will be buying a microscope from now. I don’t feel I can trust the garden centre anymore. This hobby is very frustrating at times. Lots of traps to fall down.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi there, sorry to hear about your issues. You are definitely correct that you should never trust that place again, they have no idea what they are doing and have simply sold you a product that is labelled as a 'cure all' when in fact there is no such thing. You wont have caused any harm but you wont have done any good either. Stop feeding until your ammonia is under control. If you dont feed you wont add more ammonia. Extra oxygen will help in many ways so that's a good move. Get yourself a dropper test kit if you dont have one already, colombo is good but there are others that work well to. And yes, definitely pick up a microscope. If you keep koi you need a microscope. Scrape 3 or 4 koi and let me know what you find. There is no panic with regards the medifin though, it wont do any harm 👍👍

[@harringtonsheritage2380]

Thanks so much for your advice,much appreciated. I have gave my pond another flush of 50% and the flashing has stopped. No excuse though, I will be getting a microscope. I have also cleared my fry and small gold fish out to give more breathing space for my koi. So hopefully that should help. The pond looks empty now, but not a bad thing. And have a nice aquarium in the dinning room now. 😀👍🏼 Thanks once again you have settled my mind. Fab channel . 👍🏼✌️😀

[@DazzleKoi]

Youre very weclcome. And don't worry, it wont look empty for long, they will grow much quicker now and soon fill the pond again 🍻🍺🥂

[@kkyogish]

No audio audible

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, did you manage to fix this? You are the second person to say this now but many thousands have been OK. Very strange

[@STROYCA]

your wather in the pond is not biological in this video ! and you tell me about biological filtration ?

[@DazzleKoi]

You are going to have to explain what you mean mate as I dont understand, sorry

[@richardbrooker623]

Long winded and badly explained. Not informative at all as well as inaccurate. 🥱

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks for your feedback Dick, can I ask that you elaborate on what I have said that is inaccurate please? I'm always ready to learn. Nearly 15,000 people watched it before you and yours is the first negative comment so I'm interested to hear your thoughts 👍