When should I turn off my pump and filter?

The simple answer to this question is never! To be effective, your pump and filter system should run 24 hours a day. Turning the system on during the day and off at night is almost worse than not having one at all.

The friendly bacteria in your filter need water flow to stay alive. When the pump and filter are turned off, it only takes a few hours for them all to die.

These bacteria help to remove harmful chemicals from your pond and to keep your fish healthy, so you need to keep them alive. If you turn your pump and filter off every night it is as if you are starting with a new pond system every morning.

During the winter

You should leave your pump and filter on during the winter, but turn off your fountain (if you have one), as it can quickly cool the pond down.

We also recommend that you move your pump up onto a marginal shelf in winter instead of leaving it on the bottom of the pond. This will mean that a layer of water at the bottom of the pond stays warmer than the rest of your pond, essential if you keep fish.

Winter is the perfect time to clean out your pond and filter for the spring. When you do this, make sure that you check for water in the UVC (ultra-violet clarifier) as this can freeze and damage the unit. You can turn off your UVC in the winter, as there shouldn't be any need for it.

Still confused? Give us a call on 01904 698800 or contact us online.