The key to successful Koi Keeping is creating an optimum environment for your Koi. One of the key elements is proper filtration.
Mechanical Filtration: Refers to the physical removal of debris from water by materials that trap large and small particles. Koi ponds traditionally use some form of solids separation, either passive (vortex chambers) or mechanical (micron-screen/static K1 separators).
Biological Filtration: This is where your pond filter provides a home for beneficial bacteria to grow on special media. These bacteria remove harmful pollutants from pond water. Known as the "Biological Filter" these beneficial bacteria convert poisonous compounds such as ammonia and nitrite, into less toxic nitrate. The end by-product, nitrate, is used as a food source by aquatic plants. This continuous process is called the nitrogen cycle.
Matala media
Matala Green Coils |
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 The Green Matala can follow thereby trapping a medium size particle. Both Green and Black clean out very easily by simply shaking the pieces out before draining the sump. When you use the Black or Green Matala® for solids filtering you may use the garden hose to spray clean them. The dirt falls off very easily. A good biofilter needs a lot of surface area with open spaces between for good aerated water flow. A high surface area is useless if the passageways are so small that water flow cannot penetrate. R-Matala will naturally wedge in place without any need for support. Four sequential densities can be perfectly employed to achieve maximum solids / bio-filtration. Each roll is 6 inches thick with a tremendous potential to trap dirt and yet is super easy to clean. Simply drain the waste out your bottom drain and gently pour pond water over the R-Matala Medium Density The Green Matala® filter media can follow thereby trapping a medium size particle. Both Green and Black mats clean out very easily by simply shaking the pieces out before draining the sump. When you use the Black or Green Matala® filter media for solids filtering you may use the garden hose to spray clean them. The dirt falls off very easily. A good biofilter needs a lot of surface area with open spaces between for good aerated water flow. A high surface area is useless if the passageways are so small that water flow cannot penetrate. |
| Description | Price |
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| Matala Green 22 inch | $69.00 | | Matala Green 24 inch | $82.00 | | Matala Green 27 inch | $104.00 | | Matala Green 30 inch | $129.00 | | Matala Green 37 inch | $196.00 | | Matala Green 42 inch | $252.00 | | Matala Green 48 inch | $329.00 |
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Matala Blue Coils |
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 The Blue Matala® will filter out a much smaller particle and yet still maintain good flow distribution. In larger systems all four types can be used in sequence to essentially remove all solids. Matala is a progressive filter media that is self supporting and multifunctional. Used for prefiltering, mechanical filter media, biological filtration, spawning mat, plant protection, and as a support for other filter medias. Uniquely versatile, Matala is easy to work with and can fit most all filtration needs. The open structure of the media provides excellent flow-through without channeling. Since most round tanks are also rather tall you can stratify the R-Matala® in sequential layers to make best use of the chamber. The Blue Matala® filter media will filter out a much smaller particle and yet still maintain good flow distribution. In larger systems all four types can be used in sequence to essentially remove all solids. Matala filter media is a progressive filter Material that is self supporting and multifunctional. Used for prefiltering, mechanical filter media, biological filtration, spawning mat, plant protection, and as a support for other filter medias. Uniquely versatile, Matala filter mats are easy to work with and can fit most all filtration needs |
| Description | Price |
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| Matala Blue 22 inch | $71.00 | | Matala Blue 24 inch | $94.00 | | Matala Blue 27 inch | $107.00 | | Matala Blue 30 inch | $132.00 | | Matala Blue 37 inch | $201.00 | | Matala Blue 42 inch | $259.00 | | Matala Blue 48 inch | $338.00 |
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Matala Black |
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 Low Density Black Matala The Black Matala can be used as a support grate for other layers of media due to its very sturdy and open design. In a settling chamber the Black will slow down and trap very large particles and hair algae. When you use the Black or Green Matala for solids filtering you may use the garden hose to spray clean them. The dirt falls off very easily. |
| Description | Price |
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| Half Sheet Black 24 x 39 x 1.5 | $35.00 | | Full Sheet Black 48 x 39 x 1.5 | $69.00 |
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Matala Green |
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 Medium Density Green Matala The Green Matala can follow thereby trapping a medium size particle. Both Green and Black clean out very easily by simply shaking the pieces out before draining the sump. When you use the Black or Green Matala® for solids filtering you may use the garden hose to spray clean them. The dirt falls off very easily. A good biofilter needs a lot of surface area with open spaces between for good aerated water flow. A high surface area is useless if the passageways are so small that water flow cannot penetrate. |
| Description | Price |
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| Half Sheet Green 24 x 39 x 1.5 | $37.00 | | Full Sheet Green 48 x 39 x 1.5 | $75.00 |
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Matala Grey |
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 Super High Density Grey Matala The Grey Matala® Filter mats will filter out a much smaller particle and yet still maintain good flow distribution. In larger systems all four types can be used in sequence to essentially remove all solids. Matala media works perfectly with upflow filter designs. The ideal configuration would be the Matala® filter media stood vertically rather than flat. This allows for easier cleaning. All you do is grab an individual piece and shake it up and down to clean it. If your filter chamber is packed to tight, take out one piece first. Laid flat you will have to remove all the pieces to get to the bottom dirty piece. Stagger your vertical pieces with different Matala mat densities to achieve better solids removal or better biological filtering depending on the tank capacity. A Green piece next to a Grey piece for example will give good flow around the Grey one and trap solids in the Green one. |
| Description | Price |
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| Half Sheet Grey 24 x 39 x 1.5 | $44.00 | | Full Sheet Grey 48 x 39 x 1.5 | $87.00 |
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Kaldnes
Kaldnes Moving Bed process, which has been scientifically tried and tested in fish farming and waste water treatment for over 10 years, is now available for fish keepers and is exclusively distributed worldwide by Evolution Aqua.
The media is engineered in a wheel shape and is slightly positively bouyant. This allows a small amount of water flow to circulate the media throughout the vessel. This flow is created with your air pump and air stones or diffuser etc.
How it works
Maturing the Kaldnes bio-media is important because a delicate eco-system is naturally developing for the bacteria involved in the nitrification process. Kaldnes media provides the maximum active surface area for the bacteria to colonise, more than other types of static media. It is this process which removes harmful ammonia and nitrite from the water.
How it is different to other media
As the Kaldnes media moves within the filter, it causes the old dead bacteria on the outside to be displaced. This makes space for new younger heavier feeding bacteria to rapidly colonise. Within the wheel is a protected surface which enables colonies of bacteria to naturally follow their lifecycle, of maturing, dying and then fueling the latter stages of the nitrification cycle. Kaldnes has been designed to provide the best possible habitat for both young and mature beneficial bacterial colonies.
What is meant by 'self cleaning'?
Unlike foam, matting, or other forms of static filtration media, the Kaldnes K1/K3 media is designed to move freely within your filter. The constant chaotic movement of the air from your pump, causes the media to self clean and thus requires no maintenance. This allows the filter to reach optimum effectiveness without the disturbance of periodic cleaning, avoiding unnecessary loss of bacteria within the filter. 50 Litres of K1 media will handle up to 250 grammes of food per day and for K3, 225 grammes of food per day. For retrofit of existing filters, K3 media is the most suitable due to its larger size and ease of control.
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| Description | Price |
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| Kaldnes K1 25 Liter | $63.95 | | Kaldnes K3 50 Liter | $95.00 | | Kaldnes K1 50 Liter | $102.00 |
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Bio Chips |
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 Since the development of the Kaldnes Moving Bed process and its successful introduction into the waste water treatment industry in 1991, Kaldnes K1 media has become the industry standard throughout the world. However Kaldnes have not been idle and they have continued their extensive Research and Development programme to further improve the efficiency of their process over the last 12 years. The Bio Chip is the result of this programme and is much more than just a different shaped media. Although the total protected surface area is more than 2.4 times higher than K1 - this is only part of the story. The main difference to K1/K3 is that the protected area or quiet zone in Bio Chip, is designed to be the perfect environment for micro animals, not just bacteria. The extremely quiet zones created by the hydrophilic layer protecting every cavity in the Bio Chip, is critical to allow these micro animals to flourish. With other types of media they will be flushed out. These micro animals feed on small particles such as, fish waste, dead bacteria and algae. There are many different types of these micro animals that will colonize the media. Consider that Vortecilia are filtering 10,000 times their own volume per hour, and are feeding on particles up to 5 microns in size. It is these small particles that are always difficult to remove by mechanical means and make our water cloudy ! |
| Description | Price |
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| Bio Chip 25 Liter | $129.00 |
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Springflo |
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 This is not just another plastic media – it's hybrid technology! You are looking at the world’s most advanced bio filter media. The remarkable, embossed green coils of Savio Springflo™ provide more surface area for beneficial, waste-purifying microorganisms than any other product of similar volume. Patented design resists clogging, channelling, and encourages rapid bacterial growth for healthier, cleaner ponds and water gardens.
Savio Springflo’s embossed pattern provides over 180 sq. ft. of active surface area per box. Easily self-dispenses – simply hold above filter and start unwinding from center. While other media have a short usable life (they work best off the shelf) – the “loose coil” effect created by Savio Springflo™ fosters an ideal environment for waste filtering – it actually works best as it gets dirtier. Plus, it’s very easy to clean – just don’t use soaps, hot water, or chemicals, as they can harm the beneficial bacteria thriving to keep your pond clean, naturally. Savio Springflo™ is a special formulation of embossed polypropylene and calcium carbonate that lasts for an entire year. Plus, it’s an easy upgrade for any old style filter still using filtermat, gravel, bio-balls, or floss.
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| Description | Price | |
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| Springflo | $66.60 |
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