How often should I clean my filters in my fish pond in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey PA

General Maintenance

​The Skimmer

The skimmer is designed to sweep the surface of the water so this it is free from debris. The debris basket inside the skimmer is the first filter stage of the skimmer. The basket will collect leaves, twigs, seeds, and other debris that falls or blows into the pond. It only takes a few minutes every other week to empty the debris basket. More frequent changes will be required during the fall in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey PA because of the quantity of leaves falling off the surrounding trees.
 
It is a good habit during your first season with the pond to periodically check the quantity of debris in the basket. This is especially true in the fall. Keep a mental note as to how often your basket has to be emptied. It's important that the debris basket is not allowed to become too full as too much debris can reduce the water flow to the pump.

Contact Gordon's Pond Utopia for pond Maintenance

Features found on the Signature Series™ 6.0 & 8.0 Skimmers

1. Natural Looking Faux-Rock Lid: Grooves designed into lid provide space for gravel or mulch
2. Patented Adjustable Faceplate: Have you ever messed up your transit measurement when setting your pond's water level? Forget about it! Four inches of travel enable you to tweak out the perfect water level (Signature Series™ 6.0 & 8.0)
3. Easy Maintenance: We are making it as easy as possible for the pond owner to maintain their filter with a large-volume, rigid debris basket (Signature Series™ 6.0 & 8.0)
4. Injection Molded Fittings: Check valve threads into skimmer wall providing a professional watertight seal along the back of the filter
5. Corrosion-resistant non-cross-threading hardware stands up to the elements
6. Filter mat removes smaller sediment and debris
7. Rounded shape provides maximum strength

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 Filter Mat

​The filter mat below the debris basket is the second stage of the skimmer. The mat is designed to handle any debris that finds its way past the basket. The mat will not need maintenance as frequently as the basket, since the basket will remove the majority of debris from the water.
 
The water reaching the pump should be relatively free of any large debris, thanks to the debris net and filter brushes on the skimmer, and, if you have a Pondless Waterfall, the fact that the water has to pass through layers of gravel in the basin.

Note: The filter mat may have a slot cut into it so that it fits around the discharge pipe. Install the filter mat correctly so the slot fits around the discharge pipe. Skimmer filter mats are designed to last for about two years. Filter mats may be discolored and appear dirty and old, but will work just fine in your skimmer and BIOFALLS filters, or MicroFalls. Replace old filter mats if they begin to tear or fall apart. ​

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​The Pump

​On occasion, you may see a reduction in the water flow over the waterfall in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey PA . This could be a sign that it is time to clean the filter screen on the bottom of the pump. This process should take no longer than five minutes. Simply unplug and remove the pump from the skimmer or Pondless Waterfall Vault and physically remove any debris found on the bottom of the pump. You may also want to physically remove any debris with your hands that may have found its way to the bottom of the skimmer or Pondless Waterfall Vault, where the pump sits.

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BioFalls Filter

The BioFalls filter is the starting point of your waterfall. The filter mats and media provide a home for the beneficial bacteria that help clean the pond. It is designed for once-a-year cleaning when used in combination with a Signature Series Skimmer or Pondless Waterfall Vault prefilter, ensuring that large debris is filtered from the water before it reaches the Signature Series BioFalls filter.
 
Most ponds don't require the filter mats or filter media bag in the BioFalls Filter to be cleaned more than once a year. Cleaning them, especially with chlorinated tap water, more often will reduce or kill the beneficial bacteria growing on these filters. Replace old filter mats after several years, when they begin to tear or fall apart. The filter mats can be removed for annual cleaning through the wider opening at the front of the rack.

Need your filters cleaned

Features found on the Signature Series 2500 & 6000 Biofalls Filter

1. More advanced installers will love the reversible waterfall lip option, which provides the flexibility of using a natural stone spillway and large accent boulders along the front of the unit (for 2500 and 6000 model filters)
2. Removable upper tray can hold rocks, plants, and gravel, helping to
   naturalize the BioFalls® Filter into the surrounding landscape
3. Media net (BioBalls™ sold separately)
4. Corrosion resistant non-cross-threading hardware stands up to the elements
5. Two Poly-Flo ESA biological Filter Mats provide 50% more surface area than traditional filter mats
6. Two bulkhead ports provide plumbing options
7. Filter support rack ensures evenly distributed waterflow through filter mats
   and provides structural strength to the walls of the filter
8. Circular shape provides maximum strength and makes it easy to
   camouflage into the landscape

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