Pond filter and pond volume
In principle, you can use the pond volume for the calculation. However, that is not always the only decisive criterion. How much pond volume you have in your pond plays less of a role in the design of the filter - it is mainly about how much dirt you want to filter out of the water.
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The type of pond is particularly important for the selection of the filter. As a rule, you don't need a filter at all for a natural pond - plankton and microorganisms in the Water ensures a sufficiently good water quality and prevents the pond from becoming algae sufficient before. The plants growing in the pond then convert the dust and the drift into the pond in addition.
It looks different with a fish pond. By bringing in fish feed (with many types of fish you have to feed it, for example with koi carp), you fundamentally change the nutrient situation in the pond.
Processes in the fish pond
In the pond inhabited by fish, a lot of ammonium is released into the water - on the one hand via the gills of the fish, on the other hand, there is also the natural ammonium content caused by rotting plant residues in the pond arises.
Too high an ammonium content is quickly fatal for the fish. The same applies to phosphates, which are mainly brought in through fish feed. Here, too, an excessive content is harmful, because it leads to increased algae growth, for which phosphate is an excellent fertilizer.
Filter surface as a basis for calculation
The actually appropriate filter size for a fish pond is obtained by calculating the surface area that can be colonized by nitrifying (nitrate converting bacteria).
The basic rule: For the conversion of 1 g of ammonium, a specific filter surface area of 4 m² is required.
This means: when adding 100 g of feed, around 4 g of ammonium are produced (also depending on the fish population) - and a filter area of 16 m² is required. The size of the required filter area can then be used to calculate which filter volume is appropriate. Here you should round up again vigorously, then you are on the safe side with regard to the filter size. With regard to the filter volume, despite the approximate calculation, always get detailed advice from a specialist and provide realistic information for the calculation.
Tips
The filter performance can of course be significantly lower with less ammonium input. With a natural pond you do not need a filter because there is no artificial input. At most, you can actually use the pond volume in these cases.
