With a high-quality pond pressure filter, you prevent your beautiful garden pond from suffocating in algae - in a mechanically non-toxic and therefore environmentally friendly way. In our guide, we explain what you should pay attention to when buying a pressure filter for the pond.

Our recommendations

Oase pressure filter BioPress Set 6000
228.99 EUR To the productfilter media | sponges, bacteria |
---|---|
UVC clarifier | Yes |
power | 40W |
head | 2.2m |
flow rate | 2,500 liters per hour |
pond volume | 6,000 liters |
pond volume fish stock | 3,000 liters |
The Biopress pond pressure filter from the Oase brand is one of the most popular models of its kind on Amazon. This is due in particular to the very good price-performance ratio. Most reviewers are extremely satisfied with the cleaning performance of the filter. In addition, the cleaning function is explicitly praised.

MAUK XL UVC pond pressure filter set 13 watts for ponds up to 16,000 liters
239.00 EUR To the productfilter media | sponges |
---|---|
UVC clarifier | Yes |
power | 60W |
head | 3.3m |
flow rate | 4,700 liters per hour |
pond volume | 16,000 liters |
pond volume fish stock | 8,000 liters |
The pond pressure filter with backwash function from Mauk is also very popular with reviewers on amazon.de. The entire system seems to work very quietly and to work “greatly” at all. It should clear the garden pond absolutely efficiently. One of the highlights is the immense volume of the pond. In this point, the model is clearly ahead in our comparison.

AquaOne CPF 10000 bio pressure pond filter 12000l pond filter stream including 11 watt UVC clarifier pressure filter
164.90 EUR To the productfilter media | sponges |
---|---|
UVC clarifier | Yes |
power | 50W |
head | 3 m |
flow rate | 7,000 liters per hour |
pond volume | 12,000 liters |
pond volume fish stock | 6,000 liters |
The CPF pond pressure filter from AquaOne is our price-performance winner. It combines a relatively low price with excellent performance features, such as a high flow rate of 7,000 liters per hour. For the majority of Amazon reviewers, the filter and its pump are top-notch. The system should run optimally.
Purchase Criteria
filter media
filter sponges/foam: Sponge filters, often also referred to as filter foam, are the most common filter medium in pressure filters. The water is passed through the sponges - bacteria and other unwanted foreign bodies, on the other hand, get stuck. When making your comparison, also pay attention to the PPI value (pixels per inch). The higher it is, the finer the sponge. Filter sponges are easy to use and effective, but they also require a lot of maintenance: you have to clean and replace them quite often.
Japanese mats: Japanese mats are nothing more than polyester fiber mats. Their close-meshed net catches many foreign bodies. The advantages of the mats compared to the sponges: longer service life, easier cleaning due to the rather coarse material. The disadvantage is the higher price.
Filter rock/minerals: The filter stones and minerals used include granulate mixtures, activated carbon, volcanic rocks and zeolites. The biological aids bind toxins effectively. However, handling is more difficult. Due to the comparatively high weight, disposing of the stones and minerals is not an easy matter.
filter bacteria: Filter bacteria are harmless microorganisms that settle in the filter and also on the banks and on the pond bottom. The highlight is that they feed on organic material that otherwise causes dirt and pond sludge. This reduces the concentration of pollutants in the pond and at the same time provides more pond plant nutrition. Disadvantage of this method: The small beads with the filter bacteria have to be refilled regularly in order to achieve a lasting effect.
UVC clarifier: A UVC clarifier is an additional function that more and more modern pond pressure filters are equipped with. UV light is supposed to effectively kill bacteria and algae, which in the best case leads to significantly clearer pond water. Make sure the UVC lamp is powerful - 11 watts and up is ideal. Only then can you and the fish in your pond really benefit from the special extra.
power
The higher the performance of the pressure pump, the more water it can move, which is advantageous because the level of pollution in the pond is reduced more quickly. However, higher performance is always accompanied by increased power consumption. The characteristic is specified in watts. Powerful pressure filters usually work with around 50 to 70 watts.
head
The head indicates how high the pump can pump the water - i.e. pump it. With most pond pressure filters, it is a maximum of three meters. However, since very few garden ponds are deeper, the relatively low value is usually not a problem.
flow rate
The flow rate indicates how much water the pond pump can pump per hour. The larger the garden pond, the higher the maximum flow rate should be. For small artificial ponds, 500 liters per hour are often sufficient; for medium-sized ponds we recommend 1,000 to 3,000 liters per hour; and for particularly large garden ponds, the flow rate should be at least 12,000 liters per hour.
pond volume
Basically, it is important that the pond pressure filter fits the volume of your garden pond. In this context, please note the following: If you have fish or koi in your pond, you will need a more efficient filter. With fish, the amount of water that the pressure filter can handle is halved; and with koi, the water volume is even quartered based on the value without stocking. Many manufacturers provide specific information on the maximum pond volume with and without fish stock.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is a pond pressure filter and what is it for?
A pond pressure filter is a special pond filter that consists of a specific filter and a pressure pump. It serves to protect the garden pond from contamination and, above all, to prevent infestation with green algae, because this would kill off the fish in the pond.
How does a pond pressure filter work?
The pressure pump located at the bottom conveys the dirty water through a hose into and through the pond filter. The latter is dug into the ground at the edge of the garden pond. The water is cleaned in the filter, i.e. dirt particles are removed. Then the cleaned water can run back into the pond through a water feature or a stream.
Which brands offer good pond pressure filters?
The best-known and most popular manufacturers of pond pressure filters include, for example, Mauk, Berlan, Oase with the Biopress model, AquaOne with the CPF series, Wiltec and Kerry Electronics.
Where is the best place to buy a pond pressure filter?
Pond pressure filters are available in all well-stocked hardware stores and garden centers. You are sure to find what you are looking for in shops that specialize in pond accessories. In order to have a large selection of pressure filters from well-known brands and generally enjoy a pleasant shopping experience, it is advisable to order the pond pressure filter online at amazon.de.
How much does a pond pressure filter cost?
A complete pond pressure filter system including a pressure pump generally costs between 120 and 270 euros - depending on the performance and the manufacturer. You should be careful with cheaper complete sets. In general, we advise you to prefer the pond pressure filter from a reputable brand in order to maintain quality.
What types of pond filters are there?
underwater filter: It is the simplest type of pond filter. The relatively compact pond pump sucks in the water and cleans it in a small fleece filter in order to then pump it back into the pond through an attachment as a water feature. The underwater filter is recommended for mini garden ponds with a maximum capacity of 5,000 liters.
pressure filter: The main character in this guide is suitable for small, medium-sized and large garden ponds with a volume of up to 25,000 litres.
flow-through filter: Like the pressure filter, the flow-through filter is fed by a pump in the pond water. In this large cleaning cycle, the filter is the highest point. It cleans the dirty water and "sends" it back to the garden pond in a clean condition. Flow-through filter systems are recommended for ponds up to 30,000 liters.
module filter: Only so-called module filters can be considered for particularly voluminous garden ponds. In principle, such a model acts as a larger flow-through filter that can be expanded due to the modular design. A module filter can clean a garden pond with a volume of up to 90,000 liters.