10 Best Koi Pond Filters – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

When you’re setting up a Koi pond, the one thing that you don’t want to get wrong is the filter. While getting the right Koi and decorations are nice, if you can’t keep the fish alive, none of that matters.

But when you start shopping for filters, it can quickly get confusing. How many gallons per hour do you need, and does the filter actually have everything that you need to use it?

The truth is that many filters require you to purchase even more accessories, and this can make finding the best deal extremely challenging. We simplified things with these reviews, so you can find exactly what you need and order it today.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Lifegard Aquatics Trio Pond Fish Pond Filter	Good mix of price and performance Includes the pump and fountain spray attachments Treat up to 2000 gallons of water	Check Price
Best Value		SunSun CUV-109 UV Sterilizer Pond Filter	Affordably priced UV light doesn't need changed often 9-watt design is extremely energy efficient	Check Price
Premium Choice		Savio Stainless Steel UVinex Pond Filter System	Treats up to 2500 gallons Easy to install and chemical-free Easy to maintain	Check Price
		SunSun Pressurized Pond Filter	Can treat an 8500-gallon pond Multiple filtration methods Compact design is easy to hide	Check Price
		Lifegard Aquatics Uno Pond Fish Pond Filter Kit	Good mix of price and performance Two-stage changeable sponge filter Includes the pump and fountain spray attachments	Check Price

The 10 Best Koi Pond Filters

1. Lifegard Aquatics Trio Pond Fish Pond Filter — Best Overall

If you’re looking for the best overall Koi pond filter, it’s this Lifegard Aquatics Trio Pond Fish Pond Filter. It’s not hard to see why. This assembly comes with everything that you need to filter a 2,000-gallon pond effectively, and it does it at an extremely affordable price.

It’s an outstanding deal when you consider that many of the other options are similarly priced or cost more, and they don’t come with a filter pump! This setup includes the pump, fountain spray attachments, and a filter assembly, all in one easy-to-install setup.

The only drawback is that this setup only comes with a 20-foot power cord, but extension cords will do the trick if you need something a bit longer. If you need an entire filtration system, buy this set and never look back.

2. SunSun CUV-109 UV Sterilizer Pond Filter — Best Value

If you have a smaller pond and already have the pump assembly, this UV filter by SunSun might be just what you need to clear up your tank. It can handle up to 396 GPH, which means it works great for ponds that are under 800 gallons.

While that’s not the largest pond, this filter is still an outstanding deal when you factor in how affordable it is. But as the best Koi pond filter for the money, it offers more than a low upfront cost. With an energy-efficient 9-watt UV bulb, this setup won’t drive up your energy bill either.

You hardly ever need to change the bulb, and cleanup is a breeze. Just keep in mind that this doesn’t include the necessary pump and fittings, so only get this filter if you already have that equipment.

3. Savio Stainless Steel UVinex Pond Filter System — Premium Choice

If you’re looking for an attachment that can clear up almost any pond, the Savio Stainless Steel UVinex Pond Filter System is a great buy. You can either get a 26-watt or a 50-watt option, depending on the size of your pond.

It’s extremely easy to install and is chemical-free, making it safe to use around both kids and pets. It’s also simple to maintain. Still, you’ll need to run a traditional filter setup with this UV filter. Otherwise, you’ll have a bunch of dead algae floating at the top of your pond. This means you’ll have to spend even more money to get everything that you need to keep your pond clean.

While this setup is far from cheap, the monthly electric price to run it should be fairly negligible. To run the 26-watt light for the entire year at 12 cents a kWh, it’ll cost you about $2.28 a month. For the 50-watt filter, that jumps to a still-meager $4.38 a month.

4. SunSun Pressurized Pond Filter

The SunSun Pressurized Pond Filter is an expensive setup that does a great job of cleaning out your pond. However, this setup doesn’t include the necessary pump, although it does have a dual filtration system.

It uses both a UV light and foam pads for maximum filtration, and you can use it to treat up to an 8,500-gallon pond! Additionally, the entire filter uses an extremely compact design that is easy to hide in your pond.

Moreover, it has a built-in cleaning function that enables you to clean this filter without ever tearing it apart. It’s easy to install and maintain, but you’re definitely paying for that luxury up front with the price.

5. Lifegard Aquatics Uno Pond Fish Pond Filter Kit

This Lifegard Aquatics Uno Pond Fish Pond Filter Kit is identical to the top overall pick on this list in every way but one: the maximum flow rate. But if you have a pond that’s smaller than 1,000 gallons, there’s no reason to pay for the larger filter setup.

This kit comes with everything that you need to filter a smaller pond. It comes with a pump, power cord, filter, and fountain spray attachments. Still, it can only filter half the amount of the top choice, and it’s only about $30 cheaper.

If you’re filtering a much smaller pond, you might as well save your money, but if you’re pushing the maximum size, you should go with the larger setup and get better results. For smaller ponds, though, this is an outstanding choice.

6. Jebao Easy Clean Bio-Pressure CF-10 UV Sterilizer Pond Filter

This Jebao Easy Clean Bio-Pressure CF-10 UV Sterilizer Pond Filter has a unique feature: bio-balls. These produce nitrate bacteria, which actually promotes overall pond health.

It also has UV lighting and foam pads to filter your entire pond. Additionally, there’s a cleaning indicator that lets you know when it’s time to get in there and clean out the filter.

However, you’re just getting the filter, not a pump, and it’s priced too high for just that. Second, it only works for up to a 1,000-gallon pond, and you can do it for far less money than with this filter.

It’s just a bit too expensive for what you’re getting. You can filter a 1,000-gallon pond for less, especially when you consider that you’ll still need all the fittings, adapters, and pump!

7. Tetra Pond Waterfall Filter

This Tetra Pond Waterfall Filter is a simple design but highly effective. You can use this setup to both aerate and filter your pond, which cleans out contaminants and prevents bacterial growth.

However, while this filter can move up to 4,500 gallons of water per hour, its design only allows it to filter a 1,000-gallon pond effectively. It’s not the end of the world if you have a smaller pond, but the maximum flow rate is more than a little misleading.

Additionally, this filter doesn’t come with any of the necessary hoses or the pump, which means you’ll need to spend even more money to get everything that you need. While this isn’t the most expensive filter assembly, it’s not the cheapest either.

However, the extra-long spillway does hide the filter, which means you’ll get a beautiful waterfall to add to your Koi pond, which is always a perk.

8. Savio FilterWeir Set

If you want to add a waterfall to your pond but have a pond larger than 1,000 gallons, this Savio FilterWeir Set might be just what you need. With the right pump, it can filter out a 20,000-gallon pond, and that’s no small feat.

Furthermore, it has a mesh media bag and bio-tech filter mats to clean everything in your pond. It also has an extremely large spillway to create a large fountain, which is likely what you want if you have a larger pond.

However, there’s no doubt that you’re paying for all these features. It’s an extremely expensive filter option, and all it comes with is the filter assembly. You’ll still need the correct pump, hoses, and everything else to make it work.

You’re also paying for professional-grade equipment, and unless you have a huge pond, it’s probably a bit overkill for what you need.

9. Savio Compact Skimmerfilter & 8.5-in Weir Assembly

For the price, we expect a bit more than what the Savio Compact Skimmerfilter offers. This filter does skim your pond and has two filtration pads, but that’s where the perks stop.

You can install a UV light to this filter, but that’s sold separately and will cost you even more. Also, to run this setup, you still need everything else: adapters, hoses, and even the pump. You’ll be spending so much on the filter, while many other setups would give you everything that you need. It’s a good setup but it’s just too expensive.

10. Tetra Pond Submersible Flat Box Filter

The Tetra Pond Submersible Flat Box Filter is affordable and extremely easy to install, works with tons of different pumps, and is simple to maintain and clean.

But this filter’s first big flaw is that it can only handle up to a 500-gallon pond. For a Koi fish pond, that’s tiny. Moreover, it doesn’t have any special features and it needs a ton of cleanings.

While you can get by cleaning other filters just a few times a year, you’ll be cleaning this filter nearly every month to keep everything clean.

Buyers Guide: Finding the Best Koi Pond Filter

If you’re looking for a filter for your Koi pond, you want to get it right the first time. If you choose the wrong filter, you’ll have to deal with more than just a dirty pond — it can kill your fish and cost you even more money.

But what filter does your pond need, and what’s the correct setup for your Koi pond? We walk you through everything that you need to know so you can pick out the perfect filter the first time.

How Much Flow Does Your Pond Need?

The first thing you need to realize is that every gallon of water in your pond needs to run through the filter at least once every 2 hours. So, a 500-GPH pump and filter setup can support up to a 1,000-gallon pond.

However, you need to keep in mind that many filters don’t come with the necessary pump and attachments. It doesn’t matter if your filter can push up to 500 GPH if the pump can only move 250 GPH.

You can only get as much as the highest-rated part. However, you also need to be careful that the pump isn’t pushing too much water into the filter. While too little water doesn’t pose a problem for either the pump or the filter, too much can damage the filter and take you back to square one.

UV vs. Sponge Filters

When looking at pond filters, you’ll notice that there are two main types: UV and sponge. While there are other options, they almost all have the same function as the sponge filter.

The difference between these two options is stark. A sponge filter traps and kill containments as the water runs through them. Over time, you’ll need to clean the filters and eventually replace them. This isn’t a huge deal, and it’s how people have been filtering ponds for a long time.

The second option is a UV filter. These filters use UV rays to kill harmful bacteria and other things that you don’t want in your pond. However, you’ll still need a traditional filter to clean out the dead algae and other bacteria.

But the benefit of using a UV filter is that you get much clearer water, which makes viewing your Koi fish much more enjoyable. While you certainly don’t need a UV filter, we certainly recommend it.

Checking for Compatibility

Before purchasing any pond filter, you need to ensure that you can use it with your current pump and other equipment. This usually means verifying the hose sizes and getting any necessary adapters.

Furthermore, you’ll need to verify that the filter is large enough for the pump that you’re attaching it to. While you can order adapters to make things work after the fact, if you overload your filter and damage it, you’ll have to fork out even more money for a new one.

Keeping Up With Cleanings

It’s your filter’s job to clean the pond, but it’s your job to clean the filter. You will also need to skim out large debris, like leaves and sticks, to keep it from clogging up your filter.

How often you need to skim your pond depends on what’s around, but you should clean out the filter about every 6 months regardless.

Cleaning out the filter is usually easy because all you need to do is run clean water through it. However, if that doesn’t do the trick, invest in replacement foam pads. They’re relatively inexpensive and will keep your filter working like new, which will keep your Koi Fish alive and happy.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still confused about what filter you should get after reading these reviews, you can’t go wrong with the Lifegard Aquatics Trio Pond Fish Pond Filter. It comes with everything that you need to start filtering your pond and keeping everything clean.

If you’re having issues with clarity, you can invest in a low-cost UV filter like the SunSun CUV-109 UV Sterilizer Pond Filter to pair with it, and you should have a clear and clean tank! They’re our top two choices for a reason, and they’ll work wonders for your pond!

Featured Image Credit: MelissKeaneArt, Pixabay