Is a 'Pond Filter Pump' and a 'Pond Filter' the same thing?

When it comes to selecting pond equipment, it can be confusing when some of the terminology is used to describe the function of a certain product.  One of these confusing terms relates to a ‘pond filter pump’ and a ‘pond filter’.  Water Garden Ltd have provided this FAQ to help explain the differences between these two similar terms.

Pond Filter Pump.  A ‘pond filter pump’ is specifically designed to move waste particles (fish waste, silt and general debris) to a separate pond filter.  Filter Pumps are usually called ‘solids-handling’ pumps as they contain large holes in the outer strainer casing to allow larger particles to pass through the pump, the hose and into the separate filter for capture and breakdown.   Filter pumps do not contain filtration whatsoever and are simply moving the water and debris on to a separate filter.  An good example is the AquaMax Eco Premium filter pumps.

Pond Filter.  A pond filter is usually sited outside of the pond and is designed to capture the waste passed from the solids-handling ‘filter pump’.  The pond filter usually contains special filter foams and media to both trap the waste and then biologically break this down before returning the cleaned water back to the pond.  A pond filter also may contain a UV Clarifier which will help prevent green water (single celled algae).  The pond filter does not contain a pump.  An example is the OASE FiltoClear pond filter.

The exception to this rule is in the case of an ‘All-in-One’ submersible pond filter which have their own small pump, UV clarifier and filter foams and these are submersed directly in the pond.