OASE BioSmart 10000 Pond Filter

We were on the point of giving up. Our pond water was totally green every summer, and we could only see the fish when they were within the top foot or two of water. We tried different filters, barley, and algicides. Nothing worked. Our pond is 8'X10', with half of it 2 feet deep, and half 4 feet deep, so there's a lot of water in it. Previously we had an Aquaviolet filter, but it just didn't do the job. We were going to give our fish away and fill in the pond. Purchase of this filter was a last attempt. The results have been amazing. The water is crystal clear, and we can see right to the bottom of the pond. We used to have to pull the pump out every second day to wash the algae off the mesh bag protecting it, and we changed the pond water every second week. UV lights, different filters, nothing seemed to work. That's all changed now. It was difficult to pipe in. I used 1.5 inch plastic hose with spiral re-enforcing. It has nearly impossible to find connectors for it. I had to purchase things for toilets and use steel hose clamps. I used a splitter to get the full volume of water pumped up to the two inlets on top of the filter. My initial impressions were that it looked flimsy and I was disappointed to see that the filter media was only a few sponges. That all changed as we began to see how effective it is. Clean out of it is really easy and quick. I just shift the filter a bit so that they clean-out port is over the edge and let it drain. With the larger diameter piping that it's designed for, we can run much more volume through it than anything we have had previously. The water is so clean now that we only need to even clean the mesh bag over the pump about once a week. I only changed the water once during this whole season. The sponge filters only need to be squeezed about every couple of weeks. I highly recommned this product.

Allow me to set the scene: I have four rescued pet ducks who have taken up residence in a large run I’ve coined “Duckingham Palace”. Like any palace, it is equipped with a large pool (aka a 300 gallon stock tank). As one may imagine, the ducks absolutely love spending time in their pond. However, ducks are quite messy and poo quite literally every two to three minutes. This can make keeping their pool clean quite challenging. Enter this filter! I purchased the filter in combination with the corresponding 18v UV light attachment, a high efficiency pump (Little Giant 566407 WGP-95-PW, 4280 GPH) and an aeration system (Aquascape Pro Air 20). With my prior filtration system (an all in one pump and filter), within 5-6 days, their pool would need to be drained, power washed, and refilled. Their filters were replaced weekly because of how gross they were (they otherwise required hand washing - no thank you!). We are one week out and the water is still running crystal clear and I can still clearly see the bottom of the pond. I also have not noticed any algea, likely due to the UV light attachment. I have cleaned the filters every couple of days, even though the gauge doesn’t always indicate I need to do so. I just do it as part of my chores now to ensure the cleanest possible water. I do have advice for those that purchased this though! Some users noted that they experienced leaks or connections that didn’t fit tightly. The key for me, was the incorporation flexible PVC couplings from Lowes (shown in picturespictures). The first is a 3”-2” coupling that goes to the front. The 3” side attaches to the filter, the 2” side to the 2” PVC pipe that returns water to the pond. The other is a 1.5”-1.25” coupling. The 1.5” side attaches to the sludge drain insert, the 1.25” end attaches to my tubing. The tubing I used for my pump and sludge drain is from the Star Water Systems plastic kit sold at Lowes. It’s important to ensure your hose clamps are as tight as possible too! My setup is leak free and did not require any PVC cement to work. Another tip: this filter is gravity dependent - your tubing needs a downward gradient to work. My filter is raised and on a table, the PVC pipe is slanted slightly downward. The return hose is zip tied to the duck run at a downward slope, with the end in my garden bed - this allows drained water/sludge to filter out there and naturally fertilize my plants. I’ll update this review if my opinion changes, but so far, I do highly recommend this system. My next investment may be a pond hose to vacuum up debris at the bottom in between fillings, but I’m waiting to see if it will truly be needed.

I've had to take over for my mom caring for the outdoor pond. She used to clean the filter bi-weekly and had two filters running (3000 galfilters) Problem is we have goldfish and Koi in our 2500-3000gal pond... so we needed 6000-9000 (no fish) gallons to keep it clear. Me and my dad said screw it and went 50/50 in on this filter and a 3500GPH pump and in ONE DAY you could see the difference. However... that is our issue, the filter is overkill for my pond and is just doing it's job, so for the stress test it passed with flying colors. Onto the cleaning, I will say the sludge drain is leaky and requires a LOT of force to get it to a drip... I ordered more tube clamps since the filter only came with two... so my drain hose can be on permanently, but lead back into the pond when not in use. This is your best option to save your wrists ever time you clean the filter, just secure the drain pipe and move it when you drain. The other suggestion I have is a 3" flexible rubber gasket instead of gluing the output as instructed, the rubber gasket will let your output sag slightly for good flow and can be removed in the winter easily if necessary. TL;DR Pros: Works very well Easy to clean... once setup Cons: OOW MY WRIST Needs more Hardware for proper installation No UV Expensive I do recommend this filter because it is so simple but works so well, no pressurized chambers, no bio balls, it's just sponges with handles to wring them out... Which just makes it more annoying that it's so expensive and they dont even give you a few extra clamps and gaskets. I will probably add the UV attachment in the future, maybe next spring since my wallet has been lightened. It isnt necessary though, coming from a really dirty start this filter does the work.

I have had a pond for koi for over 20 years and used many different filters. This filter you can see a lot of reviews mentioning the connection issue and that is 100% true. Here I provide some of my painful input and finally can make it work. The result is unbelievable good. For the clean water outlet to the pond ============================== it is 3". I reduced it from 3" to 2" by using the following parts either from Amazon or Home depot. 1. 3" to 2.5" Intake coupler $11.99 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000630B1O?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details 2. Charlotte Pipe 2 in. x 2 ft. PVC DWV Schedule 40 Pipe store SKU #276902 $8.87 each 3. Charlotte Pipe 2 in. PVC schedule 40 S x S coupling store SKU #232750 $2.11 each 4. Charlotte Pipe 2 in. PVC schedule . 40 90-Degree S x S Elbow fitting Store SKU #232734 $4.42 each For the dirty water outlet at the back ============================= Remove the "D" Sludge drain cover and use the come with adaptor that will become a 1-1/12" can use A. Fernco 1-1/2 in x 1-1/4in DWV Flexible PVC Coupling $8.51 /each at home depot B. 1-1/4 in PVC schedule 40 MPT x S Male Adapter store SKU #294039 $1.76 C. 1-1/4"PVC ball Valve IPS Schedule 40, 1-1/4 in. white $6.98 each Amazon.com: American Valve P200 1 1/4" PVC Ball Valve IPS Schedule 40, 1-1/4-Inch, White : Industrial & Scientific This PVC ball valve is to ensure the water will not leak from the filter even the slide valve is not completely closed inside the filter. D. PVC tube fitting, Adapter, Schedule 40, Gray, 1-1/4" Barbed x NPT Male $6.00 Spears 1436 Series PVC Tube Fitting, Adapter, Schedule 40, Gray, 1-1/4" Barbed x NPT Male: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific E. Charlotte Pipe 1-1/4 in x 2 ft PVC DWV Sch. 40 pipe $6.57 at home depot P.S. suggest to get a Votmell 1” (W) x 10 ft(L) self-fusing silicone Tape , water proof Rubber Tape. You can use different brand name this is only an example but this kind of tape can easily hold a the pipe together and seal the possible leaking. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09X2ZB6K3?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I also purchased a 1-1/4 x 20 ft pond tubing and aquarium hose to connect the pump to the filter and the rest of the tubing to the end of the dirty water outlet behind the PVC ball valve. $37.98 each Amazon.com: Sealproof Kinkproof 1-1/4 Dia Waterfall, Pond Tubing & Aquarium Hose, 1-1/4-Inch ID, 20 FT, Black, Corrugated, Made in USA : Patio, Lawn & Garden The total money for these connectors, pipes and fittings are close to $100.00 ***** Not cheap if you compared with what you spend for this filter. Also one more problem about cleaning the filter, I will put a piece of pond filter pad at the outlet inside the filter to minimize the mucky water going back to the pond while cleaning. I have a fish Mate 500GUV Filter (green color box) with a small 8 watt UV light build in. This small filter is power by a 400 watt solar battery system. So in case no power for a few days my fish still have some circulation. Hope this helps.

I have a Koi pond approximately 8000 gallons and 17 fish medium to large in size. They’ve been in the Pond for 12 years. I have a bead filtration system with a UV light on it, that was doing a pretty good job, but I was still having cloudy water, sometimes greenish hue. I used to try different chemicals and products to clear up the water. none of that stuff ever seem to work. After reading many reviews on YouTube, I came to the conclusion that the best way to keep your water clean is to add extra filtration so I bought this pump and filter, and has done a fantastic job of finishing off what the bead filter was not accomplishing the two pieces together worked very well. The only stuff I put in the water now is the good bacteria, I put 2 gallons in in the spring and maybe add one more in July and one more in September. But that’s it no other chemicals the fish are very healthy. I’m thinking about adding another one of these just to really keep the pond clean. But for the price, I’m very happy with it. It was easy to set up and it’s easy to clean. You still need to clean out your pawn at a minimum every two years, it doesn’t matter what filter you have you will always need to clean out the pond to get all the sediment out of the bottom. But this thing works really well, I imagine if you had a smaller pond 3 to 4000 gallons it may be all you need.

As was noted in some other reviews, the 5000 is sold with no way to deliver its output to your pond. There is a 3" outlet port in the box, a 3" flange and gasket, and nothing else. Their instructions refer to the missing components as "not delivered". They imply that you must buy parts on your own, including a 3" connector and a 3" pipe, but they do not specify whether that is inside or outside diameter, and whether it is regular household sewer pipe (PVC Sched. 40) or something else. I called them yesterday evening at about 4:45 PM and got a message that they close at 5:00 and I should contact them via e-mail, which I did. No response yet, but maybe they are busy with other calls asking the same questions. Anyway, I spent some time at Lowe's fitting the provided flange to various types of pipe and connectors in the plumbing department. Here's what I found, which might be useful to others in my predicament: 1. Use a 3" Sched. 40 PVC connector collar. 2.Glue it to a length of 3" PVC Sched 40 pipe long enough to reach your pond. 3. You will need to paint the pipe and connector since they generally come in white--not a great look around the pond. 4. glue the provided flange to the connector, inserting the end of the flange opposite the gasket into the connector. 5. Before inserting the gasket end of the flange into the box, be sure that the flat side of the gasket faces away from the box, and lubricate the gasket with petroleum jelly, floor/machine wax, grease, or your favorite lubricant. That should do it. I shall update my review when I install the filter and see how well it actually works. UPDATE: The seller's rep e-mailed me the following: "The connections that are needed to hook up the discharge are a 3' Fernco that can be purchased from most home improvement stores. As far as what pipe to use, that is completely up to you, as long as the pipe size remains 3' the entire run. The adapter that is included is slid on to the outlet and then the Fernco is attached to that. This unit can be plumbed differently in many applications so the use of a Fernco gives the user the freedom to adapt it to their water feature." Would have saved them a lot of user frustration and hostility if they had either included this Fernco adapter or at least said in the instructions that you would need it. Also, they said that you must use a 3 inch output pipe. Not doing this may explain why so many commenters experienced overflow when the filter became saturated with dirt. UPDATE 2: I had the filter in operation for the full season of 2024. I cleaned and stored it indoors for the winter, and reinstalled it this April, 2025. I am now prepared to revise my former review. I have never had a pond filter that did as good a job at clearing the water, nor one which was easier or quicker to clean than this one. The initial installation problem was inconsequential compared to the ongoing operational ease and simplicity. It is an excellent and cost-effective filter, and I am delighted to wholeheartedly recommend it.

Don't fall for this piece of JUNK. I own another filter and thought I'd use this as a small boost since my pond (roughly 4000 gallons) could use a little extra 'umph'. I should have listened to the negative reviews on this thing - absolute junk. So, my other filter is actually a tad small for my pond (3500 gallon filter) and this supposedly is a bit larger. What a laugh. First thing prospective buyers should know is that this doesn't come with anything needed to hook up the discharge nor even the intake(s)...you have to hunt around for the right sizes - these are not standard - and then when you FINALLY find them, spend a good amount (another $65 bucks or so in my case) only to realize that this thing leaks like a sieve. The reviewer who mentioned putting a smaller than suggested pump is right - you must have VERY low pressure to make this work which means you will need to use this on a MUCH smaller pond than what is advertised. The instructions are junk, this item is junk, plan on hunting around town and spending at least another $50 bucks or more for the right tubing, discharge, connections etc...then downsize your pump and pond because there isn't any way this is going to get near the size advertised without leaking or downright exploding.

Updated: I solved the problem of the filter overflow every two days issue. I bought the item from amazon "JAPI 2 Pack Pump Barrier Bag Pond Pump Filter Netting". Once I put the pump inside this bag, the filter can last for 2 weeks before overflowing. So it solved the biggest problem for me. I would suggest the manufacture should mention this in the user manual. And maybe give this bag as a handled item. Otherwise, this filter is useless. Original review: I have installed this for a month. Overall it's a pain to use. Not sure it's because I didn't use it the right way. I have 5000 Pond Filter and 2700gph pump. My pond is about 3000G. Previously the filter is a $5000 advanced bead filter, the water is crystal clear. But the button drain is completely blocked and I have no way to unblock it. So I tried this cheaper solution. Based on other's review, seems it's a good choice. But after one month's use, I'm pretty disappointed. Pros: 1. Installation is relatively easy. just plugin the pipers. 2. The design is simple and seems easy to maintain. As no pipe is underground. Cons: 1. One headache about installation is there's no proper outlet connector. I went to home depot many times, can't find the right way to connect it. My solution is to use duck tape to stick a drain pipe on the box. It's ugly also not that stable. I worry someday, it fall off, then all my pond water will be gone. 2. The water that comes out of the filter is not clean as expected. I can clearly see a lot of dust. So the water is a bit murky. 3. The filter will overflow every two days, so lots of water bypasses the filter media, in that case, the water becomes very dirty, I have to clean the filter in that caser. Clean up every two days is a big burden for maintenance. 4. Cleanup is super tedious. Based on the video, just pull the handle, seems it's convenient. However, this way is not clean at all. Lots of dirt is still stuck on the top and side of the media. Won't go off no matter how hard you pull it. So eventually, I have to do a deep clean every time. That's 1-hour dirty work to clean up all this stuff. So it's 1 hour of clean-up work every two days. It's a big headache for me. I'm still trying to find a better way to use it to make it more effective. Maybe add a prefilter before the pump. Any idea?

Did the job and solved the filtration problem I was having

Excelente sistema de filtración, fácil de instalar y el uso

JUST bought and installed June 2020, BUT! It has worked VERY WELL so far! Our pond went from looking like a MUD HOLE to being so clear I can see the bottom! In just a matter of days. The fish are much more active and happy; there are now a ton of frogs/toads and snakes...a very thriving pond, thanks to the filter. It seems very well made. I've already done a thorough clean and backwash (and used the backwash to feed/water surrounding plants, trees, shrubs...they love it). I did the cleaning before it was indicated, just to see what it was like. It is easy to install, easy to maintain...perfect for elderly pond owners or those not wanting much filter maintenance. Hints/tip: drain/backwash prior to trying to lift the sponge filters out. I tried before draining and they are extremely heavy...and our filter is elevated. Also, I added beneficial bacteria and some hornwort plants. Already had lilies and hyacinths in the pond I will update again end of summer and next year if this product fails or doesn't perform as well but in all honesty, it seems like a MONEY WELL SPENT! Great value and a healthy, crystal clear pond in no time! Highly recommend (NOTE: local pond retailer has several of these filters and swears by them; and has had their filters for YEARS, FYI...so the product likely lasts).

BUYER BEWARE: the outlets for dirty discharge and back to pond are metric sizes. DM70 relates to 2&3/4 inches. no adapters available but same unit sold in US has 3" Imperial outlets. For the price of this great filter you would think they could at least supply a proper adapter. Had to use glue, gorilla tape and hose clamps. A short term fix at best. Apart from above unit works great. Couldn't see my fish before but next day almost completely clear. Hard to believe after the state the pond was in before.

works great pond is clear