Pond One ClariTec UV-C Pressurised Pond Filter
The Pond One ClariTec UV-C Pressurised Filter combines mechanical and biological pond filtration with an integrated UV-C clarifier in one complete unit.
Rather than buying a separate pond filter and UV clarifier, the ClariTec gives you both in a single system designed for garden ponds and outdoor fish ponds.
Water is pumped through the ClariTec, where filter media captures waste and provides biological filtration while the integrated UV-C helps control the free-floating algae responsible for green pond water.
Simply Fish stocks four sizes:
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ClariTec 3000 UV – 9W
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ClariTec 5000 UV – 9W
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ClariTec 10000 UV – 13W
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ClariTec 15000 UV – 13W
The important part is choosing the model based on your fish load, sunlight and actual pump flow, rather than simply matching the number on the filter to the litres in your pond.
Why Choose a ClariTec?
The ClariTec makes sense when you want:
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Mechanical pond filtration
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Biological pond filtration
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Integrated UV-C clarification
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Help controlling green pond water
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Large internal filter-media capacity
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A single filtration unit rather than separate filter and UV units
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Multiple sizes for different pond requirements
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Replaceable filter media and spare parts
It's particularly useful for Goldfish ponds and other outdoor fish ponds where waste production is higher than in a decorative water feature with very few fish.
What Does the Filter Actually Do?
The ClariTec tackles three different parts of pond filtration.
Mechanical Filtration
Filter sponges physically trap:
This helps prevent waste from simply circulating around the pond.
Biological Filtration
The filter media also provides surface area for beneficial bacteria.
These bacteria form part of the pond's biological filtration system and help process waste produced by fish and decomposing organic material.
This is why we don't recommend constantly stripping every filter sponge completely clean.
Your filter isn't just catching dirt.
It's also supporting a living biological system.
UV-C Clarification
The integrated UV-C exposes pond water to ultraviolet light as it passes through the filtration system.
This is particularly useful for controlling the microscopic free-floating algae responsible for green pond water.
A ClariTec therefore gives you both filtration and UV clarification in the same system.
Which ClariTec Size Do I Need?
This is the most important section on this page.
Pond One gives three different pond-size recommendations for each filter, depending on how demanding the pond is.
ClariTec 3000 UV – 9W
Maximum Flow: 3,000L/hr
Filter Capacity: 15.5L
UV-C: 9W
Recommended pond sizes:
Lightly stocked ornamental pond:
Up to approximately 3,000L
Typical pond with plants and average fish stocking:
Up to approximately 1,500L
Heavily stocked pond or high sunlight exposure:
Up to approximately 750L
ClariTec 5000 UV – 9W
Maximum Flow: 5,000L/hr
Filter Capacity: 21.5L
UV-C: 9W
Recommended pond sizes:
Lightly stocked ornamental pond:
Up to approximately 5,000L
Typical pond with plants and average fish stocking:
Up to approximately 2,500L
Heavily stocked pond or high sunlight exposure:
Up to approximately 1,200L
ClariTec 10000 UV – 13W
Maximum Flow: 10,000L/hr
Filter Capacity: 27.5L
UV-C: 13W
Recommended pond sizes:
Lightly stocked ornamental pond:
Up to approximately 10,000L
Typical pond with plants and average fish stocking:
Up to approximately 5,000L
Heavily stocked pond or high sunlight exposure:
Up to approximately 2,500L
ClariTec 15000 UV – 13W
Maximum Flow: 15,000L/hr
Filter Capacity: 33.5L
UV-C: 13W
Recommended pond sizes:
Lightly stocked ornamental pond:
Up to approximately 15,000L
Typical pond with plants and average fish stocking:
Up to approximately 7,500L
Heavily stocked pond or high sunlight exposure:
Up to approximately 3,700L
ClariTec Size Guide
| Model |
Max Flow |
Typical Fish Pond |
Heavy Stock / High Sun |
| ClariTec 3000 UV |
3,000L/hr |
1,500L |
750L |
| ClariTec 5000 UV |
5,000L/hr |
2,500L |
1,200L |
| ClariTec 10000 UV |
10,000L/hr |
5,000L |
2,500L |
| ClariTec 15000 UV |
15,000L/hr |
7,500L |
3,700L |
Don't Assume “ClariTec 5000” Means a 5,000L Fish Pond
This is probably the biggest mistake we'd like customers to avoid.
A ClariTec 5000 may be suitable for an ornamental pond of around 5,000L with few fish and relatively low sunlight.
That does not mean we'd automatically put the same filter on a heavily stocked 5,000L Goldfish pond.
Fish produce waste.
More fish means:
Sunlight also matters because ponds receiving significant direct sun can experience much stronger algae growth.
So when choosing a filter, tell us:
and we'll help work out which model makes sense.
Example
Imagine you have a:
2,500L Goldfish pond
A ClariTec 3000 might sound close because the numbers seem similar.
But Pond One only rates the ClariTec 3000 for approximately 1,500L under typical fish-pond conditions.
The ClariTec 5000 is rated around 2,500L for a typical pond.
And if that same 2,500L pond were heavily stocked or receiving lots of sunlight, we'd seriously consider moving up again to the ClariTec 10000.
This is why pond filtration should be sized around the actual pond rather than the model name.
What Pump Do I Need?
The ClariTec does not contain the pump that moves pond water through the filter.
You'll need a separate pond pump.
Simply Fish stocks options including:
The important number is the actual flow arriving at the ClariTec, not simply the maximum flow printed on the pump box.
Pump flow decreases when water has to travel:
Pond One's Head-Loss Guide
Pond One provides some useful rules of thumb when estimating how much resistance your plumbing creates.
As a guide:
Every 1 metre of pipe:
Approximately equivalent to 10cm additional head height
Reducing the hose diameter by one size:
Approximately equivalent to 1 metre additional head
Every 90° bend:
Approximately equivalent to 1 metre additional head
Every 45° bend:
Approximately equivalent to 50cm additional head
This is why a pump rated at 5,000L/hr doesn't necessarily deliver 5,000L/hr by the time the water actually reaches the filter.
Bigger Hose Is Usually Better
One of the easiest ways to unnecessarily reduce pond-pump performance is using hose that's too small.
Narrow hose creates significantly more resistance.
If your pump and filter support a larger hose diameter, we'd generally favour using it rather than immediately reducing everything down to the smallest hose that physically fits.
That helps:
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Preserve pump flow
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Reduce unnecessary resistance
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Improve filtration performance
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Reduce the amount of work the pump needs to do
Keep the plumbing as simple and unrestricted as practical.
ClariTec vs ClearTec
These two Pond One products sound similar but do very different jobs.
Pond One ClearTec
A standalone UV-C clarifier.
Choose ClearTec if:
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You already have a good pond filter
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You already have a suitable pump
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You mainly want to add UV-C
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Green water is your primary problem
Pond One ClariTec
A complete pressurised pond filter with integrated UV-C.
Choose ClariTec if:
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You need pond filtration
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You want mechanical filtration
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You want biological filtration
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You also want UV-C
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You're setting up or upgrading the main pond filtration system
If you've already got excellent filtration and just want UV, buying an entire ClariTec probably isn't necessary.
If you need both filtration and UV, ClariTec is the more complete solution.
Will ClariTec Fix Green Water?
The integrated UV-C is designed to help control the microscopic free-floating algae that makes pond water look green.
As water passes through the unit, the UV-C affects the suspended algae and the filtration system can then help remove that material from the water.
However, UV-C isn't a solution for every algae problem.
It won't simply eliminate:
because that attached algae isn't travelling through the UV chamber.
If your pond looks like green soup, UV-C is particularly relevant.
If you've got long strings of algae attached to everything, that's a different problem.
Why Is My Pond Green?
Common contributors include:
ClariTec can deal with filtration and free-floating algae, but we'd still address the wider pond environment.
Don't install a $700 filter and then keep dumping enormous amounts of food into an overloaded pond full of rotting leaves.
How Do I Set It Up?
A basic system looks like:
Pond → Pump → ClariTec → Return to Pond
The exact layout depends on your pond and plumbing.
Basic installation:
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Work out your pond volume.
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Choose the appropriate ClariTec.
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Choose a suitable pump.
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Position the filter securely.
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Connect the pump to the filter inlet.
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Use appropriately sized pond hose.
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Keep hose runs as short and direct as practical.
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Avoid unnecessary bends.
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Connect the filter outlet back to the pond.
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Start the pump.
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Check all plumbing carefully for leaks.
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Confirm good water flow through the system.
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Operate the UV-C according to Pond One's instructions.
Where Should I Put It?
Position the filter somewhere:
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Stable
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Accessible for maintenance
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Close enough to minimise unnecessary hose length
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Where plumbing can be routed safely
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Where water returning from the filter can easily reach the pond
Don't bury or position the filter somewhere that turns routine maintenance into a major excavation project.
If servicing the filter is annoying, there's a good chance it won't get serviced often enough.
How Often Should I Clean It?
There isn't one perfect schedule.
Maintenance depends heavily on:
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Fish numbers
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Fish size
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Feeding
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Pond plants
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Leaves and debris
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Season
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Filter size
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Pump flow
During spring and summer, a heavily stocked pond may load the filter considerably faster than a lightly stocked ornamental pond.
Signs it may need attention include:
Don't wait until virtually no water is moving through it.
Don't Sterilise All the Filter Media
When cleaning the ClariTec, remember that the filter media isn't just collecting dirt.
It also supports beneficial bacteria.
Our goal is:
Remove excessive waste while preserving established biological filtration.
Avoid repeatedly cleaning every piece of media until it looks factory-new.
And don't replace every filter sponge at the same time unless there's a specific reason.
Pond One sells replacement ClariTec sponges, so individual media can be replaced when genuinely worn or required.
If You've Cleaned the Filter Heavily
If you've significantly cleaned or replaced biological filter media, we'd keep a closer eye on water quality afterward.
Products such as Pond Stability can also be used to help establish biological filtration in new or disrupted pond systems.
But bacteria products don't replace:
Does the UV-C Bulb Need Replacing?
Yes.
UV-C lamps gradually lose useful UV output with operating time.
A lamp may still visibly illuminate while producing less effective UV-C than when it was new.
So if the filter is mechanically clean and flowing properly but green-water control has become noticeably weaker, check:
rather than immediately assuming you need a larger filter.
Clean the UV Quartz Sleeve
The UV lamp is separated from the pond water by a protective quartz sleeve.
Over time that sleeve can develop:
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Slime
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Mineral deposits
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Algae
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Fine organic buildup
If enough material accumulates, less UV-C can reach the passing water.
Inspect and clean the sleeve periodically according to Pond One's maintenance instructions.
Do I Still Need Water Changes?
Yes.
A good filter does not turn your pond into a completely closed ecosystem requiring no maintenance.
Filtration helps process and capture waste, but nutrients can still accumulate.
Depending on the pond, ongoing maintenance may include:
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Partial water changes
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Removing leaves
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Removing sludge
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Trimming plants
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Cleaning pumps
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Cleaning filter media
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Monitoring fish
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Controlling feeding
Think of the ClariTec as a major part of pond maintenance — not a replacement for maintenance.
Simply Fish Recommends
The ClariTec is exactly the kind of pond product where going purely by the model name gets people into trouble.
If you tell us:
“I've got a 5,000L Goldfish pond, so I'll grab the ClariTec 5000.”
our next question is going to be:
“How many fish are in it?”
For a lightly stocked ornamental pond, that may be fine.
For an average fish pond, Pond One rates the ClariTec 5000 for approximately 2,500L.
For a heavily stocked or high-sun pond, that rating drops to only about 1,200L.
That difference is huge.
Our preference with pond filtration is to give ourselves some headroom rather than buying a filter that's already working at the absolute limit from day one.
Fish grow.
People add more fish.
They feed more in summer.
Leaves fall into the pond.
The pond rarely becomes cleaner and less demanding over time.
So if you're sitting between two models, we'd generally lean toward the larger filtration system.
Specifications
ClariTec 3000 UV
Maximum Flow: 3,000L/hr
UV-C Power: 9W
Filter Volume: 15.5L
Filter Height: 35cm
Filter Diameter: 39cm
Connections: 19–37mm / ¾"–1½"
UV Cable: 10m
Recommended Pond Size:
Light ornamental: 3,000L
Typical fish pond: 1,500L
Heavy stocking/high sun: 750L
ClariTec 5000 UV
Maximum Flow: 5,000L/hr
UV-C Power: 9W
Filter Volume: 21.5L
Filter Height: 46cm
Filter Diameter: 39cm
Connections: 19–37mm / ¾"–1½"
UV Cable: 10m
Recommended Pond Size:
Light ornamental: 5,000L
Typical fish pond: 2,500L
Heavy stocking/high sun: 1,200L
ClariTec 10000 UV
Maximum Flow: 10,000L/hr
UV-C Power: 13W
Filter Volume: 27.5L
Filter Height: 56cm
Filter Diameter: 39cm
Connections: 19–37mm / ¾"–1½"
UV Cable: 10m
Recommended Pond Size:
Light ornamental: 10,000L
Typical fish pond: 5,000L
Heavy stocking/high sun: 2,500L
ClariTec 15000 UV
Maximum Flow: 15,000L/hr
UV-C Power: 13W
Filter Volume: 33.5L
Filter Height: 66cm
Filter Diameter: 39cm
Connections: 19–37mm / ¾"–1½"
UV Cable: 10m
Recommended Pond Size:
Light ornamental: 15,000L
Typical fish pond: 7,500L
Heavy stocking/high sun: 3,700L
FAQ
What is the Pond One ClariTec?
It is a pressurised pond filtration system combining filter media with an integrated UV-C clarifier.
Does it include UV-C?
Yes. All four Simply Fish ClariTec variants include UV-C.
Does it include filter media?
Yes. Pond One supplies filter media with the ClariTec.
Does it include a pond pump?
No. You need a suitable separate pump to move water through the filter.
Which ClariTec do I need for a 2,500L pond?
It depends on stocking and sunlight. Pond One rates the ClariTec 5000 at around 2,500L for a typical pond, while a heavily stocked 2,500L pond may justify moving to the ClariTec 10000.
Can I use it with Goldfish?
Yes. When keeping fish, use Pond One's typical or heavily stocked pond ratings rather than simply using the maximum ornamental-pond rating.
Does ClariTec help green water?
Yes. The integrated UV-C is designed to help control suspended green-water algae.
Will it remove string algae?
Not directly. Attached algae doesn't normally pass through the UV chamber.
ClariTec or ClearTec?
ClariTec provides filtration plus UV-C. ClearTec is a standalone UV-C clarifier for ponds that already have suitable filtration.
What pump should I use?
Match the pump's actual delivered flow to the requirements and maximum flow of the selected ClariTec. Allow for head height, hose length, bends and hose diameter.
Can the pump be too powerful?
Yes. Don't exceed the filter's specified maximum flow.
Why does my pump deliver less flow than the number on the box?
Head height, long plumbing, narrow hose and bends all create resistance and reduce actual flow.
How often should I clean the filter?
As required based on fish load, feeding and debris accumulation. Reduced flow and heavy waste buildup are good indicators.
Should I replace all the filter sponges when cleaning it?
No. Replace worn media as required rather than automatically replacing all established biological media at once.
Does the UV lamp need replacing?
Yes. Effective UV-C output declines with operating time even if the lamp can still visibly illuminate.
Can I use the ClariTec without switching on the UV?
The filtration and UV perform separate functions. Follow Pond One's instructions for operation and UV use for your particular installation.
Does a ClariTec mean I never need to clean the pond?
No. You still need sensible feeding, debris removal, pump/filter maintenance and general pond care.
Check out our spring pond care blog post for some helpful tips to get your pond ready for the warmer season!
