Evolution Aqua Tempest Pond Filter – High-Flow Mechanical & Biological Filter for Koi & Garden Ponds
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Description
The Evolution Aqua Tempest (TEMPFIL02) is a pump-fed, upflow polishing filter that uses K+Media to deliver gin-clear water in koi ponds and water gardens. Water is pumped upward through the cylindrical vessel, causing the buoyant K+Media to rise and form a compacted mechanical barrier at the top — trapping particles down to 1 micron as water flows through. Designed to run as the final polishing stage after any primary filtration system, the Tempest delivers a level of water clarity that few other filters can match at this price point.
The 2025 v2 upgrade (TEMPFIL02) delivers meaningfully improved hardware over the original: 1.5” double union ball valves replace the older slide valves, a redesigned waste valve assembly with dedicated air inlet valve provides better cleaning control, and 3mm stainless steel mounting brackets make wall or post installation faster and more permanent. Cleaning takes minutes: close the ball valves, turn off the pump, and open the waste and air inlet valves — Evolution Aqua’s patented air syphon (UK Patent GB2550495B) draws air into the vessel as it empties, agitating the K+Media to dislodge waste which exits through the waste line.
- 1.5” Double Union Ball Valves — replacing the previous slide valves; easier to isolate, more robust, and quicker to operate during cleaning
- Redesigned Waste Valve Assembly with Air Inlet Valve — dedicated air inlet valve gives better control over the air syphon cleaning process
- 3mm Stainless Steel Mounting Brackets — significantly more robust than previous brackets; quick to install and adjustable for different mounting surfaces
Flow Rate & Pond Capacity
| Parameter | LPH | UK GPH | US GPH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimum Flow Rate | 5,000 lph | 1,100 GPH | 1,320 US GPH |
| Maximum Flow Rate | 7,500 lph | 1,650 GPH | 1,980 US GPH |
| Standalone Pond Capacity | 5,000 litres | 1,100 gallons | 1,320 US gallons |
Key Features & Benefits
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | TEMPFIL02 (v2 2025 upgrade) |
| Filter Type | Pump-fed upflow polishing filter — mechanical & biological |
| Optimum Flow Rate | 5,000 lph / 1,320 US GPH |
| Maximum Flow Rate | 7,500 lph / 1,980 US GPH |
| Standalone Pond Capacity | Up to 5,000 litres / 1,320 US gallons |
| Inlet Size | 1.5” (UK/USA) — double union ball valve (TEMPFIL02) |
| Outlet Size | 1.5” (UK/USA) — double union ball valve (TEMPFIL02) |
| Waste Hosetail Size | 1” (UK/USA) / 25mm (EU) |
| Flexible Hose Adapters | NOT included — requires EA M35-050 (reducing sleeve) + HOSETAIL15 (1.5” stepped hosetail) per valve |
| Dimensions (excl. ball valves) | 1055mm × 250mm × 205mm (~41.5”L × 9.8”W × 8.1”H) |
| Water Volume in Filter | 27 litres / 7.1 US gallons |
| K+Media Supplied | 7 litres |
| Filtration Capability | 1 micron; 25 micron single-pass at optimum flow (IFTS & Cranfield tested) |
| Cleaning Method | Patented air syphon (GB2550495B) — no disassembly, hands dry |
| Pump Direction | Must pump UPWARD through filter (K+Media is buoyant) |
| Installation Modes | Gravity-fed | Pressurised | Skimmer line | Standalone | Modular |
| v2 Upgrades (TEMPFIL02) | Double union ball valves | redesigned waste valve + air inlet | 3mm SS brackets |
| Patent | UK Patent No. GB2550495B |
| Warranty | 2-Year Guarantee |
| Manufacturer | Evolution Aqua Ltd, Wigan, Lancashire, UK |
Installation Overview
Typical Installation Modes
- After primary filter (gravity-fed): Install after a Nexus+ or similar gravity-fed primary filter; Tempest return line goes back to pond or back to the centre of the Nexus+
- Pressurised system: Install after a K1 Micro Bead, EazyPod, or other pressurised filter; use bypass to maintain optimum flow through Tempest while running higher overall pond flow
- Skimmer line: Connect directly on the skimmer return line for surface polishing
- Standalone / quarantine: Use as sole filter on ponds or quarantine systems up to 1,320 US gallons
- Modular: Run two or more Tempest units in parallel for higher total flow on larger systems — each unit must be independently isolatable
Cleaning Procedure
- Close the inlet and outlet ball valves
- Turn off the pond pump
- Open the waste ball valve and the air inlet valve
- As the filter drains, air is drawn in naturally — the air/water mix agitates the K+Media, dislodging trapped waste
- Dirty water exits through the waste line (observe until it runs clear)
- Close the waste valve and air inlet, reopen ball valves, restart pump
- No hands contact with media, no disassembly required
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the Tempest a ‘polishing’ filter?
The Tempest is specifically engineered for water polishing — the final filtration stage that removes ultra-fine suspended particles that primary filters (drum filters, bead filters, gravity filters) leave behind. Using K+Media as a compacted mechanical barrier, the Tempest captures particles down to 1 micron on a single pass at optimum flow, producing the gin-clear water quality associated with professional koi displays.
It is designed to run in conjunction with any primary filtration system, not replace it. The Tempest handles fine polishing; the primary filter handles heavy mechanical and biological load.
Why does the Tempest use K+Media instead of foam or other media?
K+Media is Evolution Aqua’s proprietary filtration media, manufactured in the UK with minerals and enzymes added during the extrusion process. Key advantages:
- Class-leading surface area with a protected design that resists clogging and hosts more nitrifying bacteria per litre than conventional media
- Faster biological maturation — the minerals added during manufacturing accelerate bacterial colonisation, reducing the time for the filter to reach full biological efficiency
- 1-micron mechanical filtration — independently verified by IFTS (Institut de la Filtration et des Techniques Séparatives) and Cranfield University
- Buoyancy behaviour — K+Media is buoyant, so when water is pumped upward it rises and compacts, creating a dense mechanical barrier. This behaviour is fundamental to how the Tempest works
What is the maximum flow rate — and what is the optimum?
The Tempest has two important flow thresholds:
- Optimum flow: 1,320 US GPH (5,000 lph) — at this flow rate, K+Media provides maximum mechanical polishing, removing particles down to 25 microns on a single pass
- Maximum flow: 1,980 US GPH (7,500 lph) — the upper limit; exceeding this reduces dwell time and filtration efficiency
On larger pond systems where overall pump flow exceeds 1,980 US GPH, install a bypass loop so the total pond flow can be higher while the Tempest receives only the optimum 1,320 US GPH. Multiple Tempest units can also be run in parallel in a modular configuration.
How easy is the cleaning process?
Cleaning takes just a few minutes and requires no disassembly or hands contact with the media:
- Close the inlet and outlet double union ball valves
- Turn off the pond pump
- Open the waste ball valve and air inlet valve
- As the filter drains, air is naturally drawn in via the patented air syphon system (UK Patent GB2550495B)
- The air and water mixture causes the K+Media to move chaotically, dislodging trapped waste
- Dirty water exits through the waste hosetail — observe until it runs clear
- Close waste and air valves, reopen ball valves, restart pump
The new air inlet valve on the TEMPFIL02 provides better control over the air draw rate, making the cleaning process more consistent.
Can the Tempest be used as a standalone filter?
Yes — on small ponds and quarantine systems up to 1,320 US gallons (5,000 litres), the Tempest can serve as the sole filtration unit, handling both mechanical and biological filtration. However, for ponds with higher fish loads or larger volumes, it works best as the polishing stage after a primary filter (Nexus, EazyPod, drum filter, etc.).
On quarantine or hospital tanks where minimal footprint is important, the Tempest’s compact cylindrical design and wall-mountable brackets make it particularly practical.
What are the plumbing connection requirements?
The TEMPFIL02 features 1.5” double union ball valves on the inlet and outlet, and a 1” waste hosetail.
Important: The ball valves connect to 1.5” pressure pipe only. If you plan to connect with flexible hose, you must order the following adapters separately:
- Reducing sleeve — EA Code M35-050 (fits inside the ball valve)
- 1.5” solvent weld stepped hosetail — EA Code HOSETAIL15 (fits inside the reducing sleeve)
One pair of these adapters is required per connection point (inlet + outlet = two pairs). Without these adapters, flexible hose cannot be attached to the filter.
What warranty does the Tempest carry?
The Evolution Aqua Tempest TEMPFIL02 is backed by a 2-Year Guarantee from Evolution Aqua. Contact us at support@pondprodirect.com or (765) 508-4352 with any warranty questions.
Why Buy from Pond Pro Direct?
- Authentic Evolution Aqua products with 2-Year Guarantee
- Expert pond filtration support — call or text (765) 508-4352, Mon–Fri 9am–5pm EST
- Free shipping on all orders
- Price match guarantee on identical products
- 30-day return period on eligible items
Price Match
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We will match or beat the lowest online price on its products.
If you find a lower price for any products on our store, we will beat it by $50 for products listed over $2000. In order to be eligible, you must provide proof, whether a screenshot, invoice, email, etc. of the lower offer.
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For the policy to apply, simply send us a screenshot, link, or any other proof of the lower price.
For more information, please check out Price Match Policy Page
Shipping & Delivery
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- Estimated delivery window: 6–13 business days
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Returns & Refunds
Cancellations & Refunds
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Once an order has shipped or entered fulfillment, it may no longer be eligible for cancellation. If you no longer wish to keep the item, you must wait until delivery and then request a return.
A Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) is required before returning any item.
Custom or Made-to-Order Items
Custom or made-to-order products are produced specifically for your order and cannot be canceled or refunded once production has begun, except in cases of defect or error.
Product pages will clearly indicate when an item is custom or made-to-order. If you are unsure whether an item falls into this category, please contact us before placing your order.
Returns & Refunds
Returns are subject to the following conditions:
- Customers have 30 days from delivery to request a return, unless otherwise stated on the product page or by manufacturer policy
- Items must be unused, uninstalled, and in original packaging
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Because we ship products directly from manufacturers, return eligibility may vary by brand. If a manufacturer does not permit returns on a specific product, we may be unable to accept the return. Please contact us if you would like confirmation of return eligibility for a specific item.
Fees & Shipping Costs
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If you are exchanging an item rather than returning it outright, we may be able to assist with some costs depending on the product and manufacturer.
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