Evolution Aqua Tempest Pond Filter – High-Flow Mechanical & Biological Filter for Koi & Garden Ponds

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. 1,320 US GPH Optimum 1,980 US GPH Max 1.5” Ball Valves 1” Waste Hosetail 1-Micron Filtration 7L K+Media Standalone to 1,320 US Gal 2-Year Guarantee 🆕 TEMPFIL02 — What’s New in the 2025 v2 Upgrade 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 ⚠ CRITICAL INSTALLATION NOTE — Flexible Hose Connection: The ball valves on the Tempest connect to 1.5” pressure pipe only. If installing with flexible hose, you must fit a reducing sleeve (EA Code: M35-050) and a 1.5” solvent weld stepped hosetail (EA Code: HOSETAIL15) inside each ball valve. These adapters are not included and must be purchased separately. Without them, flexible hose cannot be connected to the filter. 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 Optimum vs Maximum: Run the Tempest at the optimum flow (1,320 US GPH) for best mechanical polishing performance — testing confirms removal of particles down to 25 microns on a single pass at this flow rate. Maximum flow (1,980 US GPH) is the upper limit; exceeding it reduces dwell time and mechanical filtration efficiency. On larger pond systems where total pump flow exceeds 1,980 US GPH, install a bypass loop and multiple Tempest units in a modular configuration. Key Features & Benefits 💎 1-Micron Polishing K+Media captures particles down to 1 micron — 25 micron removal confirmed on a single pass at optimum flow. Independently tested by IFTS and Cranfield University. 🌬️ Patented Air Syphon Cleaning UK Patent GB2550495B. Close valves, turn off pump, open waste + air inlet valve. Air draws in naturally, agitates K+Media, waste exits. No disassembly, no manual scrubbing, hands stay dry. 🔵 K+Media — Mineral-Enhanced 7 litres of K+Media supplied. Isostatically moulded with minerals and enzymes during extrusion — accelerates biological maturation and provides class-leading protected surface area for nitrifying bacteria. 🔩 Double Union Ball Valves New 1.5” double union ball valves (v2 upgrade) allow fast isolation for cleaning and easy removal for servicing — no plumbing disassembly required. 📐 3mm Stainless Steel Brackets Robust, long-lasting brackets (v2 upgrade) allow the Tempest to be wall or post mounted quickly — much more durable than the previous bracket design. 🔄 Any Filtration System Designed to complement any existing primary filter — Nexus, EazyPod, K+Advanced, drum filters, bead filters, or third-party systems. Also works as a standalone filter on ponds up to 1,320 US gallons. 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 Pump direction is critical: Water must be pumped upward through the Tempest. The K+Media is buoyant — it rises to the top when water flows up, forming the mechanical polishing barrier. Pumping downward pushes the media down and agitates it, releasing trapped waste back into the pond rather than capturing it. 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