PondMAX Replacement Filter Pad Kit

If your PondMAX pressurized filter is putting out weaker flow than it used to, or the water coming off your falls just looks tired, the pads are usually the first thing to check. They sit right in the flow path and catch everything before the water ever reaches the UV chamber, so they clog long before anything else on the unit wears out. This kit replaces them with the same yellow and blue foam rings the filter shipped with, sized for your specific PondMAX model.

This is a straight media swap, not a rebuild. You are not touching the tank, the lid, or the UV bulb. Pull the old pads, drop in the new ones, and the filter is back to running the way it did on day one.

What Comes in the Kit

Each kit ships with a set of yellow and blue foam filter rings built for PondMAX Pressurized Filters. The yellow foam is the coarser layer and takes the brunt of the debris load. The blue foam sits behind it and handles the finer particles the yellow layer lets through. That two-stage setup is fairly standard for pressurized pond filters, and it is why you get both colors in one kit rather than a single block of foam.

Puget Sound Ponds does not currently publish an exact pad count per model on this page. If you need that number confirmed before you order, reach out and we will get you the right answer for your specific PF size.

Why the Pads Matter for the Rest of the Filter

A pressurized filter only works as well as whatever water actually makes it through to the UV chamber and biological media inside. Once the pads load up with sludge, water starts finding the path of least resistance around them instead of through them, which means dirtier water is reaching the UV lamp than the lamp was designed to handle. Clarity suffers even though the light itself is fine.

Worn pads also put more strain on the pump, since a clogged filter restricts flow more than a clean one does. Swapping pads on schedule is one of the cheaper ways to protect the rest of the system, especially compared to replacing a UV bulb or transformer early because it was working overtime against dirty media.

Compatible PondMAX Filter Models

This replacement pad kit is sold by model, and each size has its own SKU and price. Confirm your model before you check out since the pads are not interchangeable across sizes.

PF750 and PF1200 kits are currently sold out. If you run one of those units, contact us and we can let you know when new stock is expected.

When It's Time to Replace Your Pads

Signs your pads are due

Reduced flow out of your waterfall or spillway is usually the clearest sign. If you have been backwashing more often than usual and the flow still isn't recovering, the foam itself has likely broken down or is holding onto gunk that a backwash alone won't clear.

Discoloration and a spongy, compressed feel are the other two things to check. Foam that has gone soft and flat has lost most of its surface area, and at that point it is filtering less water no matter how clean it looks on the outside.

Most pond keepers change pads once a year as part of spring startup, though ponds with heavy leaf litter or a lot of fish load may need it sooner.

Confirming Your Filter Model Before You Order

PondMAX pressurized filters are labeled by flow capacity, PF750 through PF7200, and the pad kits are matched to that same lineup. Check the model printed on your filter housing or the paperwork that came with it before ordering. If you are not sure which unit you have, send us a photo of the filter and we will confirm the model for you.

Installation

Installation does not require any tools beyond what came with the filter. Shut off the pump, release the lid clamp, and lift out the spent pads. The new yellow and blue rings stack back in the same order the old ones came out in. A video walkthrough is available further down this page if you want to see the process before you start.