Celebrating 25 Years of Evolution Aqua
Where It All Began 
Founded in 2001, Evolution Aqua started with one simple idea…pond filtration could be better.
Over the past 25 years, that idea has grown into a global name in the aquatics industry.
We’ve helped koi enthusiasts and pond keepers around the world care for their water in smarter, more efficient ways.
Monthly Insights 
Throughout 2026, we’ll release a new “history node” every month.
Each node gives deeper insight into our story. Including exclusive content not shared on our social channels.
What you can find in each node - Archive photos, Product milestones, Behind-the-scenes stories, Moments that shaped Evolution Aqua.
Make sure to check our history nodes below.
Thank You 
We also want to take a moment to thank our trusted dealers, partners, and the dedicated pond keepers who have supported us along the way.
You’ve helped us turn a simple idea into a lasting legacy, and this celebration is as much yours as it is ours.
Looking Ahead 
Keep an eye on this page and follow along as we reveal our story, one month at a time.
Here’s to celebrating the past 25 years and looking forward to the next chapter of innovation, growth, and water care excellence.
Make sure to follow us on our social media to keep up today with our story, new products and innovations
History Nodes
Before the Nexus, there was The Answer
In the early 2000s, mechanical filtration relied on settlement chambers and static media.
While these systems worked to a point, fine solids, algae, dust, and fish waste often passed through, entering the biological stages and reducing efficiency.
Determined to solve this problem, koi enthusiast and Evolution Aqua founder Nick Jackson spent four years developing The Answer, a self-cleaning mechanical pre-filter designed to capture solids at the source and maintain clearer, healthier water.
Using a rotating micro-screen drum, The Answer removed suspended solids before they could break down, reducing strain on biological media and improving overall water clarity.
25 Years of Growth in Wigan
In 2001, Evolution Aqua began its journey in a single building in Wigan, driven by one goal, to create innovative filtration solutions for koi ponds.
What started as a small operation has grown steadily over the past 25 years into a fully established site made up of four buildings. Today, our Wigan base is home to our design, manufacturing, assembly, and research and development teams, all working together to bring our products to life.
This site has been at the centre of everything we do. It’s where ideas are developed, tested, and refined. It’s where challenges are solved, and where products are built with the quality and reliability that pond keepers around the world have come to expect from Evolution Aqua.
From those early days to where we are now, Wigan has remained the foundation of our growth and innovation.
We remain proud of our roots and the role our Wigan facility continues to play in shaping the future of Evolution Aqua.
Here’s to the next 25 years, right here in Wigan.
The Nexus Generation of Filtration
In 2002, Evolution Aqua introduced a product that would go on to redefine koi pond filtration.
At a time when many pond systems relied on large multi-bay filters filled with brushes and static media, maintaining water quality often required significant space, regular cleaning, and ongoing maintenance. Pond keepers needed a solution that could deliver high levels of biological filtration in a more efficient and user-friendly format.
That solution became Nexus.
Built around the newly developed K1 moving bed media, Nexus introduced a different approach to biological filtration. By keeping the media constantly moving within the filter, the system created an oxygen-rich environment that encouraged the growth of beneficial bacteria responsible for breaking down harmful ammonia and nitrite produced by fish waste.
The result was powerful biological filtration in a compact and easy-to-maintain unit, offering pond keepers a simpler alternative to traditional multi-bay systems while still delivering exceptional water quality.
When paired with The Answer mechanical pre-filter, Nexus formed a hybrid filtration system that combined advanced biological treatment with highly effective mechanical waste removal. Together, the two systems helped shape a new generation of pond filtration and established many of the principles still used in modern koi pond systems today.
More than two decades later, Nexus continues to be trusted by pond keepers around the world. During our recent owner campaign, we received submissions from customers still running Nexus systems that have been operating for over 20 years and continuing to deliver exceptional performance.
With Nexus celebrating its own 25th anniversary in 2027, its legacy remains a huge part of the Evolution Aqua story and a defining chapter in the evolution of modern pond filtration.
