What exactly is a pond cleanout?
What should be done during the cleanout?
A pond cleanout is when the water is removed from the pond (as well as the fish) so that debris, muck, and algae can be removed and the pond and stream are pressure washed. Equipment will also be maintained and cleaned. That’s the gist of it. Read on to get specifics.
Specifics of a pond cleanout
A good pond cleanout (whether you do it yourself or have a company do it) will include these things:
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- Protect the fish. Move the fish to a portable tank so that they are safe while the pond is being cleaned. In fact, if the water is clear, save as much of it as you can to return to the pond after the cleaning. It will help keep the ecosystem healthy. For koi or goldfish that are longer than 15 inches, use a net for larger fish. A koi fish sock net is easier on larger fish.
- Test the water. Test the water that was in the pond before adding new water. Look at water parameters, including pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels. These parameters should be within the optimal range to ensure that the fish are healthy. My favorite water testing kit is the API Pond Master Test Kit because it gives very clear instructions and isn’t hard to do.
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Starting in this order
3. Pressure filter care. Flush out the pressure filter (if you have one) and changing the UV bulb. You’ll have to order the bulb ahead of time if you are paying a company to do this for you as they don’t usually drive around with all sizes of UV lights.
4. The pump. Remove the pump and follow the directions for your pump to remove and clean the impeller.
5. Start at the top of the system. Clean the stream by removing leaves and twigs and then pressure wash (or hose out) as much muck (sediment) as possible.
Pond debris and muck
6. Pond debris. Remove all debris and muck from the pond.
7. Water lilies. Fertilize water lilies with aquatic water lily fertilizer tabs.
8. Equipment cleaning. Clean and inspect all equipment – cleanout the entire skimmer and get the muck out! Pull all media out of the BioFall and clean it. clean off lights and make sure they are working and sitting where you want them to be. Additionally, don’t forget to clean off the aerator disks. Make sure the aerator hose is hidden but not crushed or pinched off.
Where does the pumped out dirty water go?
9. Water distribution. Distribute mucky pond water as it is pumped out all over the yard. This stuff is FULL of nutrients! Debris like muck and leaves can be added to the compost pile if you have one. Pond muck is gold and will feed trees, bushes, gardens and lawns. Be careful about the water pressure coming out though. It can start carving out some of the ground if you don’t watch it.
Water treatment when cleaning is complete
#10 is the MOST IMPORTANT PART of a cleanout so if you have read this far, good for you! When you are done with cleaning out the pond and are ready to move the fish back into their home, you are basically resetting the ecosystem. Dose the pond according to directions with a dechlorinator to protect the fish from chemicals int he hose water. Add beneficial bacteria (according to the directions) to restart the ecosystem. Additionally, bacteria needs to be added about every 3 days for a couple of weeks just get it going again. Then the frequency of bacteria addition can be backed off to once a week. To dose correctly (dechlorinator and bacteria) you need to know how many gallons your pond has. Check out our Gallons Calculator to figure out how much water is in your system.
WHEN to clean the pond is just as important as having all the steps followed! Read more about it: When to cleanout the pond?
Kristi’s Tips
Make sure water lily plants are placed about 24 inches below the surface. While water lilies may grow at deeper or more shallow depths, 2 inches is just right! (and don’t forget to fertilize them!)
Even though you are cleaning the pond in the daylight, make sure that the lights are not covered by rocks and that they are not pointing toward where you may be sitting. In the evening it can feel like those lights are poking you in the eye!
Have ducks visited your pond this spring? Read Quackin’ in the pond for Duck Info!