How to clean a fish pond

Name: Good Earth Water Gardens
Address: 8116 NW Hampton Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64152, US
Telephone: (816) 720-7577

April 3, 2018

It’s that time of year! Spring is the best time to give your pond or pondless waterfall a deep cleaning. At Good Earth Water Gardens, we’re happy to take this task off your hands. Of course, if you’re a dedicated DIYer, we want to empower you to do the job right. Here’s what you need to know.

Does my pond need a cleaning?

Maybe. Not all ponds need a thorough spring cleaning. If there’s a layer of crud at the bottom and the water is a dark color, you need to clean. But if the water’s clear and there’s just a little debris that you can stir up and nab with a net? You can get away with just a little tidying up.

What tools do I need to clean my pond?

This task doesn’t require a lot of special equipment. Here’s what we suggest:

A clean-out pump with a hose that’s about 25 feet long
A high-pressure nozzle for your garden hose or a pressure washer
Garden sheers for trimming plants
A big bin, garbage can, or child’s pool to hold any fish
A net to cover the fish container so they don’t jump out
A fish net
Buckets to collect debris and leaves
Aquascape Pond Detoxifier

What are the steps for cleaning my pond?

Drain the Pond or Pondless Waterfall

Put the clean-out pump in the deepest part of the pond or in the waterfall vault or snorkel.
Drain the water into the surrounding landscape. Remember to move the pipe two or three times during this process. That way, the water will seep into the ground and won’t flood your yard.
If you have koi, use some of the pond water to fill the holding container. Once the water in the pond is about knee-high, you can remove the fish with a net. Then, move them to the holding container.
Keep the koi in the holding container for no more than several hours. Make sure the holding container is in a shady spot. Keep a net over the container so the fish won’t jump out. If you have an aerator or bubbler, you can use it in the container to help oxygenate the water.

Don't Overdo it When Cleaning Your Pond

Rinse the inside of the pond. A pressure washer is a good way to get debris off of rocks and gravel.
Leave some of the algae. It will help develop your pond ecosystem.
Use a gentle stream from your hose to clean the rocks and gravel. Start at the top and work your way down. Every once in a while, turn on the clean-out pump to remove the dirty water.
Watch the color of the rinsing water. Once it starts to look clear, remove the pump and begin filling the pond with the hose.

Clean the Pond Filters

Remove debris from the bottom of the skimmer or pondless vault. You can do this by hand or you can use the cleanout pump.
Remove the media nets and filter pads from the filter. Rinse them off so all the gunk is gone.

Put Fish Back in the Pond When it is At Least Half Full

Add Pond Detoxifier so the water is safe for fish.
Dip a five-gallon bucket into the holding container. Fill it with water.
Catch your fish. Put them in the bucket. Put the bucket into the pond that’s filling with clean water. This helps the fish get used to the temperature.
Wait about 15 minutes. Then put some of the pond water into the bucket.
Wait a few more minutes. The temperatures in the bucket and in the pond should be about the same. Dump the koi into the clean pond.

Enjoy Your Pond for Months to Come

Starting the spring with a clean pond or pondless waterfall sets you up for success. It means your water feature should be low-maintenance and worry-free for months to come.

If you need a hand getting your pond or pondless waterfall ready for spring, or if you have a question, Good Earth Water Gardens can help. Contact us online or call us. We’re happy to talk you through spring cleaning or take on the job.