Easy pond clean out for spring

[Lisak1]

I know I've share this before, but yesterday I did my first "microbe-lift" on the pond. I call it that because the first year we bought a Microbe-lift product for this purpose and I soon realized it was just sodium percarbonate repackaged and upcharged. I do not know why this works, but it does. Maybe someone here can explain the chemical process that's happening. I just consider it magic.

You shut down all pumps and aerators and then sprinkle a generous amount (I use probably 3-4 cups) of sodium percarbonate over the whole surface of the pond. Wait about 10-15 minutes and watch the magic as the debris from the bottom of the pond starts rising up to the top. Everything from full leaves to the tiniest debris just comes bubbling to the surface. I just stand there with my net and skim the surface. The "debris rising" will continue for up to 2 hours, depending on how much product you use and how much junk you have in your pond. Eventually I get bored of skimming and turn the waterfall back on and put my net at the outlet and just watch it continue to fill up with debris. It's so satisfying!

I didn't take any great pictures or I'd post them, but trust me on this one. If you want a safe, cheap, easy, LAZY way to rid your pond of leaf and organic debris in the spring, do a "microbe-lift". This the same product that's sold as SAB or EcoBlast for cleaning waterfalls and streams of algae, but about 1/3 the cost. I just ordered 10 lbs for $44. The EcoBlast product is $25 for just over 2 lbs. (I used to have a source to buy this much cheaper but they stopped selling it for some reason.)

 

[billdolloff]

Good timing! Thanks for that info! I am in NH and yesterday I was removing some of the ice and fallen debris. (I've posted here before some video of my water/pond project. I shut down my water feature in late October, and I had netted the upper portion of my project, and then removed and emptied the net in late November but the winter winds blew a lot of the leaves on the ground from trees nearby, back into my pond and stream. Your suggestion sounds great! I will look into that! Thank you!

 

[j.w]

I know I've share this before, but yesterday I did my first "microbe-lift" on the pond. I call it that because the first year we bought a Microbe-lift product for this purpose and I soon realized it was just sodium percarbonate repackaged and upcharged. I do not know why this works, but it does. Maybe someone here can explain the chemical process that's happening. I just consider it magic.

You shut down all pumps and aerators and then sprinkle a generous amount (I use probably 3-4 cups) of sodium percarbonate over the whole surface of the pond. Wait about 10-15 minutes and watch the magic as the debris from the bottom of the pond starts rising up to the top. Everything from full leaves to the tiniest debris just comes bubbling to the surface. I just stand there with my net and skim the surface. The "debris rising" will continue for up to 2 hours, depending on how much product you use and how much junk you have in your pond. Eventually I get bored of skimming and turn the waterfall back on and put my net at the outlet and just watch it continue to fill up with debris. It's so satisfying!

I didn't take any great pictures or I'd post them, but trust me on this one. If you want a safe, cheap, easy, LAZY way to rid your pond of leaf and organic debris in the spring, do a "microbe-lift". This the same product that's sold as SAB or EcoBlast for cleaning waterfalls and streams of algae, but about 1/3 the cost. I just ordered 10 lbs for $44. The EcoBlast product is $25 for just over 2 lbs. (I used to have a source to buy this much cheaper but they stopped selling it for some reason.)

Is this what you are talking about? Lots of choices but are they all safe for ponds if they say 100% Sodium percarbonate? Did you buy on Amazon or? https://www.amazon.com/sodium-percarbonate/s?k=sodium+percarbonate

 

[Pablo]

That is really cool. Just found this study paper on using this in commercial fish ponds.

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[j.w]

That is really cool. Just found this study paper on using this in commercial fish ponds.

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So it does have an effect on ph as it says it raises it. One would need to be careful of not adding too much.

 

[Lisak1]

That's exactly the one I bought @j.w . My first time buying from amazon so we'll see how the product is when it shows up.

SPC is perfectly safe for ponds and fish and plants. It's sold under many names commercially for pond use - mainly for algae control. The effect on pH is minimal and short lived in my own experience, but if it is a concern I would add slowly and check frequently.

 

[Lisak1]

That is really cool. Just found this study paper on using this in commercial fish ponds.

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OK that's so interesting! My observational skills are strong - please note I said the time lapse before it starts working and how long it will stay actively working are both noted in this paper. Also this answers my "why it works" question:

"This process may help in liberating organic matter and debris from the bottom".

I can tell you that it does indeed do exactly that!

 

[GBBUDD]

WE HAVE USED SODIUM BICARBONATES ON WETLAND ISSUES, from what i was told it accelerates the break down process and the co2 and o2 develop from the decaying matter, thus the lifting properties i have not used it in the pond myself, with the pond vac i never thought about it as i spent 4 hours just yesterday doing exactly that.

I do not remove all my leaves in the fall. The leaves that do get by me in the fall i lety sit on the bottom. Now don't forget when temps drop the decay and break down on contaminates slows way down. And the frogs and other guests to my pond look for leaves in the bottom to go into and spend the winter. so the only negative i have seen is the leaves can give me a little tea color over the winter months. a small price to give nature what it needs.

I am debating about cementing the bottom of my pond this year do i have an issue no. but while snorkeling and disturbing the gravel i have seen the amount of waste / debris that gets in the gravel. this is 3/4 to 1-2" rock. Now ,the dead pool/ intake bay i went with pea stone and the amount of debris in that area is greatly reduced as it can not get between the rock so it lands on the surface of the gravel where the fish constantly keep it stirred up and gets to a filter intake.

 

[j.w]

WE HAVE USED SODIUM BICARBONATES ON WETLAND ISSUES, from what i was told it accelerates the break down process and the co2 and o2 develop from the decaying matter, thus the lifting properties i have not used it in the pond myself, with the pond vac i never thought about it as i spent 4 hours just yesterday doing exactly that.

I do not remove all my leaves in the fall. The leaves that do get by me in the fall i lety sit on the bottom. Now don't forget when temps drop the decay and break down on contaminates slows way down. And the frogs and other guests to my pond look for leaves in the bottom to go into and spend the winter. so the only negative i have seen is the leaves can give me a little tea color over the winter months. a small price to give nature what it needs.

I am debating about cementing the bottom of my pond this year do i have an issue no. but while snorkeling and disturbing the gravel i have seen the amount of waste / debris that gets in the gravel. this is 3/4 to 1-2" rock. Now ,the dead pool/ intake bay i went with pea stone and the amount of debris in that area is greatly reduced as it can not get between the rock so it lands on the surface of the gravel where the fish constantly keep it stirred up and gets to a filter intake.

So what is the difference between Sodium Bicarbonates and what @Lisak1 was talking about using Sodium percarbonate or are they the same?

 

[GBBUDD]

bicarbonate is baking soda to raise kh and ph a buffer to keep ph from swinging drastically which fish do not like. Fish can deal with high ph and even on the low side below 7 for the most part but only if done very slowly.

What is sodium percarbonate​

Sodium percarbonate (of acronym in English SPC) also known as the “emergency oxygen powder”, is a chemical of formula Na2H3CO6 and is formed from a reaction of addition of very common products. One of them is Sodium carbonate (the most commonly known alkaline substance) and the second is Hydrogen peroxide (also known as hydrogen peroxide). Chemically speaking, sodium carbonate is an adduct, that is, a compound formed by the union of two different molecules without structural changes in the portions of each of them.
As for its main characteristics we can mention that it is a solid, crystalline compound, water soluble and hygroscopic (it is capable of absorbing moisture).
It should be noted that sodium percarbonate should not be confused with sodium bicarbonate, since it is not the same compound. Bicarbonate, Nahco3 chemical formula is a whitish alkaline solid compound that, although it can occur artificially, can be found in nature.

The similarity presented by bicarbonate with percarbonate is its flavor, since they have an alkaline and soft flavor, although this is less strong and salty than in the case of percarbonate. However, its uses are different and bicarbonate, for example, is not usually recommended as chitamanchas in color garments since it can damage its color.

in short percarbonate is hydrogen peroxide foams lots of bubbles when it makes contact with bacteria/ infections. while bicarbonate is ph buffer by raising the kh. different but similar

 

[bagsmom]

This sounds like something I could use, for sure! I'm interested in trying it but when I look up sodium per carbonate on Amazon, it all emphasizes its use in bleaching laundry -- which makes me nervous about using it in my pond. Does anyone have any links to specific products you actually did use in your pond with no ill effects? It's getting to be that time of the year, for sure!!!! Everything is waking up! (High of 79 here today!)

 

[WaterGardener]

Many people use this in their ponds with no problems. If you go to koiphen.com and search it, you will get lots of responses. There is also a calculator there for the amount to use.

It is often used in laundry products and is the main ingredient in Oxy-Clean. But that has other additives so I would not recommend it for your pond.

It basically converts to hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizer, and sodium carbonate when mixed with water. It's much less expensive and maybe easier to use than peroxide since it is a powder, not a liquid.