Ya know, you can always learn something new, even if
you're a seasoned ponder.
I thought it would be good, as well as fun, to have a
discussion on pond tips, maintenance and plants.
We put in our pond in 1997, and are still learning
and striving to make the pond maintenance easier.
Please add all your maintenance ideas, improvements, and clever ideas,
for ponds, and gardening tips...photos
would be helpful as well.
I'll go first, we have a bottom drain and gravity fed system.
The problem with a bottom drain is they can get
clogged with plants, leaves and stones that the koi
deposit on the pond floor from digging in the pots.
In order to unclog the drain we used to put the shop
vac down the pipe and blow all the stuff out.
This is the way my head groundskeeper (Cliff) solved
this problem and it works fabulously.
Get a long strong nylon cord, tie (very tightly) a rag to the end of the cord,
then tie another cord to the other end of the rag... Pull
the cord through the drain, then tug on the cord
from the filter side and then tug from the pond side, the rag will pull out all the stones and leaves etc...
the cord (that comes out from the bottom drain is tied to our dock in the back and the other end of the cord
is lying along side filter tub.
the cord remains in the pipes all the time and the tied rag is along side the filter tub.
He also has a knot in the cord, when he sees the knot he stops tugging on the cord so that the rag on the other end
stays just outside the bottom drain.
Note, in order to be able to do this the dome on the bottom
drain has to be removed. We have a 90* and two 45* angles on
our bottom drain plumbing.
He does this a couple/few times a week, as it's easy to do, just pick up the cord and give it a few tugs.
In early spring he gives it a few tugs every day,
because of all the droppings from the oak trees.
I hope this is clear, if not I'll do a drawing.
Note: make sure the rag is strong and tied very securely
to the nylon cord...Think of it as Bottom Drain Floss!
you're a seasoned ponder.
I thought it would be good, as well as fun, to have a
discussion on pond tips, maintenance and plants.
We put in our pond in 1997, and are still learning
and striving to make the pond maintenance easier.
Please add all your maintenance ideas, improvements, and clever ideas,
for ponds, and gardening tips...photos
would be helpful as well.
I'll go first, we have a bottom drain and gravity fed system.
The problem with a bottom drain is they can get
clogged with plants, leaves and stones that the koi
deposit on the pond floor from digging in the pots.
In order to unclog the drain we used to put the shop
vac down the pipe and blow all the stuff out.
This is the way my head groundskeeper (Cliff) solved
this problem and it works fabulously.
Get a long strong nylon cord, tie (very tightly) a rag to the end of the cord,
then tie another cord to the other end of the rag... Pull
the cord through the drain, then tug on the cord
from the filter side and then tug from the pond side, the rag will pull out all the stones and leaves etc...
the cord (that comes out from the bottom drain is tied to our dock in the back and the other end of the cord
is lying along side filter tub.
the cord remains in the pipes all the time and the tied rag is along side the filter tub.
He also has a knot in the cord, when he sees the knot he stops tugging on the cord so that the rag on the other end
stays just outside the bottom drain.
Note, in order to be able to do this the dome on the bottom
drain has to be removed. We have a 90* and two 45* angles on
our bottom drain plumbing.
He does this a couple/few times a week, as it's easy to do, just pick up the cord and give it a few tugs.
In early spring he gives it a few tugs every day,
because of all the droppings from the oak trees.
I hope this is clear, if not I'll do a drawing.
Note: make sure the rag is strong and tied very securely
to the nylon cord...Think of it as Bottom Drain Floss!
