pond clean out

[sawlog]

does anybody on here ever completely pump out there pond and clean it out? I have had mine 6 or 7 years and have never done that.
my pond is 20000 gallons and I have never had a issue of any kind of build up on the bottom except for the leaves and pine needles in the spring.
the kids get all of that out in the summer when they start swimming in it again. it does take a wile for my pond to clear up and stay clear in the spring. that might be do to the leaves. just wondered if it would do any good besides just to get the leaves out a few months earlier. thanks

 

[sissy]

no what a horror kill all the good stuff growing on the liner .I use a pool net to get stuff out but would never ever clean it all out

 

[mtpond]

I have only had my pond running for almost two years. I change water through out the summer but I only drain about a quarter of my pond at a time. I don't think I would ever completely drain my pond.

 

[fishin4cars]

I have but but it was with sick fish. If your water is good, no sense in dumping the whole thing, just do 10% weekly water changes.
No reason to ever do a 100% water change unless there is something toxic in the water. I wouldn't allow kids swimming in the pond with the fish. Humans swim in pools that have chlorinated water for their well being and safety because of water born bacteria. Chlorine is toxic to fish, so no chlorine for their well being. Humans can get some pretty bad bacteria infections from ponds that have fish.

 

[j.w]

Never cleaned out the whole pond. Only net out gunk on the bottom. You'd be starting all over again and it could kill your fish. I have walked into my pond and reached in w/ my hands but will be careful of doing even that w/ any open wounds anywhere on my body. As Larkin said above I've heard about the infections you could get if you do. Wouldn't want to accidentally ingest any pond water either.

 

[sawlog]

did you guys never swim in a river or pond or lake as kids?

 

[sissy]

yep went water tubing in a stream up in Galax ,west virginia for 6 miles and what fun it was just floating along .

 

[HARO]

I didn't even know what a swimming pool was until I was in my teens! Lakes and farm ponds were our swimming holes, and I survived with only minimal mental damage! :ugh:
John

 

[sawlog]

amen to that, we lived in my grandma and grandpas farm pond our entire child hood

 

[texmaster]

I cleaned out my 2 ponds for some work on the waterfalls and I wish I hadn't. I've never had water this dirty in years.

 

[j.w]

Yep love swimming in the river,lakes etc. Think it's different then a small pond tho regarding a wound and getting an infection or parasites from our pet fish. Rivers and lakes are much bigger and more diluted.

 

[addy1]

I am in our pond all of the time, so far no issues with infections etc.

 

[sawlog]

that's the way our family is, as soon as the water warms up that were you will find the kids. parts of the pond are 6ft deep so its just like a pool to them. that's the dogs water bowl too, never any problems

 

[pecan]

Like others have said no, I don't ever drain my pond completely as it can cause many issues rebuilding the natural echo system. I also stopped doing 10% water changes weekly last year but instead let the hose sit on the edge of the pond with a slow drip coming out all summer. It kept the pond at a constant level with no water changes. Spring and fall I do a 25% water change.

 

[Jason]

I like swimming in Fresh Cold water Springs here in Florida, I have about 15 Springs to swim in, in a 45 Mile radius around me, Here are Two that I go to a lot and Major Bottle water companies like Nestle Own The Land For Cypress Springs.

Here is Cypress Spring
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Here is the Mouth Of the Spring with a Cypress stump that Lays accross
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This is Morrison Spring, Which is around twice the size and Depth as Cypress and is 80' Deep of pure clean water
[sharedmedia=gallery:images:2811]