Pond vacs - what works for you?

[Telkwa]

Specialized pond vacs are pretty expensive. I tried something different. Not really impressed so far. It doesn't like sucking a full hose of water.

It's rated at a higher horsepower than many pond vacs. One thing I think I'm seeing with pics of pond vacs is that they seem to use a smaller diameter hose instead of shop vacs. Is that correct? I'm trying to figure out why this Ridgid doesn't really do the job like I expected, and looking for ideas to modify it. I bought a reducing adapter for the Ridgid, so I can run smaller hose on it if that would help.

Is there anything special about real pond vacs, like the Matala or OASE? Magical pixie dust maybe?

 

[Mucky_Waters]

Just looking at the specs of the RIDGID® makes me doubt it's usefulness. It says it has a 16 gal capacity and the "Powerful suction picks up about 1 gallon of water per second." From those specs I must infer that it only has a maximum working time of 16 seconds before you must stop and drain the tank.
I think it would be better to use a venturi type vacuum or suck and drain type system where the pond water is simple sucked out of the pond and drained out somewhere.
Here's what I made out of old pool pump parts. https://www.gardenpondforum.com/topic/8850-pool-pump-to-pond-vac-conversion/

 

[sissy]

shop vac is all I used and now can't because of snails

 

[Waterbug]

My take on vacuums. Depends on size of pond. For larger ponds I think 2 different types of vacs are needed.

 

[taherrmann4]

I have the oasis pond vac and am happy with it. There is another thread on this subject if you do a search I think you may be able to find it.

 

[27goldfish]

Am I the only one who doesn't ever use one?

 

[addy1]

nah I don't use one either. Just net the pond off and on.

 

[thematt311]

Also a netter wish I could afford a pond vac if I hav to I'll probably use the shop vac fitted to a PVC hard pipe.

 

[JohnHuff]

I've been using a Sears wet/dry for years http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00917761000P and it's worked well for me. You can empty the water through a hose and I use it to fertilize my plants. When I first got it, I thought, if it doesn't work out at least I've have a shop vac, but I've never used it as a shop vac because it's worked so well as a pond vac for me. YMMV.

 

[addy1]

I built a pond vac, bought a pool vac, prefer netting. I don't want to hurt the pond critters netting makes it easier to sort them out.

 

[j.w]

Use only a net here also and do partial water changes now and then.

 

[addy1]

Netting is pretty easy, even with the size of my pond. Takes me maybe an hour if I do a real good net job, like spring or fall clean up ow pretty quick.