Spring Clean up

[AnthonyRibis]

How often, if ever should you drain and completely clean out your pond?

 

[Big Lou]

Once to a year for our pond. It's important to note that we do not have fish.

 

[sissy]

I have never done and I grew up with a pond and my dad never did it .Actually 2 ponds 1 in NJ and one in PA at my parents house .I think it stresses the fish out and kills your good stuff growing in the pond and then you end up starting over with a new pond .You kill all the little snails also .Worth maybe to some, worth to me NO .My opinion and only my opinion .

 

[AnthonyRibis]

That's exactly what I was thinking but I know people clean them out completely. This is why I purposes the question to the "floor"

 

[Sunshine]

I did when the bottom was heavily rocked. The water temp was still low and they weren't moving all that fast. Easy to catch. Never lost any fish doing it. I always did the pond first. Than the next month, I did the filters so I wouldn't have a cycle.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

How often, if ever should you drain and completely clean out your pond?

Only when needed. A little sediment on the bottom of a pond is not harmful and may actually be beneficial, but when it accumulates to thicknesses of more than an inch, a complete pond clean-out is warranted.
HINT: When doing a complete clean-out, conserve the old pond water and return it to the pond after cleaning. Fish will be stressed less and the pond will re-balance quite quickly.

 

[Lisak1]

Five year old pond, coming up on sixth year - never completely emptied to clean. We use a net when needed and that's about it. We keep the plant debris from falling in the water. The rest breaks down in the pond and things stay "clean" - we do have algae covered rocks, which some people don't prefer, but we like the naturalized look so we leave it alone.

 

[teeemkay]

The pond we inherited when we bought our house has never been completely emptied either for cleaning. Right now there is brownish algae growing on the rocks, and some brighter green algae has been showing up as the weather has improved...but the fish are actually nibbling away at it, so it's not getting out of control by any means. The old owners said they might add algaecide in the spring if things get really funky, but thus far the water is fairly clear.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

The pond we inherited when we bought our house has never been completely emptied either for cleaning. Right now there is brownish algae growing on the rocks, and some brighter green algae has been showing up as the weather has improved...but the fish are actually nibbling away at it, so it's not getting out of control by any means. The old owners said they might add algaecide in the spring if things get really funky, but thus far the water is fairly clear.

As long as the fish are eating it, do not add an algaecide. Mixed in with that algae are countless micro-organisms that are also munching on it. They in turn are natural source of protein for your fish. If it looks like it may be getting out of hand, quit feeding your fish. They will trim it back in short order. Like an all-day buffet for your fish.

 

[teeemkay]

Oh yes, the koi can feed on the algae as much as they want. It's still too early to feed them regular food...we're not totally out of the woods yet when it comes to very cold weather. So I'd rather they ate the algae for now.

 

[snoozer]

My pond is seven years old and I have never drained to clean it. I net the leaves and glup off of the bottom and in spring and fall use my pond vac to do a good cleaning. It's amazing how many leaves you find in spring. It always seems that the windiest night is right before the ice forms. Blows everything in and it stays until spring.

 

[DoDad]

I never do.

 

[Tula]

I've only drained it once, when I had the gravel removed. I may drain, or lower it, it this Spring, to catch my koi fry, but will ave the water.

 

[sophsmom]

My little pond is only a 50-gallon, plastic tub. I just put the pump/filter back in today because the water is so green and murky that I can only catch little glimpses of orange here and there, so I know the comets are still in there. I'm hoping the filter will cut down on some of the algae.

I can see algae on the sides of the tub as well. Does a pond my size warrant a complete cleaning? I put some Algaefix in the water today ... not sure if I'm doing this right. Here in Delaware it's still in the 40s, so should I wait to clean it all out when I start feeding everyone again? Sorry, I'm a newbie at this and this is my first winter with the pond, so please be kind.

 

[sissy]

The algae on the side of the tub will help keep the pond clean .If you clean it you may be starting over .I would just wait it out and clean you filter often until weather gets warmer .You can buy a safer product than that algae stuff .Liquid barley is much safer for your fish .