Pond Cleaning and Maintenance Essentials

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A pond or other outdoor water feature can enhance the look of virtually any property, but many homeowners may be hesitant to have one installed, even by a professional pond contractor. The primary reason for this is the perception that maintaining a pond is an extremely difficult endeavor, but that simply isn’t true. With some basic equipment and effort, homeowners can keep their pond healthy and looking great.

Pond Cleaning: Removing Debris

Debris in the form of leaves, plant material, and soil will naturally accumulate in your pond over time. Too much of these materials can harm fish and plant life, so it is necessary to remove debris regularly.

There are a variety of products that can help with this task. A net can be used for large objects like sticks and leaves. A skimmer is also a great investment, as it will remove objects from the surface of the water before they can sink to the bottom. Pond vacuum cleaners should also be used periodically to remove contaminants that have settled to the bottom of the pond.

Pond Care: Preventing Excess Algae

While a certain level of algae in your pond is desirable, too much is problematic. It can compromise the appearance of your pond because it often results in the water taking on a greenish color, but in large amounts it can also be harmful to plants and fish.

For this reason, an essential part of pond maintenance is controlling algae. This can be done in several ways. If the problem is not too severe, try adding some additional aquatic plants to the water. A UV sterilizer or an algaecide can be used when the situation is more serious.

Scheduled Pond Cleaning

Even when care is taken to regularly remove debris and prevent excessive algae growth, your pond will probably still have to be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year, preferably during the fall or spring. Any filters, skimmers, or pumps should be thoroughly cleaned with a pressure washer and, if necessary, replaced. If there are fish in the pond, they should be transferred to a holding tank with a good aerator. Next, all of the water from the pond should be drained.

Remove any aquatic plants. During the pond cleaning process, algae can be removed by hand from plants. Then, spray the sides of the pond down with a hose and vacuum the bottom. Scrubbing is not necessary, and no cleaners should be used. Finally, refill the pond and return any plants to their original location. Ponds that contain fish should also be de-chlorinated. If pond cleaning is done during the fall, a net can be placed over the surface of the pond to prevent leaves from accumulating in the water.