Pond cleaning question?

Question

I have a one year old rubber-lined pond with NO drain. How do you recommend cleaning it? I have a siphon-hose vacuuming tube for my indoor aquarium, but I have no idea how to clean out a pond. I tried using the siphon hose in the pond, but it did not allow enough suction to lift out the sludge and debris because it's underground (gravity). I see a lot of rotting leaves and sludge at the bottom of the pond that needs to be removed, and my pond net is not helping (the debris just flows right through it!). Is there a "pond vacuum" or other cleaning system I can use to clean out my pond? Please recommend something out there I can buy to clean out my pond! Thanks!

Answer 1

A powerhead (like for an aquarium) or a pond pump with enough tubing to run the water to the outside of your pond (and a long outdoor power cord!) is good for major water removal.

If you're just looking to do spot cleaning, I learned about a product at a pond seminar at a local fish shop a few years ago: http://www.aqua-mart.com/gvac.html It's expensive at $55, but doesn't require electricity and if you know someone handy, it's simple to make something like this yourself.

The basic structure is a short, narrow piece of pipe (PVC), an adapter to a wider pipe, and an adapter to another thin piece. It works by capping the top piece with your hand and inserting the bottom into the pond near some debris. Keeping your hand against the top keeps water from entering. When you have the bottom tip positioned, remove your hand, causing water (and the debris) to be sucked up into the wider chamber by the water inside the "vaccuum" trying to equalize with the water level outside. Once the debris is sucked up, cap the top with your hand again, pull the vaccuum out of the water and release the water into a bucket (or wherever). Repeat as necessary! You'll have to figure out what lengths of pipe to use based on the depth and diameter of your pond.

Answer 2

Dont try to keep it too clean, you actually need to build a little eco-system and there are mini organisms that your pond benefits from,,, as in stagnant ponds, the key word is stagnant,,,, fresh streams are fresh because the water moves and a certain amount of water is refreshed and replaced..... keep your filter/ pump running at peak and "flush" the pond out (about 20 %) every 7-10 days with the hose,,,,, if you're on city water,,, use aquarium/pond drops to neutralize the chlorine and fluorides

have a nice day.

Answer 3

If possible you could use a garden hose to siphon with. Maybe it will reach far enough down hill in some direction to create a good flow. If the gunk in the bottom is fairly fine, you could use a water bed filling and draining kit. You can find them at walmart and similar stores and would only need a hose and a faucet to be able to drain the pond.

MM

Answer 4

A sump pump can be purchased, or you can get a fountain pump. Just direct the discharge out of the pond to drain until you can scoop out the debris. Then you can install a waterfall and use the pump for that. That's a good way to aerate the pond as well!
Here's one for less than 30 bucks!
GO TO:

http://www.pondmarket.com/store/index.cfm/fuseaction/category.display/category_id/1/index.cfm

Answer 5

The cheapest way is the syphon method. Start the cycle by sucking on a tube with one end in the water and as the water comes up to your mouth you hold the tube over your neighbours garden. When your pond is empty, start to work with a scrubbing brush.

Answer 6

Use a dust-pan and brush for the sludge,after pumping or bailing out the water.

Answer 7

run a filtered pump year round on the pond...it will take care of everything all year..every year.