A complete pond cleanout involves draining the pond, temporarily relocating fish, removing debris, rinsing rocks and gravel, cleaning filters, and refilling the pond.
The ideal time for a complete cleanout is early spring, before water temperatures exceed 55°F (13°C). A cleanout is recommended when excessive sludge accumulates or the pond water becomes unusually dark.
Supplies needed
- Aquascape LSR Cleanout Pump
- Cleanout Pump Discharge Hose
- Garden hose or pressure washer
- Fish net and temporary fish holding container
- Aquascape Protective Pond Netting
- Buckets and garden shears
- Aquascape Pond Detoxifier
- Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria or Pond Starter Bacteria
How to perform a complete pond cleanout
- Turn off equipment. Disconnect the pond pump and other electrical equipment that should not operate during draining.
- Drain the pond. Place a cleanout pump at the deepest point and discharge water into a suitable landscape area. Save some existing pond water for the fish holding container.
- Relocate the fish. Gently transfer fish into the holding container using a fish net. Keep the container shaded and covered with netting. Provide aeration as needed and avoid keeping fish in the container longer than several hours.
- Remove debris. Remove accumulated leaves, sludge, and organic material from the pond bottom.
- Rinse rocks and gravel. Spray from the top of the pond downward using a garden hose or pressure washer. Periodically pump out dirty water until the rinse water becomes relatively clear. Leave some beneficial algae on the rocks.
- Clean filtration components. Remove debris from the skimmer. Rinse the waterfall filter mats and biological media, then reinstall them.
- Maintain aquatic plants. Remove dead plant material and trim, divide, or repot plants as needed.
- Refill the pond. Remove the cleanout pump and refill with fresh water. Add Aquascape Pond Detoxifier according to the product label before reintroducing fish. Restart the filtration system once the proper water level is restored.
- Acclimate the fish. Place fish in a bucket containing their holding water and set the bucket in the pond for approximately 15 minutes. Gradually add treated pond water to the bucket, then gently release the fish once water temperatures are similar.
- Restore beneficial bacteria. Add Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria when water temperatures are below 50°F (10°C), or Pond Starter Bacteria when water temperatures are at least 40°F (4°C), following product instructions.
Important precautions
- Keep fish shaded and adequately oxygenated during the cleanout.
- Never return fish to untreated tap water.
- Avoid excessive pressure washing that removes all beneficial algae.
- Verify proper pump operation and water circulation after refilling.
Note: A complete pond cleanout is not necessary every year. If water is clear and debris accumulation is minimal, routine pond maintenance may be sufficient.