I typically have cleaned out my 3 yr old pond in the spring, fall and
once in the summer. I no longer have any tree near my pond and haven't
cleaned it out since spring. There does not appear to be a lot of
debris in there other than the typical. Does it really need to be
cleaned out before winter?

I cover it with a pool cover (leaving room for air to enter/exit) and
heat it to keep it from freezing. I am just thinking that a natural
pond never gets cleaned out and if mine looks fairly clean, is there a
need. Yes, I am being lazy. I also don't like stressing my Koi which
inveitably happens.

"Mike C" wrote:

I typically have cleaned out my 3 yr old pond in the spring, fall and
once in the summer. I no longer have any tree near my pond and haven't
cleaned it out since spring. There does not appear to be a lot of
debris in there other than the typical. Does it really need to be
cleaned out before winter?

I cover it with a pool cover (leaving room for air to enter/exit) and
heat it to keep it from freezing. I am just thinking that a natural
pond never gets cleaned out and if mine looks fairly clean, is there a
need. Yes, I am being lazy. I also don't like stressing my Koi which
inveitably happens.

Ahhh, but natural ponds also eventually fill in

When you say "cleaned out" what do you do? Do you empty the pond and power
wash everything or just power wash up the mulm from the bottom? I vacuum
mine up. Do you have stones on the bottom of the pond? Bottom drain?



San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.

I empty the water, remove fish and plants, and basically remove all
debris. I use a broom on the bottom and sides. I don't remove every
last trace of algae massively scrubbing it.

I don't have a bottom drain. I don't have stones (other than the ones
the Koi knock out of my plant pots).

"Mike C" wrote:

I empty the water, remove fish and plants, and basically remove all
debris. I use a broom on the bottom and sides. I don't remove every
last trace of algae massively scrubbing it.

I don't have a bottom drain. I don't have stones (other than the ones
the Koi knock out of my plant pots).

Sounds like a lot of work! I usually just vacuum up the mulm from the
bottom, although I can see I may need to do a more thorough cleaning next
year. I think you could easily get by with only doing what you do every few
years.


San Diego Joe
4,000 - 5,000 Gallons.
Koi, Goldfish, and RES named Colombo.

Well when it comes time that a natural pond has to get cleaned its
called dredgeing........They will silt up in time, if they are not
constructed right with proper breaks for inflowing water to alow silt
to settle out, and even then they stil will silt up.

The way I clean mine or at least sanitize it to get rid of a lot of
organic material like rotted leaves pine straw etc is to dose it 2x
back to back every spring and 1 time in late fall about mid November
with potassium permanganate. If not, come spring you are subject to
all kinds of nasty things happening.......Since I started doing the 3
treatments with PP I have yet to get any fungal or bacterial problems
which is pretty common in most all ponds in the deep south especially
natural ones.........I took the advice of the University of FL in
prophylactic treating my pond and it been good.

On 14 Oct 2005 12:31:55 -0700, "Mike C"
wrote:

===I typically have cleaned out my 3 yr old pond in the spring, fall and
===once in the summer. I no longer have any tree near my pond and haven't
===cleaned it out since spring. There does not appear to be a lot of
===debris in there other than the typical. Does it really need to be
===cleaned out before winter?
===
===I cover it with a pool cover (leaving room for air to enter/exit) and
===heat it to keep it from freezing. I am just thinking that a natural
===pond never gets cleaned out and if mine looks fairly clean, is there a
===need. Yes, I am being lazy. I also don't like stressing my Koi which
===inveitably happens.


==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!
"The original frugal ponder"
~~~~ }((((o ~~~~~~ }{{{{o ~~~~~~~ }(((((o

~Roy wrote:
Well when it comes time that a natural pond has to get cleaned its
called dredgeing........They will silt up in time, if they are not
constructed right with proper breaks for inflowing water to alow silt
to settle out, and even then they stil will silt up.

Are you using some alternate definition of the word natural?

I am referring to a narural pond being its a hole in the ground no
liners, no filtration and left tot he mercy of mother nature like any
other natural pond is........I do not understand what your question is
really! Natural is natural.......

On 15 Oct 2005 15:15:00 -0700, "Cyde Weys" wrote:

===
===~Roy wrote:
=== Well when it comes time that a natural pond has to get cleaned its
=== called dredgeing........They will silt up in time, if they are not
=== constructed right with proper breaks for inflowing water to alow silt
=== to settle out, and even then they stil will silt up.
===
===Are you using some alternate definition of the word natural?


==============================================
Put some color in your cheeks...garden naked!
"The original frugal ponder"
~~~~ }((((o ~~~~~~ }{{{{o ~~~~~~~ }(((((o

On 14 Oct 2005 12:31:55 -0700, "Mike C" wrote:

I typically have cleaned out my 3 yr old pond in the spring, fall and
once in the summer. I no longer have any tree near my pond and haven't
cleaned it out since spring. There does not appear to be a lot of
debris in there other than the typical. Does it really need to be
cleaned out before winter?

I cover it with a pool cover (leaving room for air to enter/exit) and
heat it to keep it from freezing. I am just thinking that a natural
pond never gets cleaned out and if mine looks fairly clean, is there a
need. Yes, I am being lazy. I also don't like stressing my Koi which
inveitably happens.

Perhaps just suck any accumulated muck up with a shop vac? Fall is the best
time, as your fish are strong and immune systems still up (if you haven't
waited too long into the fall). ~ jan

unless there is a heavy layer of leaves in the bottom of the pond it is best not to
clean the pond when the temp has gone down below 55oF since the fish immune system
shuts down below 55oF. same thing in spring, dont clean until the water temp has
been up and above 55 for 10 days. Ingrid

"Mike C" wrote:

I typically have cleaned out my 3 yr old pond in the spring, fall and
once in the summer. I no longer have any tree near my pond and haven't
cleaned it out since spring. There does not appear to be a lot of
debris in there other than the typical. Does it really need to be
cleaned out before winter?

I cover it with a pool cover (leaving room for air to enter/exit) and
heat it to keep it from freezing. I am just thinking that a natural
pond never gets cleaned out and if mine looks fairly clean, is there a
need. Yes, I am being lazy. I also don't like stressing my Koi which
inveitably happens.



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