Annual Pond Clean-out Instructions

Annual Pond Clean-out Instructions

KOI CRUISIN'
PONDSbyDESIGN.com

How to perform an annual pond clean-out:

Pond Cleanout Checklist:

1. Sump type pump.
You can use the one in the pond and save the expense of purchasing or renting one.

-For the pump drain hose, you will need fifteen or twenty feet of two inch I.D. hose and necessary fitting(s),
(minimum: 2” threaded male adapter; ideally: 2” threaded male adapter and 2” pvc union for ease of connection and removal) to attach it to the pump.

2. 2500 psi pressure washer.

3. Waders or boots with waterproof pants over the boots.

4. Rubber Gloves.

5. Soft fabric, small-mesh net to capture the fish.

6. Buckets, tubs or kiddie pool to hold fish while draining and cleaning pond.

7. Aquarium type aerator or air pump with at least five feet of air tube.
8. Two water hoses.

9. Extension cord.

10. A pump bag or 1/4” mesh hardware cloth to prevent fish from being sucked into the pump. If you use the hardware cloth, wrap it around the entire base of the pump rather than just over the pump intake opening.

11. Beneficial Bacteria-AquaClearer

12. Dechlorinator

13. New filter mats for the mechanical skimmer and biological filtration units.

14. Expanding Waterfall Foam

15. Aquatic Plant Fertilizer Tabs

16. Extra rocks and gravel.

17. Straight #2 screwdriver.

18. Two workers.

Procedure:

1. Organize workers, tools and materials near the pond. Also, turn off the water source for the automatic water fill valve.

2. If using the pump from the pond, worker #1 can unplug the pump. Then, he/she should remove the skimmer lid, remove the mesh skimmer basket and disconnect the check valve assembly from the feed tube to the biofalls.
*BEWARE: the biofalls will empty very quickly into the skimmer.
Once the biofalls has drained, remove the filter mat, pvc support tubes and pump/check valve assembly.
The pump and check valve assembly should be separated.

3. While worker #1 is busy, worker #2 can hook up the pressure washer.
Also, set up tubs/buckets with aerator(s) to hold fish during clean-out.
Once the biofalls is drained down, remove the lava rock bags, filter mats and pvc support tubes.
Begin pressure washing the biofalls, all filter mats and lava rock (leave lava rock in the bags and lightly pressure wash them by doing one side and then turning them over, repeat once or twice).

4. Worker #1 can now wrap the pump with the hardware cloth and tape it in place.
Then, connect the pump to the 2” clean-out hose/tube you brought with you.
Now, lower the pump to the bottom of the pond, position the hose/tube downhill and plug in the pump.
As the pond drains, use this water to fill the holding tubs/buckets, catch the fish and other pond critters and gently place them in the tubs/buckets.

5. Once the fish, etc. are all removed and the pond is completely drained, worker#2 can begin lightly pressure washing the stream and main pond.
The pump should remain on during the remainder of the clean-out process.

6. While worker #2 is pressure washing, worker #1 can rinse down the biofalls and let all the muddy water flow down to the skimmer.
After rinsing, reinstall the pvc support tubes, filter mats and lava rock bags into the biofalls.
Then, go to the main pond and begin pruning plants and repositioning any displaced rocks.

7. Worker #2 can pump out the skimmer. As the skimmer drains, pressure wash its interior.
Then, rinse it down and pump out the muddy water. Then, place the pump back in the pond and begin rinsing down the stream and pond rocks.
Pump out water until it begins to clear up. Then, remove the pump and begin refilling the pond by placing your water hose in the biofalls.

Now is also the time to add dechlorinator (an 11’ X 16’ pond holds about 1000 gallons). Follow label directions.

8. After the skimmer is clean and drained, worker #1 can reinstall the pump and check valve assembly, pvc support tubes and filter mat.
Then, turn on the water source for the automatic water fill valve.

9. Worker #2 can now place the fish tubs/buckets in the pond.
About fifteen minutes after the tubs have been surrounded by the new pond water, begin adding the new water to the tubs/buckets. This acclimates the fish to the new water. After a few minutes, release the fish into the pond.

10. You can do one of the following:

a. Turn off the water hose and put it away, leave the pump unplugged, let the water fill valve finish filling the pond and plug in the pump later on in the evening.
b. Fill the pond until the water level is about an inch above the bottom of the skimmer opening and turn the pump on yourself (more time consuming). Then, turn off the water hose, put it away and leave the water fill valve to fill valve to filling the pond.

When finished with this procedure, the pond should be treated as a new pond by adding AquaClearer Bacteria as directed on the label within the first 24 hours.

# *clean-out

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