Cleaning Out A Pond And Pruning Plants This Weekend...

[Curiosity101]

As above, I offered to clean out + prune plants etc etc on someones pond.

They've got a load of huge marshy reed plants n such, some lily looking plants and then in the actual pond there are proper water lilies.

I know they're all in big baskets so can be completely lifted out to be trimmed + thinned out etc.

But I have NEVER done anything with a pond before...ever.
Obviously I trim all my tropical plants in my tank, thin them out etc etc.
Is it the same theory? Any tricks of the trade I need to know?

Also anything else I can do to 'clean' the actual pond. The water is clear-ish but the other night I was shining a torch into the water to look at the bottom. And there were alot of suspended brown particles. I wasn't sure if it was general muck or dead algae or what.
But it made me think the filter needs new media? I mean I don't even know what make of filter it is, or if pond filters even have filter media?

As you can see. I'm clueless. Any advice from pond owners will be grately recieved.

 

[Littlemonkey]

Hi,

I have a pond but no filtration. I do regular water changes just like I would my tank. I have seperated plants before that have grown too big. Once a year I do a complete clear out, all the plants get put into buckets and the fish into another holding bucket. Much easier for pond fish, no temp to worry about. I give the pond a jet wash out and clean the rock's etc with a stiff brush. I do use aquasafe in the new water when filling. Thank god I'm not on a meter. Pick a nice warm day. Usefull tool, I use an old plant pot to get a lot of the stuff that lays on the bottom of the pond. I use a bucket to empty mine, to to save your back and arms a pump would be better. Good luck. Oh yes I use the pond water on my garden with no detrament to the plants.

 

[Curiosity101]

Thanks, prob wont go as far as draining it. Just due to the cost for refilling. So I will have to work around fish.

How do I use a plant pot to remove gunk?

 

[Curiosity101]

Anymore ideas anyone...?

Any ideas at all would be appreciated. Particularly making the water crystal clear.
And let me just clarify that it isn't green water or anything like that.
It literally just has particles of dirt or such floating around in it.

 

[mixmaster jay]

with the lillies i just take all the yellowish ones off right down at the base you will find under all these floaters there is tons of new shoots ready to pop up
with the marsh plants (i assume like tall broad leafed grassy sort of plants) i just trim all the brown off with scissors and keep the shape of it like to a point

i usually drain my pond halfway 1 a month sometimes less and also use an aquarium net(closer netting stich) and just keep pushing it around untill i don't get that much crap anymore but i think you might have to do a partial water change

if the filter is a box type thing it will have first of all a dimpled nrmally green sponge and then under that plastic media dont bother washing the plastic media just the sponge also drag the pump up and dismantal and clean it up good im guessing it will be quite manky lol

if the roots on the plant baskets are bursting out with roots just cut them flush with the basket i do this and it has never affected the lilly's growth at all

if i think of anything else or you do i will post pm me if you have any q's

 

[Curiosity101]

Thanks very much

But I have PM'd you. I have many many questions.

I really don't want to go and break anything. Or do something stupid like use the wrong type of net and somehow tangle a 12" goldfish in it!
I know the above isn't that likely...but you know what I mean.

People who have ponds will have a 'nak' to how they clean it. I have no experience and certainly no little pearls of wisdom.

 

[mixmaster jay]

get your snorkal out lol you will be able to clean everywhere then hehe

 

[Curiosity101]

Not quite sure what the neighbours would think to me donning a bikini and jumping in a goldfish pond!

Plus the pond is at the back of the drive (the drive is at the side of the house) and the road at the front of the house (in clear view of the pond), is a very busy trucking+lorry route.

I'm thinking staying dry is probably te better option here,

 

[mixmaster jay]

Not quite sure what the neighbours would think to me donning a bikini and jumping in a goldfish pond!

Plus the pond is at the back of the drive (the drive is at the side of the house) and the road at the front of the house (in clear view of the pond), is a very busy trucking+lorry route.

I'm thinking staying dry is probably te better option here,

lol yeah maybe

 

[Littlemonkey]

The plant pot gets out the larger debris with water and smaller going through the holes back into the pond. If you are not using a pump I found that this was easier for my back and arms. I'm only a little woman. Then using a bucket purely for emptying the water. Any way, it was lovely this sunday, did you have a go.

 

[mixmaster jay]

yeah stacey how did it go ? all good i hope well i didn't get a pm asking for help so it must of done lol



thats genious with the plant pot
my pond isnt too bad to reach into as its 4ft high lol 2ft deep

 

[Curiosity101]

I didn't go in the end. I got up at 1pm and spent the day bleaching the heck out of the bathroom, toilet, kitchen etc etc.
My dad has to be available to be my 'responsible passenger'. So it rests on him being free, n he wasn't.

So it's on for next weekend instead. Aswell as going to pick up my quarentine tank from my boyfriends dad n his dad's gf. They're finally getting the upgrade for the Black moor and Fantail. Only 2 months after I poked my nose in...hehehe.
I'm actually quite proud of myself getting them to upgrade so quickly, but for a full 120l set-up for only £30 how could they really say no? I told them I'd buy it for them if they didn't want to!

 

[mixmaster jay]

oh dear nevermind you will have to keep us posted on that lol

you did good getting them to upgrade i know what its like to get people to upgrade its normally "no its fine the fish is happy look" when it plainly isnt lol
well done you

 

[Curiosity101]

Ahh well I had a test kit on hand when I went over. (I don't just carry them around with me! I went over with the plan to test the water and do the first upgrade from like a 4l bowl to my 30l quarantine tank.)

Anyways, I tested the tank water and ammonia was off the chart. And they'd done a 100% water change only 2-3 days before!
So they understood very quickly
Plus they are really reasonable people, they know very little about fish, so are happy to learn. Made my job much much easier.

Also their goldies aren't plant eaters....Odd I know. But I took some cabomba over and planted it. And apparently it's still growing...I was like 'Seriously they didn't eat it?'
So when they upgrade I'll take some more plants over

 

[mixmaster jay]

well thats good then if they listen and are willing to learn great
all my goldies go mad for plants beleive it or not lol they love it especially duckweed (we need this for the turtles as they hide and eat it )

i bet you have a little briefcase with you with all your test kits in lol