How To Clean A Pond Without Draining It

Completely draining the pond water for a routine pond cleaning is the last thing you would want to do. In fact, draining out all the pond water can actually make the pond dirtier by disrupting its natural ecosystem and especially in wildlife ponds. Sure, heavy draining may be required under some circumstances, but in general cleaning, it is hardly a necessity. All you need to have is the right types of equipment like skimmer, vacuum, UV filter, and a big size pond net. Still not sure how to clean a pond without draining it? Sit back, relax & continue reading.

Has draining anything to do with efficient cleaning?

Many pond owners are of the view that “the dirty” water of their pond must be drained before proper cleaning. Well, they are mistaken and the truth is the opposite! The water that you consider dirty is actually very healthy and contributes to the pond’s ecosystem by providing a natural cleaning service. Millions of beneficial bacteria and microorganisms dwell in the pond water. They constantly break down harmful substances like ammonia and nitrites. Besides, these microbes are essential for fish and are responsible for the “nitrogen cycle“, which maintains the pond’s balance.

Removing the pond water means reducing beneficial bacteria populations. This, in turn, will reduce your pond’s biological filtration process. Moreover, topping up more water after draining can be worse as it is usually high in chlorine, which is toxic to most of the microorganisms living in ponds.

Therefore, you must clean your pond without draining to ensure a well-maintained natural bacteria population. In case the waste levels in your pond get too high, all you need to do is manually remove it so that the bacteria can get back to work again – no total drainage required for the so-called “efficient cleaning”!

How to clean a pond without draining it- the step by step guide

There are many aquarium sump setup ideas and some of the hobbyists are also professionals in building their own sumps. If you are planning to add a sump to your aquarium setup, consider buying one instead of making it yourself.

Most of the commercial sumps come with the ability to customize them according to the user. This enables the user to make the required changes in order to get the best out of the sump.

Now you need to follow some simple steps in order to set up your sump. Let’s start.

1. Remove the floating debris

While cleaning a pond, the first thing to do is removing any floating surface debris. This is important because if not removed, the debris will eventually sink and form sludge at the pond floor.

• Remove as much floating debris as possible.
• The debris includes leaves, sticks, twigs, dead insects and larvae. You can remove it manually using a basic pond net, or use an automatic skimmer system for clean-up.
• Use a wide basket, fine mesh pond net as it catches all sizes of debris easily.
• Use box skimmers for quick cleaning. Besides, they have a high cleaning capacity for larger ponds.

Have a look at the ProTuff Pool Net Rake with a 20-inch basket, designed for faster cleaning

Looking for a quick auto-cleaner instead? Get the Aquascape Pond Skimmer that provides efficient biological filtration.

2. Remove/Vacuum the pond floor

The next step is to do away with the bottom sludge. Remember, you must not remove all of it. Ideally, do this before winter so that your fish have a safe hibernation period. An excellent way to remove the bottom muck is to invest in a water vacuum as it makes cleaning much faster and easier.

• Pond vacuums facilitate cleaning the bottom of the pond liner without draining the water.
• The best models are equipped with a variety of attachments for cleaning hard-to-reach areas of the pond.
• For a deep pond, a vacuum that can keep suction at good depths and has an extendable handle is the best choice.
• Further, a vacuum with a reliable discharge system for constant cleaning is essential for easy waste removal.

Check out the Pond Boss Vacuum that facilitates efficient pond bottom cleaning.

3. Use a beneficial bacteria supplement

Once the bottom sludge is cleaned, add a natural beneficial bacteria supplement. This breaks down any lingering waste. Sludge remover bacteria work in the same way as the pond’s natural bacteria. If you have a wildlife pond, you may add extra beneficial bacteria to complement the nitrogen cycle.

To eliminate muck, dead leaves and odor from your pond, get the PondWorx Pond Bacteria Supplement.

Sludge is a by-product of the natural decomposition of ammonia, which is highly toxic to fish like koi and goldfish. In a fishless pond, adding beneficial bacteria is a cheaper way to control sludge as compared to removing it all with a vacuum.

4. Algae Control/removal

Algae is not technically a waste. However, it needs to be controlled and cleaned out to avoid an imbalance of water quality. Small amounts of algae are beneficial as they provide hiding spots from predators and also make good snacks for goldfish. Problems occur if and when algae is left to grow uncontrolled. It grows rapidly and takes over the pond’s ecosystem. Algae bloom eventually the water plants which then sink to the bottom and gradually reduces the oxygen content.

• You need not drain your pond to combat algae. Installing a UV clarifier can eliminate free-swimming algae by filtering the water and destroying the algae at a cellular level.
• Removal of deeper string algae can be done using a pond vacuum.
• If you are looking for a long run algae control, adding more plants to your pond can be beneficial.  This is because plants utilize algae for nutrients, gradually slowing its growth.
• For a fast algae control, a combination of a UV clarifier and a vacuum should be enough to eliminate almost all of it without draining any water.

Struggling with algae in your pond? You must buy the TotalPond UV Pond Clarifier designed for 2,000-gallon pond.

5. Optimize water filtration

While cleaning your pond, you must ensure that its water filtration is the best.  Trust me, this highly reduces future cleaning and maintenance! A pond with a great biological filtration system will have the least water quality issues. Installation of a filter with an efficient mechanism will reduce the overall debris in the pond.

Filters should not be cleaned frequently as it may harm the bacteria living in it. However, in cases where it is completely clogged, cleaning is a must. Besides, the filter can get damaged over time and may need replacing.

Have a look at the ZENY Pressure Bio Filter equipped with UV clarification.

Do you have a pond on your farm and not sure how to clean a farm pond without draining it?  Well, the procedures and steps mentioned above apply to a farm pond as well. Your pond may be with or without fish, but that will hardly change the steps.

Should the water be changed while cleaning?

Removing or adding water to the pond while cleaning may be beneficial in some circumstances, but a full pond water change (full drainage) is ant advisable. This is because doing so may reset the whole nitrogen cycle.

In a heavy fish stocked pond, maintaining the water quality can be difficult as fish produce a lot of waste, particularly during the summer due to their high metabolism. In such cases, performing a small water change can certainly help to keep the ammonia levels down and improve overall water quality. Hence, water changes can sometimes be great for maintaining the pond water conditions.

For fishless ponds, changing water changes is not required unless the water quality is poor. You determine your pond’s water quality by using a water testing kit. The general cleaning which includes bottom muck, algae, and floating debris, water removal is not required. Besides, if the water testing kit shows positive results, water removal may cause a drop in its quality and make it even more difficult to maintain a clean water pond in the future.

What’s the best time to clean a fish pond?

Although cleaning can be carried out as per your needs, the best time for cleaning a fish pond is at the start of spring and the end of autumn. Cleaning the pond at the end of autumn ensures minimal waste levels in the winter and provides a comfortable hibernation period for the fish.

Leaving sludge and debris for a long time can cause numerous problems for fish, especially if water freezes as it obstructs the gas exchange process. In such cases, harmful substances may slowly rise thereby reducing the oxygen content. This may eventually sicken the fish and prove fatal for some as well.

If you are wondering how to clean a Koi pond without draining it, performing a deep clean at the end of autumn is something you must consider.

Similarly, a small clean can be carried out at the start of spring when the temperature begins to rise and fish become more active. It would certainly not be as large a clean as your autumn one, but it supplements the pond with beneficial bacteria and removes lingering debris.

Video Introduction

Bringing up the rear

Before reading this article, you may have thought that draining out all the water is essential for pond cleaning. Well this query is resolved..isn’t it? On a serious note, ponds are not easy to maintain, and when it comes to cleaning, the thought of draining its water can haunt you!

We have gone through a detailed analysis of effective pond cleaning without the need to drain out the water. Hope this helps! And, if at all you refrain yourself from having a pond because of the tedious cleaning it involves, you know the technique now!