Spring cleaning of the pond

[Johnnie]

Spring cleaning of the  pond

After the old man winter's gone,  it's time for me to do some Spring cleaning of the pond.  The cleaning turned out to be pretty easy for me.  Firstly I scooped up  the fishies and relocated them into 4 big containers.  I hooked up a garden hole into the Savio pump.  After the pond was pumped out of water,  I  removed all debris, scrubbed and pressure-cleaned the liners spotless.   I refilled & dechlorinated the water.  I rescooped up the fishies & returned them into their spotless home.  That's it. It's done!  What about you guys? Have you done your Spring pond cleaning yet?      Here are some photos for you guys to enjoy:


Thanks goodness for the multi-adaptors that fit the Savio pump and a garden hose.



The 100-foot-garden-hose came in handy.  It carried the water from the pond way out to a storm drain.

Fishies do love their spotless home !

[Julles]

Thanks, Johnnie.  You have some really pretty fish, especially the white and red one.

This will be the first year that I DON'T break down and thoroughly clean my pond.  Althought our local pond store recommends it, I am not convinced it's an essential thing to do each year.  I'm trying to remove leaf debris by netting it out. 

Also, my koi are so large by now, I don't think they could survive the several hours out of the pond in a temporary tub, even with aeration. Every year when I've completely drained and refilled the pond, I've had one or two who were VERY close to the brink of not making it. 

So this year I'm risking a "dirty" pond bottom over not putting my fish at risk.

[miguynmkoi]

Welcome Johnnie!  What beautiful koi!  I'm partial to butterflies. 

I already found out very close to 'too late' that my bio-filter got too cold this year and all the beneficial bacteria died during a cold spell.  Water got really ugly over night.  I got a scolding from the pond specialists at the pond place nearby and had to buy kits to test water, water changes galore and lots of $$ on stuff to clean the water.  I hereby promise to clean out the bio-filter before the end of winter every year

Water is looking much better after four weeks of making my fish suffer 

[Julles]

Is that platinum one pregnant?  Looks like it in the bottom photo.