need to clean the pond

[milliemax]

  Well, we started the pond about last July.
  Kinda knew we would have troubles with the leaves. tried to cover them with netting, wind didn't let it work!
  We've had major freezes for CA, which have frozen the pond, garden and......
  We need to clean the whole pond! Does this mean a total water change????
  Do we need to start all over?
  I have also noticed the water level dropping in thelast couple of weeks!  Could my pond structure have frozen????
  Don't know if I still have fish! Haven't found any dead. Pond is pretty gunky!  Nancy

[croft]

Sorry I can't help you much with your dilema Milliemax. You might try just using a leaf net to scoop out the leaves etc. Then maybe a shop-vac for the finer stuff.

You may get more help from other ponders if you post over on the "pond chat" board .  Good Luck!

[CT]

Do you have a preformed pond? They are notorious for cracking, that might be where your water loss is at or could it be evaporation? I would get as much large debris out with a net and do small sequential water changes over several weeks to keep from stressing the fish. I'm sure others can help more.

[milliemax]

Sounds good, Kay. I'll net as much as I can. It'll stir up the bottom, I'm sure, but I'll let it settle a day or two and try again.

[EagleEye]

My only suggestion is to very carefully check the net before you dump it. I do the same thing all the time, but hate it when something/somebody comes up missing due to my carelessness.
It's really not that bad of a job to remove the leaves with a net. A good net makes all the difference.

Good luck,
Steve

[milliemax]

  Well, we're done with the leaves. I'm ready to pull all the plants and pretty stuff out of the pond and do a good vacuuming!
 I actually found all my fish today! I thought the racoons had gotten them!   Nancy

[CT]

Glad your fish are fine ..have fun with the cleaning. It looks so good when it's all done..