t least once or twice a year, the pond will need a thorough cleaning. Following are the steps to take, especially in the spring when the fish have remained in the pond over the winter:
• Set up a holding tank for the fish in a shaded area. A clean plastic trash can or a small children’s wading pool work well. Add a small submersible pump for aeration.
• Using a pump, fill the holding tank with water from the pond.
• Pump the rest of the water out of the pond, being careful where you send it. You don’t want to flood a neighbor’s lawn.
• When only a few inches of water remain in the pond, use a net to carefully remove the fish and put them into the holding tank. Cover the tank with some netting to keep them from jumping out.
• Remove the plants and cover them with wet newspapers or burlap. Keep them in the shade.
• Bail the remaining water out of the pond with a pail or a shop vac.
• Use fresh water to scrub the pond floor with a stiff brush. Be careful not to remove the beneficial mosslike algae that grows on the side of the pond.
• Rinse the pond and drain.
• If using tap water treated with chlorine, add a chlorine-removal chemical commonly found at most home and garden centers.
• Now, add some of the new, treated pond water to the holding tank until its water temperature is within 3 degrees of the new pond water.
• Gently release the fish back into the pond.
• Repot the plants if necessary and place them back into the pond.
