he following specialized equipment will help you perform better pond maintenance:
• Holding tank
This can be in the form of a new plastic trash can or a small children’s wading pool. You’ll need it to hold the fish while you’re draining and cleaning the pond.
• Stiff brush
This is for scraping and cleaning the bottom of the pond once it’s drained. Designate a specific brush for pond cleaning only and keep it separate from the rest. You don’t want algae spores from your pond jobs to be introduced into pool environments.
• Pump/tubing
You’ll need a couple of small submersible pumps with tubing. One will be used to remove the water from the pond; the other will be used to keep the water in the holding tank aerated.
• Bucket
You may need to bail water from the pond once the water reaches a certain level, so include a bucket in your pond supplies.
• Fish net
This is used to remove the fish from the pond to the holding tank and then back again.
• Pond thermometer
You’ll need to add pond water to the holding tank and equalize the water temperature before returning the fish back into the pond. If the temperature difference between the holding tank and the pond is significant, it can shock and harm the fish.
