DIY Guide to
Pond Clean-Outs, Pond Vacs & Clean-Out Kits
Thinking about cleaning your own pond? If you’re ready to get down and dirty to get your pond ready for Spring, Splash Supply Co. has the tools you need to get the job done right and have your finny friends smiling as the season kicks into high gear.
Check out our Step-by-Step DIY Pond Clean-Out (PCO) Guide below, and then reserve your equipment today! Pond vacuums, clean-out pumps and more are available to rent or buy.
Choose a vacuum for light polishing, or a clean-out pump for a full drain-and-clean. Equipment can be rented by the day or for a full weekend. Finish the job with a Water Treatment Package to protect your hard work and jump start your pond’s newly refreshed ecosystem.
Need help? Contact our experienced team of pond pros to do the dirty work for you. Splash Supply Co. offers a full range of pond maintenance and repair services for home and business owners throughout Southcentral Pennsylvania and northern Maryland.
Pond Vacuum Rentals | Pond Clean-Out Pump Rentals | York, PA
TOOLS & SUPPLIES
- Pond Clean-out Pump with Hose
> Rent or Buy - Tank to hold fish
> Rent Now - Netting to cover the tank
> Included with Tank Rental, or Buy Now - Garden Hose
- Fish Net or Koi Sock
- > Buy Now
- Pond Clean-out Gloves
> Buy Now - Replacement Filter Mats, Lights, IonGen Probe (if needed)
> Shop Supplies
1
Set up your holding tank
Set up a temporary container to store some of the pond water. Have an aerator ready. You’ll use this tank to house your fish during the clean-out and to refill the pond when you are done. Choose a shady spot if the weather is warm.
2
Start draining the pond
Put the clean-out pump in the pond. Place the discharge hose in the holding tank, and fill the tank with pond water until it’s deep enough for fish. (Leave at least a few inches at the top to dissuade fish from jumping out).
3
Unplug the pond waterfall pump
Unplug the pump, and remove the check valve if your pond has one. With the pump off, sprinkle SAB on the waterfalls to loosen stubborn algae.
4
Clean the filter media
Remove the filtration media from the skimmer and biofalls. Use the pond discharge water to rinse.
5
Remove large debris
Collect any leaves, muck and other debris by hand from the stream, waterfalls and pond areas. Our professional pond gloves and a 5 gallon bucket come in real handy for this part.
6
Remove fish and finish draining the pond
Drain the pond until there is approximately 6 inches of water left. Now is the time to catch the fish and gently transfer them to the holding tank we set up earlier. Be sure to plug in the aerator to give them as much oxygen as possible. Cover the tank with netting to keep them from jumping out. If it’s hot outside, try to keep the tank shaded.
7
Rinse it all down
Now you’re ready for the fun (and most time-consuming) part. Use the clean-out pump and large discharge hose to rinse the rock and gravel. Start at the top and work your way down, washing the muck and debris that’s hiding behind the rocks and under the gravel. You may need to add water from your garden hose and pump the dirty water out as you go.
8
Clean the filters
Use water from the discharge hose or garden hose to thoroughly clean the skimmer and biofilter. (This will probably be the only time of the year that you clean the biofilter.)
9
Cover exposed liner and take care of plants
Cover any exposed liner with gravel that may have shifted to the bottom of the pond. You can also use this opportunity to prune or divide unruly plants and fertilize waterlilies and lotus. (Don’t worry about fertilizing marginal plants; they’ll receive plenty of nutrients from the pond water).
10
Reinstall the pump and filter media
Replace the filter media in the BioFalls, and reinstall the pump and check valve in the skimmer. (Pro Tip: If the filter media is not snug to the sidewalls of your BioFalls and skimmer, it’s time to replace the filter mat.)
11
Check equipment
Check your other pond systems, including lighting, dosing systems and IonGens. Whew, you’re almost done!
12
Refill the pond and add detox
Start refilling the pond with your garden hose. ADD POND DETOXIFIER to neutralize chlorine and chloramines to keep your fish happy. You may want to set a timer to make sure you don’t overfill the pond.
13
Start emptying the holding tank
Use your clean-out pump to drain water from the temporary tank back into the pond. This water will help ease the fish back into their home.
14
Move fish back to the pond
Gently transfer and acclimate your fish to their freshly cleaned pond.
15
Turn on the pump
Once the pond is filled, simply plug in your pump and let the new season begin!
Don’t forget to get your ecosystem reestablished quickly by making sure your dosing system is up and running or by manually adding Beneficial Bacteria weekly.
DIY POND CLEAN-OUT TOOL KIT
For full drain-and-cleans
Pump and Hose Only: $90 per day
Collapsible Fish Tank Add-On: $75
- Great for pond clean-outs and installation wash-downs
- Basic kit includes 4,200 GPH clean-out pump and 50′ discharge hose
- Available add-ons include fish holding tank, aerator and cover net
- Specially designed pump drains water as low as one-fourth inch off the bottom
- Includes 50′ discharge hose
- Bring the right vehicle for pickup!
- Pump and hose container: 37″ L x 22″ W x 18″ H
- Fish tank container: 46″ L x 21″ W x 20″ H
- Removes light silt and algae without needing to fully drain the pond
- Easy to operate: Just use the included attachments to suck up debris (much like the hose on a household vacuum)
- Water discharges into your landscape
- Max flow: 1,300 GPH
- Includes five nozzle attachments for gravel, string algae and other uses
Don't forget water treatments!
Protect your hard work with a Water Treatment Package add-on.
- POND DETOX: Removes harmful chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for holding tanks and any time new water is added to the pond
- SAB: Helps stubborn string algae release from rocks and other surfaces
- BENEFICIAL BACTERIA: Kickstarts the pond's ecosystem and helps limit green water
Just select your Water Treatment Package at checkout, and we’ll have it ready when you pick up your rental equipment.
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