While a pond can be a wonderful feature for any property, there’s no denying that keeping the water healthy and the pond looking its best can take some work. If you’ve been wondering how to clean a pond, there are some easy steps you can take that will reduce the amount of labor needed.
1. Aerate Your Pond
Whether you have a small decorative pond, a koi pond, a larger pond or even a small lake, aerating and/or agitating the water definitely help keep your pond clean. Why does aeration matter? Let’s take a look at what happens if your pond water becomes stagnant.
Pond water contains a certain amount of oxygen. When a pond is stagnant the oxygen floats to the surface of the pond and the bottom water layer loses oxygen. When you aerate the pond water, this adds oxygen to the bottom layer and ensures that all of the water has a proper amount of oxygen. Low oxygen levels often lead to fish death, and aerating can prevent this from occurring.
Aerating can prohibit algae overgrowth and even reduce the amount of muck (decomposing matter) that builds up along the bottom of your pond. This much is made up of plant waste, fish waste and other materials. This muck not only reduces water clarity and reduces oxygen levels, but it can also create some unpleasant odors and aeration can go a long way to preventing muck from building up.
When it comes to aeration, you have several choices. For a fairly deep pond, bottom diffusion aeration can be a great option. This diffuses the water from the bottom, forcing the water up toward the surface where it can access more oxygen. If your pond is six feet or deeper, a bottom diffusion system is recommended.
A bottom diffuser also can be a good option if you live in an area where the top layer of your pond freezes over. When too much of the surface of a pond freezes, then very little light can reach into the water, and this leads to fish death. With a properly-installed aeration system, you can prevent these “winterkill” issues.
For a shallower pond, you might consider surface aeration, such as a waterfall. Not only will this help agitate the water, but it’s also lovely to look at, which is another bonus. There are other types of surface aerators aside from fountains, but we can’t deny that these look lovely as well as providing that much-needed aeration. Again, if your pond may freeze over in winter, a bottom diffuser might still be necessary.
2. Invest In A Pond Rake
Ok, we know this article’s title suggests that we are providing “easy” tips, but raking your pond can be a great way to remove algae and debris, as well as for removing muck. If you have a larger pond, consider heading out with your rake once per week and removing the debris. A pond rake is inexpensive and while it’s time-consuming to rake out the pond, if you make time once per week, it needn’t take an excessive amount of time to remove debris.
For a small decorative pond or koi pond, spend a few minutes each day removing dead leaves, twigs and other debris. Spending just 10 minutes per day removing some debris (you may not even need a rake for a smaller pond) can go a long way to keeping your pond water and your fish healthy. With these small ponds, a skimmer might be all you need to get out the debris.
One quick koi pond tip: Be wary of over-feeding your fish. Over-feeding is a very common mistake people make with their koi ponds. Not only is too much food bad for your koi, the excess food will just rot in your pond and create a situation ripe for algae growth.
3. Add The Right Plants
Adding plants can be a great option for any pond. Plants can help keep water temperatures cooler and provide much-needed shade for fish and other aquatic life during the hotter months of the year.
Adding floating plants can be a great option. Not only are these beautiful, but they also restrict the growth of algae and eat up some of the nutrients that algae need in order to grow. Some plants even add extra oxygen to your pond water. We highly recommend that you speak with a pond expert and discuss the best types of plants for your pond.
As a side note, if your pond is stocked with fish, it is crucial that you keep this fish population under control. When there are too many fish in the water, they must compete for oxygen. An overstocked pond, after all, raises the water temperature and the amount of waste from these fish becomes excessive. When water temperatures rise and there is too much waste, oxygen levels drop and this leads to fish death.
4. Add Colorant
If you are aerating and raking and vacuuming, but your pond’s water color isn’t as attractive as you like, you might be scratching your head and wondering how to clean a pond and restore the water to a beautiful condition. After all, you might pass by a golf course or park and see a beautiful sparkling pond and wonder what are they doing to that you aren’t doing.
The answer could be as simple as adding colorant to the water. It might seem like adding dye to your pond water is a bad idea, but it can be very beneficial for a pond. Colorants typically are made from the same dyes that are used in our food, so they are considered safe for your fish, as well as livestock and humans. You just want to ensure that you purchase food-grade dye and that your dye is veterinarian-approved.
Colorants not only enhance the color of pond water, they also can lower the temperature of a pond. Hotter temperatures drive up the temperature of pond water, which lowers the oxygen levels in your pond. Not only can low oxygen levels harm fish, this also encourages algae growth. The darker water also acts as a shield from predators that might be hoping to eat your fish.
When you combine colorants with aeration, you can achieve a very healthy pond, and adding colorants is a relatively simple process, you just need to make sure you wear protective gear as the concentrated dyes can stain your skin and clothing.
5. Add Beneficial Bacteria
When one searches for “how to clean a pond,” you probably hear a lot about adding bacteria. One of the easiest ways to reduce excess nutrients is to simply add beneficial bacteria to your pond. The bacteria will eat away at the green organic material and sludge, improving water quality and clarity.
Often adding biodegradable bacteria packs once per month is all you have to do to keep the water clean and healthy. Beneficial bacteria combined with an aeration system can make pond maintenance extremely easy. In some cases, especially in areas prone to temperature spikes or very high summer temperatures, you may need to treat monthly and add a supplement to maintain a clean pond.
To add the beneficial bacteria, you just calculate the approximate number of gallons in your pond and add the appropriate amount of biodegradable bacteria packs. You cannot over-treat the water, but you can undertreat, so if you add a little more product that you absolutely need, this will not harm the water. Be sure to read the package directions carefully, and select products that are veterinarian-approved and safe for fish, wildlife, livestock and humans.
In general, that’s how to clean a pond. Preventative steps such as aeration, adding bacteria and some basic maintenance should keep your pond water healthy for your fish although certain circ*mstances might necessitate additional treatment or steps. At Healthy Ponds, we have an assortment of products that can help with pond maintenance, and if you are sure which products are the best fit for your pond, you can give us a call, email us or contact us via live chat.
42 Comments
Lynn Henschon February 29, 2020 at 10:59 am
I have a fish pond. I’m having an algae problem. I don’t know what to use to maintain and treat my pond. Do you offer starter packages? What would you recommend?
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lsimpsonon March 4, 2020 at 4:44 pm
Hello,
Would you be able to give us a call at 877-948-0303? We would like to discuss your pond with you so we can make the best recommendation with accurate information.Reply
Marleneon July 29, 2021 at 11:44 am
I have an algae problem in my pond what bile bio degradable product do you recommend
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lsimpsonon August 2, 2021 at 9:46 am
Hello Marlene,
Do you have any pictures of your pond that you can send. Also would you be able to answer a couple of questions so we can get a better understanding of your pond?– Physical address of the pond. I can measure the pond using google earth.
– Average depth?
– Do you have any fish? Specifically Koi or Trout?
– Any inflow/outflow or do you irrigate from the pond?
– What issues are you dealing with? Algae, weeds, clarity, odor etc. If you could provide any pictures of the issues that would be great.
– What state do you live in? Some states have restrictions on which products we can send.Reply
Agustin Garciaon April 7, 2023 at 8:07 pm
Thank you so much, the information has given us what we need to get started. We bought property that has two ponds. We would like the smaller one of the two to do it’s own thing, but we would like some bigger eating fish for the larger one.
Roy David walkeron December 17, 2021 at 5:09 pm
I building a new pond it’s less then 1/4 acre Kol size. do you have a starter kit. and where can I found how many fish i could keep in pond
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Jackie Olsonon February 2, 2022 at 9:16 am
Roy, thank you for reaching out. We have sent you an e-mail back to get more information. Let us know if you didn’t receive. Our direct e-mail is help@bioverse.com.
Reply
Merrieon June 7, 2023 at 10:20 am
Live in ks just bought this place and it has allot of potential but hasn’t been taken care of in few years. It is a mess
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Sally Orron June 1, 2022 at 7:36 am
We have a very large, natural but man made pond that we acquired. It has brown water with sun exposure most of the day. The expensive, inflow pipe from a waterfall about 500ft away was broken by kids years ago. Last year, we added barley bales, beneficial bacteria, an aerator and waterfall, Lillies, plenty of fresh hornwort, pickerell, horse tail, irises, but lost all of the hornwort and Lillies due to a harsh winter in Boone, NC. and possibly due to the anaerobic decomposition of the bottom of the pond and two hungry turtles! My husband scooped out many buckets of silt causing methane gases to be released last summer. There are now many more newts, a snapping turtle and plenty of frogs! We are on a tight budget so as not to repeat the same mistakes. We also use pond netting to prevent deer from eating new plants. A local dog dives into the pond and stirs it up fairly often! Any advice would be appreciated please.
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Debon June 8, 2022 at 12:40 pm
Thank you for reaching out to us. In order to assist I will need information on the size of your pond and what exactly you are looking to accomplish. Our natural products will help the water clarity, reduce or rid the pond of the organic matter and overall health of the water.
Feel free to contact me to discuss further.
Thank-you
DebReply
Trishon April 22, 2020 at 6:51 pm
We want to swim in our spring fed, pond. Are these chemicals safe?
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lsimpsonon April 23, 2020 at 11:48 am
Hello!
Our Healthy Ponds all-natural products are safe for you to use in your swimming pond.
If you have further questions please feel free to reach out to our expert customer service team at 877-948-0303.Reply
Donna Schelfhouton May 15, 2021 at 9:46 am
How long does it take on average to clean a stagnant pond? Roughly 100 feet by 100 feet, likely 10 or 15 feet deep.
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lsimpsonon May 19, 2021 at 9:04 am
Hello!
Depending on how bad the pond is we usually see results with our products in 30-45 day mark, but please keep in mind that every pond is different and respond differently. Our product is a monthly product that we recommend using when the water temps are above 45-50 degrees.Reply
Tainyaon June 7, 2022 at 8:55 pm
Hi! I have a Koi pond that is roughly 5000 gallons.. I have aireator plus a waterfall…My Koi females just spawn about 3 weeks ago and I have the babies in another tank. I cannot get the water clear! Ive recently purchased a new filter and pump with the UV light and still not any better. Ive never seen the water get this bad. Im cleaning the filter every other day right now until the water clarity comes back. I have elephant ears for the plants in and around the pond. I think ive got 30 fish in this pond that are getting pretty big so I might have some over crowding as an issue. Please let me know what I can do to get my pond clear again. Thanks
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Tanner Loosbrockon June 8, 2022 at 12:21 pm
Good afternoon Tainya, thank you for reaching out regarding your pond. I would agree that there might be an over crowding issue and that could be part of the reason for the clarity issue. With your pond having a UV light our product can not be used. The UV light will kill the beneficial bacteria that is in our product. If you would like more information at tloosbrock@bioverse.com.
Thanks!!
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Sonia Mayshon June 2, 2021 at 4:02 pm
I don’t have a pond I have a animal drinking trough in my garden along the side of my shed to catch rain water. Their is no pump or fish in it. But it does attract insects so was wondering what plants would be ok in this setup to help improve water quality and assist insects, as I often have to fish out Beatles and bee.s. I have notice I have rat tailed maggots (hover fly larvae)
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lsimpsonon July 28, 2021 at 10:09 am
Hello,
Unfortunately we are not plant experts and are not able to advise on this situation.Reply
Wendy Godwinon August 8, 2022 at 4:38 pm
We have a spring fed pond that is approx an acre. The deep area is 8 feet. What do we need to keep it healthy.
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Jackie Olsonon August 9, 2022 at 1:58 pm
Hello Wendy!
Our AquaSpherePRO would be perfect to maintain and keep your excess nutrients at bay. https://healthyponds.com/product/large-water-aquaspherepro-biodegradable/ I would suggest you start using 2 x 1,000,000 Gallon Sphere. Which is the equivalent to 1-acre. Each 1,000,000 Gallon Sphere equals 1/2-acre area with an average depth of 6 ft.
If you are having additional problems around the edges or green organic matter throughout the top of the pond, we would recommend our Natural Blast supplement to break it down so our AquaSpherePRO can consume it. You can purchase a 12-count of Natural Blast here: https://healthyponds.com/product/natural-blast-125000/. The Natural Blast is great for large rain or heat events when things get stagnant in your pond. If you have any further questions or concerns, please reach out to a pond expert: 877-948-0303.Reply
Jerry Smithon January 5, 2022 at 11:01 am
I need help in maintaining a small (450 gal) KOI pond in my backyard.
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Jackie Olsonon February 2, 2022 at 9:15 am
Jerry, thank you for reaching out. We have sent you an e-mail back to get more information. Let us know if you didn’t receive. Our direct e-mail is help@bioverse.com.
Reply
Kyle Kon May 19, 2022 at 6:15 pm
I have a 1/2 acre pond that we use to irrigate avocados. We have a well water the feeds into the ~250k gallon pond daily- we also aerate 24/7, added beneficial bacteria and still have murky water. Any advice? Thanks.
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Debon May 20, 2022 at 9:58 am
I think with the outflow that your pond has you need to add extra bacteria. I recommend that you use our 500,000 gallon aquasphere monthly and Natural Blast if needed. Please let me know if you have questions or would like to place an order.
Thank you
DebReply
Debon May 20, 2022 at 10:36 am
I left you a voice message to call me. I will gladly help you place an order for the correct products you need.
Thanks
DebReply
Sherryon June 4, 2022 at 7:09 pm
Have a small neglected pond. week algae over growth of aquatic ants. not sure I can even save it. had a couple of estimates which were outrageous. would like to get some ideas on how to restore.
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Debon June 6, 2022 at 12:45 pm
I can surly assist you. I will need to know the size of your pond – L x W x Avg Depth. If you can send pictures that will be very helpful as well so that I can see exactly what you are dealing with. I look forward to working with you to get your pond in great shape.
Thank-you
DebReply
Jocelynon June 12, 2022 at 10:16 am
I just wanted so send you a compliment for your thoughtful answers on this page. We have a spring fed farm pond that we’re cleaning up-I’ll be in touch with the stats on it (we’re building a runway and using some of that dirt to fill it in-it’s too big!) as we progress. Your comments really sold me on your company 🙂 Great job!
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Debon June 14, 2022 at 10:43 am
Vicky,
For your pond size use will use the All Natural Pond Water Cleaner 2500 along with Natural Blast 2500. The cleaner is time-released and will last for 30 days and then you just take out the used packets and put new in. The Natural Blast will last for 7 days and you will use this every week until desired results are seen.
Feel free to contact me should you have additional questions.
Thank-you
DebReply
Shannaon June 18, 2022 at 2:09 pm
We have a 30 acre pond full of all kinds of fish. We also irrigate from this pond for cotton and peanuts. It is consumed with algae ( weeds) underneath the top of the water. When we fish, that’s all we catch. What can I use to clear the water and not hurt the fish or crops?
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Tanner Loosbrockon June 20, 2022 at 10:54 am
Good morning Shanna, we have our all natural products that will help with the algae in your pond but will not help with the weeds growing. For that you will need a aquatic herbicide. If you can send me an email at tloosbrock@bioverse.com we can further discuss treatment. I look forward to hearing from you!
Thanks!
Reply
Nickolason July 3, 2022 at 1:50 pm
We bought a home this winter that has a farm pond and an existing floating dock.
We’d like to check it for safe swimming.
The water is fairly clear and does has have some fish in it.
How do we have it checked out for swimming and fish population?Reply
Jackie Olsonon July 5, 2022 at 1:25 pm
Depending on what state you live in, you could contact your local DNR or possibly your state health department. The best way to determine if a body of water is safe and the risk of water borne illness is low is to sample the water and send it in to be tested for bacteria. Some states have a website that addresses “Is my pond or lake safe for swimming”.
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Joe Strauchon July 11, 2022 at 7:42 pm
I need to treat a decorative pond. It has approx 1′ black sludge in the bottom. The pond has been drained. And only sludge remains. It had a liner that’s torn in several places. There’s minimal aeration from a floating fountain in the past . Everyone complained about the bad smell.. leading us to drain and clean up the pond.. located in front of a hospital with people all around.. Extremely high temperatures as it’s down south Texas by the border.
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Laurieon July 23, 2022 at 3:37 pm
I have a 6’ round “pool”, about 2’ deep. It apparently used to be a water fountain, but the fountain part is gone and I’m left with this watertight brick enclosure. The good news is, my dog loves it. She walks/romps around in it, and drinks out of it daily. Hi empty it about once a week in the summer, less often in cooler weather. I have a antibacterial stick that I bought from the pool supply store and I put it in the middle of the pool under a rock so she can’t get to it. Recently, bees have become very interested in drinking the water while standing on the rock. Since this started, the pool has remained clear! I’m sure the algae will make its way back but I’m willing to put up with the bees if they’re delaying the water exchange!
Since I have no power to this pool, no filter, no fountain, what do you suggest to keep it clean and healthy so I don’t have to swap out the water and scrub it every week? As I said, my dog drinks out of it so it has to be healthy enough for consumption.
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Jackie Olsonon July 25, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Hello Laurie! After a talk with our pond experts, we recommend a monthly dispenser called the Aqualily. https://healthyponds.com/product/aqualily-water-cleaner-reloadable-dispenser/
You add a new refill each month. This dispenser will add bacteria to your water all month long to help remove excess nutrients. It is 100% safe for your dog to drink. If you are adding more water to the pool or after major heat or rain event, you can add in our Natural Blast packets for extra help to keep the green organic matter away. https://healthyponds.com/product/natural-blast-2500/. It is better to overtreat, than to undertreat, and like I said, this is all-natural and safe.
Drain, clean, and refill your pool area and then start treatment plan. Please reach out if you have any further questions. help@bioverse.com or call 1-877-948-0303.Reply
Don Davieson August 20, 2022 at 11:53 pm
I believe it is always best to leave pond upkeep to the experts. When it comes to the correct maintenance and care of the ponds, people should definitely leave it to businesses like Healthy Pondsor https://purelyponds.com/maintenance/, which is close to me here in Colorado!
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Briyana Flowerson February 9, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Hello. I have a question about some grass that has grown in our pond that has never been there before in over 50 plus years. The grass seems to be dying now… which I am thankful for. I want to know what can be added to the pond to kill the grass and not harm the fish please.
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Debon February 9, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Hi Briyana
Thank you for the inquiry. Our all natural products work to control organic matter in the water but do not work for grass control. We offer herbicide products that will work depending on what type of grass/weed you are dealing with. If you would like information pictures are always helpful to identify the type of grass you have and answers to the following questions as well
How many gallons of water are you looking to treat? Length x Width x Average Depth x 7.5 = Total gallons. (I could measure the lake from Google Earth if you provide the address)
Are there fish in the water?
Do you irrigate with this water or is there an inflow or outflow of water?
What state are you located in?
Thank you
DebReply
Daniel Nordhoffon May 10, 2023 at 7:45 pm
I need help getting a pond on a piece of property I bought back to good health. I’ve tried dyeing it and putting pond cleaner in it but doesn’t seem to be helping. I have pictures but don’t know the size or how deep it is
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Brandon Adamson July 21, 2023 at 11:35 am
I just spoke with the young man by the name of Tanner. He was very informative about my needs and his recommendations. The products that I bought seem reasonably priced and if they work, I will become a lifetime customer of this company. Thank you Tanner for taking my call. Keep up the good work!
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BR & D Landscape , Inc.on August 11, 2023 at 11:51 pm
An insightful guide to achieving a pristine pond! This article offers clear and concise steps for maintaining a healthy and clean pond environment. A must-read for anyone seeking to enhance their pond’s beauty and ecosystem.
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