Pond vacuuming - David Domoney

The tips and tricks on using a vacuum to keep your pond clean and healthy

It’s inevitable that throughout the year, debris and sludge will build up. Leaves, silt, pond plants and waste can all gather, causing the water to discolour and not be of the optimum quality. Getting pond vacuuming into your garden care routine is important to keep your pond performing its best for fish and wildlife.

Water works

Ultimately the build up of debris and matter at the bottom of the pond can have a negative impact on wildlife and fish health in the pond as it will decrease the quality of the water.

If blanket weed and algae are causing a problem in your pond, consider why this is happening and take preventative measures to reduce the chances of it happening again.

Algae can cause deoxygenation in the water, which can have a negative impact on wildlife or fish in the pond. It can become more of a problem if the pond gets a lot of sunlight, and if there is an excess of nutrients in the water. These nutrients can come from fertiliser seeping into the pond water, debris such as leaves and fish faeces, or a build up of organic matter at the bottom. Blanket weed and algae can be removed using netting or installing a SwimSkim 50 which provides easy and convenient cleaning with its powerful suction of pond surfaces. Alternatively, remove the need for netting or draining and refilling the pond by vacuuming the base and sides of the pond to eliminate the build-up that leads to algae.

Prime ponds

An ideal time to vacuum the pond is in summer when tadpoles have grown into young toads and frogs. Just as you vacuum the inside of your home, a pond vacuum will gather together sludge and debris from the bottom of the pond. It’s vital to note that although doing it in summer will decrease the likelihood of any vulnerable wildlife being harmed, there are some steps to ensure they aren’t impacted. For example, when the vacuum container is full, empty the sludge onto a border that’s near the pond. This gives any wildlife that has accidentally been removed the chance to escape and get back to safety in the water.

Although the waste is harmful for your pond, it can have a positive effect on the rest of your garden. The waste is full of nitrogen, so can be used as an organic fertiliser on beds and borders for a nutrient boost.

Style and substance

All ponds are different, with many styles and shapes to suit our gardens. Whilst some gardens may have small wildlife ponds, others could have large swim ponds. From natural swimming spaces to high-tech enhanced ones, a swim pond gives access to a spot to exercise and experience the benefits of water. These types of ponds are typically deeper, so the 4m long suction hose and the additional extension of the PondoVac 3 means it can

reach depths of up to 2.1m. The transport wheels and adjustable handle take the hard work out of moving the vacuum from one place to another for easy cleaning.

Make it shine

To maximise the efficiency of the pond vacuum, cleaning is essential. Regularly clean the collection container and the filter with clean water to ensure there are no blockages or excess debris. It’s ideal to check all parts for wear and tear such as the filter and sealing rings. Maintaining the equipment will ensure your pond is clean and clear for years to come.

Keep your pond looking prime and performing its best to give wildlife or fish the best environment to thrive. By ridding debris and waste by pond vacuuming, it will keep the water quality high in an easy and convenient way.