If you have the optional drain kit attached to your Signature Series™ BioFalls® Filter, you can open up the valve and rinse the media and filters. Remove the media nets and filter pads from the BioFalls® Filter.This can be done by hand or by using the cleanout pump. Remove any debris from the bottom of the skimmer.Remove the pump and begin filling the pond. You can discontinue the periodic pumping once the water rinsing down to the bottom begins to look clear. Periodically turn the clean-out pump on to remove the dirty water. Start at the top and work your way down to the bottom. Use the gentle stream from a garden hose to rinse the rocks and gravel.For an average size pond (11′ x 16′) this should take around 15 minutes. Some algae on the rocks will prove beneficial in developing your ecosystem. Don’t try to scrub all of the algae away.You can also use a pressure washer to help remove debris from the rocks and gravel. Keep them in a shady spot with a net over the top of the pool to prevent them from jumping out. Don’t keep the fish in the holding pool for more than several hours.The fish can be removed from the pond using a net once the water is low enough so you can easily catch them. If you have fish, use some of this pond water to fill up the holding pool.Be sure to relocate the pipe two or three times to allow the water to seep into the ground and not flood the yard. Drain the water into the surrounding landscape.Place the clean-out pump in the deepest point of the pond in order to remove the water.Aquascape Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria.Aquascape Pond Detoxifier to remove chorine and chloramines from tap water prior to putting fish back in the pond.Two five-gallon buckets to collect leaves and debris.A net or something similar to place over the fish container to keep them from jumping out.A child’s swimming pool or a similar sized container to hold fish and any other critters you find during the clean-out.A high-pressure nozzle for your garden hose, or a power washer.A clean-out pump with approximately 25 ft.Be patient, your pond will naturally balance itself provided you don’t have a fish overload. If a clean-out is performed when the water is warmer, after bacteria colonies form, the balance of the ecosystem will be thrown off and your pond will go through another period of algae blooms before the bacteria colonies become re-established. The best time to perform a pond clean-out is the early spring, before your water garden completely awakens from its winter dormancy – ideally before the water temperature in the pond creeps above 55º F. You can, of course, hire a pond pro to clean your water feature for you. A Pondless® Waterfall will take considerably less time. If you’re going the full clean-out route, plan on spending a half to a full day to complete a pond clean-out. On the other hand, if there is just a small amount of debris that you can stir up and capture with a net and the water looks clear, a little tidying up is all that’s in order. First, if there is a layer of “crud” at the bottom of the pond and the water is dark in color, it would be a good idea to do a full clean-out. Take a good look at your pond and ask yourself, “Does my water feature need a full clean-out this season, or does it just need to be tidied up a little?” To help you decide, it’s worth knowing what to look for. Birds return from their southern migration, furry critters waken from their winter slumber, trees are budding, and your pond fish are stretching and warming up their fins for summer swimming! The best thing you can do for the health of your pond this season is to clean your pond – whether it’s a deep cleaning or just a bit of sprucing up. Spring is simply the most exciting time of year. Pond Maintenance and Care, Spring Pond Care
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