Introduction

One of the nicest features, in my opinion, to have in a garden is a fish pond. Watching the fish swim around, caring for them, and feeding them is a great way to destress. So when we were planning to buy a home, I always had it in mind that we would build a fish pond in the garden. As luck would have it, the home we purchased came with a small fish pond that already had two small Japanese Koi fish.

At first, I simply fed the fish without doing much else. However, after about four months in our new home, I began gardening extensively. As I spent more time in the garden, I realized that the water from the fish pond could be used to water my plants. That’s when I discovered just how dirty the bottom of the pond was. As I dug deep into the pond, the water turned dark green due to the accumulated algae at the bottom. With summer approaching, I decided to turn the pond into a feature and took on the task of cleaning it myself.

Draining the Water

Initially, I tried using a pond scoop net to remove the algae, but I only managed to get rid of a small amount. Every time I removed some algae, the rest scattered around, making it difficult to remove a significant portion. That’s when I decided to drain the water from the pond so that I could access the algae at the bottom more effectively. However, I didn’t want to waste the water because fish pond water contains beneficial minerals like ammonia (NH3) from the fish waste, which is good for plants. I took my time watering my plants with the pond water, especially the greenhouse and grow bed, which had become dry from lack of use. After a couple of weeks, the water level in the pond had significantly decreased, making it easier to see and access the fish.

Moving the Fish

With the water level low, the fish became stressed as their movement became restricted. The next step was to move the fish out of the pond and into my old baby bathtub, where they would have more space to swim. I also added a small pump to the bathtub to help aerate the water until I was ready to move them. I couldn’t imagine how long the fish had been in such dirty water, so I was determined to help them improve their condition.

Disposing of the Algae

Now that I could access the algae, it was time to remove them from the pond and dispose of them. Since I didn’t have a pond vacuum or any specialized equipment, I improvised using a rubber-ended sweeping packer. With it, I was able to scoop out a significant amount of algae, which turned out to be quite abundant and smelly. I collected the algae in a bowl, wondering where to get rid of them. The algae I scooped out contained lots of organic matter that could be beneficial to plants. For example, the smelly part was due to Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), which, in moderation, can also be good for plants. I decided to bury some of the algae in the soil of my greenhouse to help retain water and some in my grow beds. However, there was still a significant amount left. Fortunately, there were some large drums of soil left behind by the previous owners, which I had been using to grow vegetables. Unfortunately, the soil had become hydrophobic. That’s when I saw the algae as a solution to this issue. I simply poured the remaining algae and water into these drums of soil, thoroughly mixing them to ensure the algae was evenly distributed throughout the soil. The after-effects of this process will be the subject of another blog post, but suffice to say, it was a success.

Cleaning the Pond

With the fish and algae out of the way, I could now focus on cleaning the pond thoroughly. I started by using a water jet to remove the thick strands of algae stuck to the walls of the pond. I repurposed a broken sweeping brush for gardening and used it to clean the lining of the pond. Throughout the process, I used the packer to remove the dirty water from the pond, which I simply disposed of in the garden. I avoided using any chemicals, as it is essential not only for the pond but for the entire garden’s health.

Conclusion

When keeping live pets, it is important to maintain clean and tidy environments for their well-being and our own. This is especially crucial for me as I have children, and I want their surroundings to be as neat as possible.

The entire process of cleaning the pond was highly satisfying, and witnessing the final result was truly remarkable. I will share another blog post about the new setup I am currently working on, which includes installing a fountain with a pump, underwater lights, and integrating a control system. I look forward to completing this project and sharing the details. Until then, Godspeed.