Easy pond clean out for spring

[elshaw0629]

I love this! I have a fairly small (16 ft long x 4 ft wide x 3 ft deep) water garden pond and spring clean out can be exhausting. I think I've finally made a good leaf screen for it, but there's always some that sneak thru. I'm going to try this method this year and see if I can't make this yearly chore a little less messy and back breaking. Thanks so much!!!

 

[GBBUDD]

This sounds like something I could use, for sure! I'm interested in trying it but when I look up sodium per carbonate on Amazon, it all emphasizes its use in bleaching laundry -- which makes me nervous about using it in my pond. Does anyone have any links to specific products you actually did use in your pond with no ill effects? It's getting to be that time of the year, for sure!!!! Everything is waking up! (High of 79 here today!)

Bleach is popularity used as a cleaner one that in undiluted concentrations remove color, when my wife had an issue from a surgery infection I had to take bleach soaked gauze and stuff it in her stomach , so I'm confident if the amount stays in low concentration it should be fine.

 

[j.w]

@j.w scroll down just a bit further on the amazon link you posted. I bought the 10 gallon bucket that says it's 100% pure.

I've bought it for years from a soap making supplier - it is the exact same product used in laundry products, but they add more things that I for SURE wouldn't put in my pond.

SPC breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and soda ash - which is frequently used in toothpaste. Harmless. And like @WaterGardener said, it's way easier to use than liquid H2O2 because it's a powder and you can apply it right where you want it. I've been using this in my pond for years with zero ill effect. My pH stays stable, my fish stay healthy and my pond gets clean.

Look up Aquascape EcoBlast or GreenX, among lots of other pond related products. Many places sell it as a "granular algaecide" which it also is - it's great for cleaning off waterfalls and rocks in the spring. Takes care of string algae in a single application. I first discovered this product when I bought Aquascape's SAB (String Algae Blaster) which was 100% SPC at that time - they've changed the formula now, but that was my "AH HA" moment. I paid 20 bucks for 8 oz of a product that was dirt cheap when I bought it in bulk. Bought myself a 50 gallon bucket at that time and never looked back.

Ok it must be this one then?

 

[EricV]

@Lisak1 you say 3-4 cups, but how big is your pond? I'd love to try this in my 2000-2500 gallon pond as I've got a lot of muck built up in areas of the bare liner bottom.

 

[Lisak1]

That's the one @j.w

@EricV my pond is roughly 13x17; approx 2500 gallons in the main pond. If you have a lot of muck you'll likely need more than one application. I've never done more than one in a day, so I'd suggest spacing them out. What it doesn't actually lift from the bottom I bet will break down faster. At least that's been my experience.

 

[Lisak1]

Bleach is popularity used as a cleaner one that in undiluted concentrations remove color, when my wife had an issue from a surgery infection I had to take bleach soaked gauze and stuff it in her stomach , so I'm confident if the amount stays in low concentration it should be fine.

Ah... the old wound packing. I've had a few of those experiences in my life. And you are correct - bleach used in the proper dilution is relatively harmless - but put enough in your washing machine and you can turn your clothes back into threads. My husband wiped up a bleach spill with a wash cloth and then just set the cloth aside. In a few minutes time it had eaten a hole right through the cloth.

But they use chlorine in pools - we have all experienced what it's like when they overdo it with the chlorine. But correct levels and it's safe. So "how much" is always the question.

I read an article many years ago by a man who was experimenting with SPC in ponds - he had a strong science background and was able to explain the why's and how's behind the product. I wish I had saved it. It's what convinced me to use it in my own pond.

 

[GBBUDD]

Think I'll wait to see @j.w and @EricV s reactions to this cleaning before I try it as I do have a few bucks in fish. And see if the come back screaming..... Kidding

I'm sure this is probably muckaway or some other product that the fish suppliers rebox and sell us at 500 % mark up

 

[j.w]

Wish it would lift up the rocks and decor that fall to the bottom of the pond

 

[addy1]

AI search

 

[addy1]

I have used it before, forgot about it,doing again

 

[j.w]

AI search

View attachment 167433

So if I figured right about 1 cup to 2400 gals which is about the size of my pond.
I divided 50 into 2400 to come up w/48 tsp which is equal to 1 cup. https://www.inchcalculator.com/convert/teaspoon-to-cup/

 

[Lisak1]

I will reiterate that I use far more than that at a time. More like 1 cup per 500 gallons. Never had any ill effects, but I won't make recommendations for anyone else's pond! I'm sure in the beginning I was more cautious... now I'm probably throwing money down the drain! But the magic draws me in every time!

 

[GBBUDD]

I will reiterate that I use far more than that at a time. More like 1 cup per 500 gallons. Never had any ill effects, but I won't make recommendations for anyone else's pond! I'm sure in the beginning I was more cautious... now I'm probably throwing money down the drain! But the magic draws me in every time!

People need to realize your as talking goldfish and not so much on koi .

BUT it's commonly know hydrogen peroxide is used in ponds all the time. Oz ponds has recently talked about dosing his pond with it in the last year.

 

[Lisak1]

You are correct - we currently have 99% goldfish and one big koi. BUT I've been using SPC since we had a pond full of koi. BUT ALSO we never paid more than 25 bucks for a fish... so do your own measuring folks!

 

[GBBUDD]

I'm sick even the food i feed them is 5 times 25 bucks.