Easy pond clean out for spring

[GBBUDD]

I made the mistake saying when we built a wetland because our construction project impacted some wetlands we built a new wetland off to the opposite side and used bicarbonate and to clean up the eye osting we also used percarbonate to see and sort what would be moved to the new.

 

[Lisak1]

I don’t think this is for you @billdolloff . You are spending a lot of time researching the wrong compound. But baking soda is also safe to use in your pond, if that’s your desire.

I certainly have no need or desire to convince anyone. Just sharing what I’ve used in my pond for 14 years - zero issues. Damage a liner? Impossible. Clog a filter? I’d love to see that happen as it dissolves instantly on contact. It reacts with water so I’m sure there is some change that occurs, but change can occur in your pond with every rainstorm.

As I’ve said repeatedly SPC is sold under other names in the pond world for 4x the cost. It works. It’s cheap. It’s safe.

 

[hammer]

This is interesting but percabonate creating hydrogen peroxide should be a red flag for people with dogs. Hydrogen peroxide is used to upset stomachs and generate dogs to vomit after they eat something they shouldn't. I'd love to try this as I have debris behind my masonry and in my gravel bottom. My liner is BEHIND my dry stacked masonry and I'm realizing pine needles and organics are probably in the gaps of the brick and behind them. I don't want to risk unnecessary vomiting of my dogs though... does anyone know who much peroxide is made and would it be noticeable at the mixing rates being used to get the intended results to lift organics?

my dogs drink a lot of water out of my pond, which is another reason i'm thinking about an 80 watt Aqua II ultraviolet wiper for my 4000-5000 gph circulation. I might be better off with the UV?

I'm about 2,000 gallons.

 

[WaterGardener]

The warmer the temperature, the more quickly the peroxide will break down into oxygen and water. That rate also depends on how much organic material is in the pond, not only the muck, but the substrate you use to plant your pond plants into. So the rate can vary quite a bit.

In a garden pond situation, the process can happen very fast. In ponds, the half life of peroxide can vary from just over one hour to five or six hours. At that point it is gone.

If you are concerned about your dogs drinking the water, the simple solution is to not allow them access to the pond for a day.

 

[hammer]

I don't really have a pond, I have a masonry roman bath, there's no plants, check out the link in my signature for more info.

 

[WaterGardener]

Sorry, but I have no experience with your situation. I'm sure you can find answers online.

Lovely and very inviting roman bath!

 

[Lisak1]

You literally have to pour straight up hydrogen peroxide down a dog's throat to get it to vomit. I know because we had a puppy eat rat poison once - it's not going to happen drinking DILUTED H2O2 from a pond. By the way you can make a human vomit the same way - perfectly harmless, but for goodness sake don't drink it. I brush my teeth with peroxide DAILY and I've lived to tell the story.

Plus it dissipates so quickly your dog would have to be standing there with their tongue hanging out and even then they'd be fine.

Oh my gosh. I'm regretting my life decisions right now. haha. People. Don't do this. Honestly. Not worth it to cause yourselves so much worry.

 

[j.w]

You literally have to pour straight up hydrogen peroxide down a dog's throat to get it to vomit. I know because we had a puppy eat rat poison once - it's not going to happen drinking DILUTED H2O2 from a pond. By the way you can make a human vomit the same way - perfectly harmless, but for goodness sake don't drink it. I brush my teeth with peroxide DAILY and I've lived to tell the story.

Plus it dissipates so quickly your dog would have to be standing there with their tongue hanging out and even then they'd be fine.

Oh my gosh. I'm regretting my life decisions right now. haha. People. Don't do this. Honestly. Not worth it to cause yourselves so much worry.

Found this onlilne: https://www.dentalcarereport.com/can-i-brush-my-teeth-with-hydrogen-peroxide/

So you do it everyday, once or twice per day and do you mix it w/water even using the 3% kind? Or just straight from the bottle? So you don't ever use toothpaste? I like doing things the more natural way instead of using all those chems in the stuff they sell at the store but I want to do it safely.

 

[WaterGardener]

I'm getting confused here. Have we now switched to talking about peroxide?

I used a strong peroxide for the first couple of years with my pond for string algae. I still sometimes use it on the waterfall with the pump turned off. But sodium percarbonate is easier and even with wearing gloves I always manage to burn my hands and fingers when using the strong peroxide.

I use a very high percentage, but 3% works, too. You don't need to mix it with water. Just pour it on the algae. Just don't let the fish near it because I can burn their gills. If your fish follow you around the pond, like mine do, that can be a tricky task .

I think that what is being discussed here is the fact that one of the chemicals that sodium percarbonate breaks down into in water is hydrogen peroxide. Not using hydrogen peroxide on its own. But like I said, I'm getting confused so I could be all wet!

 

[Lisak1]

No you're right @WaterGardener - this started out to be about SPC and then suddenly we were talking about baking soda and all the dangers of life and ... I don't know. I was just being friendly and sharing something that I do that's EASY, requires very little THINKING, and from my experience is perfectly SAFE for my fish and pond. I literally just toss it by the cup full onto the surface of my pond. No measuring. NO WORRYING. I also use it on my waterfalls and rocks. Hate string algae on your rocks? SPC is your friend.

I am just suprised at how many people will go to a pond store, buy a product off the shelf and use it in good faith, but they have so much trepidation over buying and using the EXACT SAME PRODUCT that isn't labeled with the fancy pond picture.

We've bought liquid 35% hydrogen peroxide - yes, you read that right - THIRTY FIVE PERCENT - for years and used it for all kinds of things. You can dilute it as necessary for things like teeth brushing or wound care, or you can use it full strength like I did in a garden bed when I was told the soil in that bed needed to lay dormant covered in solar plastic for at least seven years to kill off the bacterial wilt that I had gotten from a cucumber plant that I bought at the nursery. I soaked that garden bed in full strength H2O2, waited a few days and then planted right in that soil. Never had a problem ever again. I've used it for a variety of fungal and downy mildew issues in the garden, spray my tomato leaves with it to control blight... you name it, I've done it. It will indeed burn like a mother if you get it on your hands full strength, but you won't die.

And yes @j.w I brush my teeth with 3% H2O2 every single day. I just open the bottle and pour it on my brush. Brush my teeth. Rinse my brush and pour more peroxide on it to kill off the germs that might have been in my own dang mouth. haha! We also put it in a nebulizer and use it at the first sign of cold, flu, sore throat, etc. But you want to be sure you're buying food grade for that - the drug store variety can have stabilizers.

Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

 

[WaterGardener]

Yep, the 35% is what I have used for years. But I converted to sodium percarbonate since it doesn't burn me and it works just as well. It's easier to use and much less expensive.

I think that some people have to pay the big bucks to believe that the product will work. They don't realize they could buy the exact same chemical at a fraction of the price by just buying the chemical and not paying for the brand name.

I've always gone the opposite route, looking for the actual ingredient that does the work. Most people probably never even look at the ingredients. They just read the hype on the package and pay the big bucks. I'm too cheap for that!

And I, for one, appreciate that you, @Lisak1 started this discussion. There is a lot of good information here that can help people who are paying attention. So thank you.

 

[billdolloff]

I had bought some of this last year and tried it today. https://www.thepondguy.com/product/the-pond-guy-oxy-lift-defense-pond-cleaner/ There was very little "lifting" of anything. Anyone use this?

 

[Lisak1]

I had bought some of this last year and tried it today. https://www.thepondguy.com/product/the-pond-guy-oxy-lift-defense-pond-cleaner/ There was very little "lifting" of anything. Anyone use this?

That’s SPC plus sodium carbonate.

Made my point.

 

[Lisak1]

So thank you.

I'm really just joking - I know there will always be people who won't eat the home canned food, they live and die by the expiration dates on canned goods, won't try your home fermented vegetables, are suspicious of your home dehydrated fruits and vegetables... but they'll go to a restaurant and eat whatever is put in front of them without knowing how it was made, who made it, when they last washed their hands, what the ingredients are, etc. Too much trust in the "experts" has gotten us to where we are today. I am my own expert, I am my own scientist, I am my own researcher, I am my own observer. But I don't expect anyone to do anything based on my word - try it for yourself, see what happens. Or don't. No offense on my part.

 

[Pablo]

I'm really just joking - I know there will always be people who won't eat the home canned food, they live and die by the expiration dates on canned goods, won't try your home fermented vegetables, are suspicious of your home dehydrated fruits and vegetables... but they'll go to a restaurant and eat whatever is put in front of them without knowing how it was made, who made it, when they last washed their hands, what the ingredients are, etc. Too much trust in the "experts" has gotten us to where we are today. I am my own expert, I am my own scientist, I am my own researcher, I am my own observer. But I don't expect anyone to do anything based on my word - try it for yourself, see what happens. Or don't. No offense on my part.

Oh no, now you tell me. I have done everything you said to do. I am screwed now. No wonder my fish have three eyes and the water glows in the dark (just thought you would need a laugh this Friday)