Help, how do I get the water feature started

[Idaho_Vince]

Hi All,

I'm a first time pond owner, well first time garden owner, actually first time house owner
Been spending some time on this forum but frankly, a lot of terms and advice previously given I just don't understand. Sorry... hope you guys can help regardless.

So we bought this house with an amazing back yard. There is a waterfall feature. I'm told its a two horse pump covering 15 feet or elevation with a 2.5" pipe. I managed to get the electa working and the pump turns on.
However, I'm afraid to run it as there is A LOT of debries in the holding pond.
The only option I can come up with is drain and clean it but maybe someone knows to a way to accelerate nature a bit in cleaning it up?

See pictures... hope you can help!

 

[j.w]

@Idaho_Vince
I would drain and clean it out first. Hands and a bucket. Dump and keep on keeping on till done. Start fresh and then keep it clean w/the filter and pump.

 

[GBBUDD]

Hard to tell whats what in the picture

 

[Tula]

Welcome It doesn't appear there are fish in this feature, so I"d follow @j.w advice and drain ad give it a good cleaning.....removing all the debris.

Is their some type of filtration or is this just a recirculating pump water feature ?

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our forum!

It looks like a fishless pond, drain and scoop out the debris, move rocks around to get any you can't reach.

 

[JRS]

Welcome!

 

[Idaho_Vince]

Thanks everyone!

No fish indeed, also no filter, just a pump. Should I consider a filter?

Consensus if to drain and start fresh. I'm not sure how deep the pond is, so I expect a lot of work... Will post a pic or two, LOL.

 

[j.w]

@Idaho_Vince will be fun watching you slave away

 

[Idaho_Vince]

Thanks!

I finally completed the work....

 

[j.w]

Is the pond going to be just a nature pond for frogs etc. or are you planning on putting fish in there? Lots of rocks might make it harder for you to keep clean. Others here have rocks on their pond bottoms so they will be able to help you w/this more.

 

[addy1]

Nice and clean!

 

[Idaho_Vince]

Thanks! Worked hard on it.

It basically a holding reservoir for a waterfall feature (about 15ft drop). I have no ambition for plats or fish.
Just want to keep it clean with minimal effort.

As the weather gets really warm here in Idaho, I'm wondering if I should even run it the whole day.... Lots of evaporation (especially with hot rocks).

What does this community think?

 

[addy1]

Depends on what you want. You could just run it on a timer when you are out there. But if the reservoir holds water algae will grow.
Unless you treat it with chlorine.

 

[Idaho_Vince]

Hi Addy, how many hours in the day should I run it, you think?
Or should I add a small surface fountain for the hours it doesn't run?

 

[sissy]

after you clean it you could add a little peroxide every month or so to keep it clean .You could buy a pump with a built in timer that is more energy efficient also .You could add a pump to the pond area to keep the water clean in it .You could put a hose on the pump and the hose could go into a crate with some quilt batting or reusable furnace filters .I get my blue reusable filters at lowes hardware .This crate cleans my waterfall pond