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Cleaning a pond?

jf_f1jf_f1 Posts: 22
in Wildlife gardening
Hi, this is my first post to this forum, I have spent a lot of time reading the wildlife garden posts.

My question is, do you have to clean out a garden pond? We have had ours for probably 20 years now, it is teeny weeny, probably 4 feet by 3 feet and it has never been cleaned. We had 6 large clumps of frog spawn this year. The most number of frogs of various sizes I counted at one time this summer was 11. It has tiny snails, lots of larvae and is often visited by insects and damselflies. We also had the most number of froglets that I have ever seen. They were everywhere in the undergrowth.
 
It appears to be very healthy, but I do wonder if I should be clearing out some of the sludge from the bottom, or would this just upset the eco system? Part of me thinks I should be doing something, but it appears to be so full of life I am afraid to interfere. 
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  • jf_f1jf_f1 Posts: 22
    Thank you pansy face.  :) I guess my only worry is about the depth of the pond? Will there become a time when the 'sludge' at the bottom gets too deep and the pond becomes too shallow? There is a tree from our neighbours garden which overhangs the pond and leaves and the occasional apple falls into it. We try to get out as many leaves as we can, but obviously some leaves will be accumulating etc. in it.   
  • jf_f1jf_f1 Posts: 22
    Thank you very much for your help, I feel relieved now.
    I know everything on the surface looks ok, but it feels nice to be reassured.  <3   
  • ifrat77ifrat77 Posts: 3
    Since the pond in my house is used for fish farming, it can be said that maintaining and cleaning the pond is very important to ensure a clean and healthy environment for any species of fish and plants. I usually clean the filters and pumps, clear debris from the pond including leaf debris on the surface and bottom of the pond, clean any waterfalls and fountains and remove and replace any dead plants. As for deep cleaning of the pond, such as completely removing silt and accumulated debris from the pond, I only do it 1-2 times per year.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    ifrat77 said:
    Since the pond in my house is used for fish farming, it can be said that maintaining and cleaning the pond is very important to ensure a clean and healthy environment for any species of fish and plants. I usually clean the filters and pumps, clear debris from the pond including leaf debris on the surface and bottom of the pond, clean any waterfalls and fountains and remove and replace any dead plants. As for deep cleaning of the pond, such as completely removing silt and accumulated debris from the pond, I only do it 1-2 times per year.
    Why do you have a pond in your house?  :)

    Cleaning everything out of a pond twice a year isn't what the OP needs to do. That's fatal in a wildlife pond.  :/
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    I have a very small pond as well Mine is about 6ft in diameter. I completed it approximately 15 years ago and this last year is the first time I have removed any sludge from the bottom. I was surprised there was so little. My pond is about 4ft deep in the centre. I would not worry about your pond until you can see the sludge, then only take out a small amount. It sounds as if your pond has an established miniature ecosystem working so leave it alone. I use organic blanket weed control, sludge controller, and blanketweed controller which perhaps is why I do not have a lot of sludge.
  • RedwingRedwing Posts: 1,511
    jf_f1 said:
    Hi, this is my first post to this forum, I have spent a lot of time reading the wildlife garden posts.

    My question is, do you have to clean out a garden pond? We have had ours for probably 20 years now, it is teeny weeny, probably 4 feet by 3 feet and it has never been cleaned. We had 6 large clumps of frog spawn this year. The most number of frogs of various sizes I counted at one time this summer was 11. It has tiny snails, lots of larvae and is often visited by insects and damselflies. We also had the most number of froglets that I have ever seen. They were everywhere in the undergrowth.
     
    It appears to be very healthy, but I do wonder if I should be clearing out some of the sludge from the bottom, or would this just upset the eco system? Part of me thinks I should be doing something, but it appears to be so full of life I am afraid to interfere. 
    I wouldn't do much, thin out plants maybe.  You seem to be doing everything right already.
    Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    @jf_f1 I used to have an aquarium when I was young. After one year, I had created a working environment that filling up water now and then was all I had to do. The algae were eaten by the fishes, and when I checked the ground, there was hardly any fish excrements. It stayed like this one year until my sister moved back with her little baby over winter because her flat was too cold. She turned off the light and pump believing the baby would be disturbed, which killed the aquarium inside 2 months. 

    If you check your water and it smells fine, reach the bottom with a ladle and check if if the ground is good, then never change a running system. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • jf_f1jf_f1 Posts: 22
    Thanks everyone for your replies. The only thing I have had to do recently is crack the ice on the pond, it was a good 3/4 inch thick just before Christmas. I have a couple more questions if you don't mind?

    @Joyce Goldenlily, would you mind giving me some information about the organic blanketweed controller and sludge controller that you use please? I think they would both be a good idea for me to use.

    Also, @Simone_in_Wiltshire could you explain a little bit more about using a ladle to check if the ground is good? I am very sorry to hear about your aquarium, my son had one and it was a lovely addition to our home.

    Thanks @Redwing, I do keep thinning out my plants, it is about the only bit of maintenance that I do, but it appears to be working ok lol.  
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    @jf_f1 it depends how deep the pond is and how long your arm is. 4x3 feet isn’t that big and shouldn’t be that deep. Or take a mug and take a bit from the ground. What doesn’t smell is good.
    The ground is part of the eco system and if it has got creatures in it that live from what is in the ground, it would be perfect. If it’s rains at your place as much as here, also the pond water is mostly mixed with fresh rainwater. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • jf_f1jf_f1 Posts: 22
    OK, I understand. Thank you, once the water warms up enough I will try this. ☺
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