KXII Gardening Texoma: Spring Pond Cleaning

I. You need the right equipment.
1. Holding Tank.
a. You want to have a big enough container to hold your fish depending on the size of fish (i.e. Kiddy pool or Rubbermaid trough).
b. You need to pump water from your existing pond into the new holding tank.
2. Aerator to provide oxygen to your fish.
a. The aerator preserves life by providing oxygen, reducing stress, eliminating toxic gasses.
3. A large net is very useful. The net is used for moving the fish.
a. Large rounded flat net with a tight mesh is best. (Koi, gambezias, tadpoles, dragonfly larvae, etc.)
4. High Pressure Washer
5. Sharp knife to cut old dead or weathered plants.
6. Wear your work clothes, and safety goggles, waders, gloves, windbreaker or rain coat.
7. Multiple ¾” water hoses to fill your tank more quickly.
a. Time to fill, don’t leave the pond when it is filling, or if you have to, very short period.
8. Dechlorinator
II. Water light bulbs, this is the time to change them.
III. This is a great time for tweaking pond. (I.e. Add ledges remove invasive plants, add certain features etc.)
IV. Fill it safely
V. Put fish in.
VI. Other things- new water plants, lilies or marginal plants, new skimmer nets, clean or new filter pads in bio fall or skimmer, or new bags for lava if needed.

Tip of the day: Skip rinsing the dishes. Rinsing dishes before loading them into the dishwasher wastes energy. If you do rinse, use cold water.