How to clean a pond without draining it

This is a quick video showing how i clean and maintain my ponds.
If you want to see how my courtyard pond was built using the bog in a barrel system and a DIY skimmer bucket, this link will help- • DIY POND| DIY FILTERS|...
If you want to see how I built my dream pond with 2 large bog filters, 1 High flow DIY filter and an intake bay check out this playlist- • Dream pond build
And if you are interested in seeing some of my other filter builds you can find them in this playlist- • OZPOND DIY POND FILTER...

[@waldroc942]

I had an algae bloom in my pond (in Scotland) which started a few weeks ago. I was using a fairly common bucket type pressurized filter with UV, but the algae was still there. I then set up a simple bog filter and added more maginal plants and the algae has now gone, and I've turned the UV off. I add bacteria to it about once a week as it's a rigid plastic liner with very little media for the bacteria to colonise just now. Next stage will be a three metre water feature with three small falls, with gravel and rocks. Following your guidance Kev, I can now see the bottom of the pond and my eight small Sarasa Comet's can see each other. I've watched a lot of pond building vids from the UK and US, mostly showing how to do all the rockwork to make it look good, but I have to say that your advice on keeping the water clear has been invaluable. My fish are happy and the plants are happy, and the algae has gone. Thanks Kevin.

[@Ozponds]

Thanks mate. It’s hearing stories like this that makes my day. 😊👍

[@sandyl2493]

I totally agree with the comments above. Thanks Kev, for helping me with SO MANY different aspects of my pond build. I’m working on it, yet. But these vids help!

[@Ozponds]

Thanks Sandy.

[@stacyrosa6672]

I am so happy to have discovered your channel! We have a very similar ponding philosophy...although I'm not nearly as self depreciating as you are, and would never say this is the lazy way! I like to think I'm resourceful and really good at getting the best results, with the least work! You're truly an inspiration ❤

[@milothechihuahuabrunetandmommy]

Great information thanks have a beautiful day God bless you always

[@Ozponds]

You too 😊

[@brianraftery1645]

Hi Kev, I just started watching your videos in the last few days, I've got three ponds in my back garden and they have always be green even using filters. I have now built two bog filters for two of the pond, one large 5,000 litre pond and the other 200 litres (it's an old bath tub 😀) and both are starting to clear up already after a few days after been green for about 5 years now I can see my fish thank you.👍

[@Ozponds]

Wonderful to hear. Well done 👍

[@Ad_Astra_321]

If you ever run out of things to say about ponds (doubtful, fortunately!), would you consider talking to us about your aquariums? I have tanks inside & ponds outside, so I'm interested in both. I keep chemicals to a bare, bare minimum & each has it's own balance & eco system. I'm looking to set up a paludarium next. Thank you for these videos, they're ALL great!

[@Ozponds]

Thanks for the encouragement 😊. My aquariums are pretty boring. I’m pretty lazy, I mostly keep shrimp now, because they are simple. I only have one community tank left. The fish are old and once they pass on I probably won’t redo the tank. I really find the ponds so easy to care for and so enjoyable. Plus they are all mostly visible from inside so I don’t really need the aquariums to watch fish anymore.

[@Ad_Astra_321]

@@Ozponds I need to be outside to see my ponds & in Vic? That's not as often as I'd wish! I have tanks all over my kitchen, cause I hate cooking & I've got good things to look at & think about when I'm doing chores or making a cuppa ;) Thanks again.

[@Nozinbonsai]

Father fish is a good channel.

[@MIKEZGAMER-g8b]

excellent video kev, appreciated

[@patinsley]

@ozponds made your filter as a last chance for my little pond. 5 days later I had crystal clear water. Totally stoked to keep this pond hobby alive. Thank you

[@Ozponds]

Fantastic. 👍

[@fossphur]

I set up a bog in a bucket for my small pre-formed pond tonight; everything I plan to do in my bigger pond I have been trying out at a smaller scale. I don't think I've done a perfect job but most of the elements are there and I am keen to see how it works out! The pond is already pretty clear but that's not too difficult with nothing living there yet. Daytime temps are 14 ºC and 10 ºC at night, I can't wait to compare this to a deeper layered pond to see how well a larger body of water retains heat.

[@Ozponds]

You’re making a wise decision starting small, mastering the elements then going big. It will save you lots of time and money.👍

[@NopeAndYep]

I bought some Nualgi a couple weeks ago, it almost seems to make the algea grow more 😅. It has been incredibly hot here in Louisiana (USA) hopefully it will cycle. It's a new pond too...(dug in April 2022 aprox 9500 gal.) I have three koi (3-5 yrs old estimate) but a ton of minnows, and frogs of different assortments. Homemade bog filter that really should be larger, 300 gal stock tank, and some plants.

[@Ozponds]

New ponds are different animals. They can go feral before they find their happy place. I hope yours balances soon.

[@MLM111]

It will settle down and get better❤

[@bavardus]

Is there such thing as too much nitrifying bacteria? I have a 2000 gallons pond and it has been green for 8 months no matter how much bacteria I put in it. Please help. Thanks.

[@Ozponds]

Bacteria need surface area to live on. No matter how much you add if they cannot reproduce and find a home adding more won’t help. If you watch more of my videos on bacteria and filters you’ll work it out 👍

[@bavardus]

@@Ozponds thanks Kev. I have added more lava rocks and pebble to the pond. Hopefully this would allow bacteria to colonize. I wonder how long the process before I can see clear water. Will update. Thanks again.

[@bavardus]

@@Ozponds Finally the water clears after more rocks and bacteria are added around the pond. Now I understand the environment must be designed to achieve a harmonious balance for all living things to strive. Thank you so much for your inspiration.

[@jmo2104]

Thank you for all of the Great information! Slowly building my pond one shovel full at a time and get inspired every time I watch your vids.

[@Ozponds]

That’s great to hear. You’ll get there 👍

[@shysti2c]

I hope you shower after 😂 if not that's alot of poo😂

[@AaronHahnStudios]

1:25 in. Love how the water line is just below the "Nurrie" line.. 😄 gotta be handy on those cold days. 😜

[@Ozponds]

😂 very handy!

[@owlyboy6059]

I have a small pond. Should I buy a second hand pressure filter and place it at the top of my waterfall or should I try and make a bog filter which i dont feel confident in my ability to know what to do despite watching lots of your bog filter videos? Thanks for all the information i have learnt a lot. Your voice is very relaxing also

[@Ozponds]

It’s better than nothing, but too be honest I don’t rate them highly. Have you had a look at the high flow waterfall filter video? That’s a pretty simple set up.

[@alissam8034]

Do you have problems with the bog filter harboring mosquitoes? I love the idea, but the mosquitoes are so bad in my area.

[@Ozponds]

I don’t. Mostly because I have water coming out the breather pipe so the water on the surface of the bog is moving. On the smaller bogs I bring the media (gravel) up over water level so there is no water on the surface of the bog. Hope that makes sense. 👍

[@DavisTyler000]

How do you clean your bog filters?

[@Ozponds]

I’ve got a few different vids showing me clean them. Just have a scroll through the previous uploads 👍

[@silicondave2797]

I would like to see you make your own DIY pond vac. Maybe something like a dust separator add on for a shop vac. Most everyone has a shop vac. I would like to use mine to pull water in and fast filter bulk sediments along the bottom. I think this would not stir up the bottom so much. Also would allow reuse of most of the water. Something in the $200 and less range. Thoughts?

[@Ozponds]

I’m not that clever sorry. I’ve also go a pond vac so spending money to make another would be a waste of money. I see there are a few vids of clever people making them 👍

[@silicondave2797]

@@Ozponds thanks for your thoughts. Have a great day

[@Ozponds]

You too 👍

[@ABITOFTHISANDTHAT12]

My pond water has turned brown, I've used the vacuum and also sludge cleaner stil no joy. It's definitely sediment as i took some and left overnight and all gone to the bottom. Any help appreciated please

[@Ozponds]

Recently I was contacted by a fellow in the US experiencing a similar issue. He found that aquascapes “clear for ponds” worked to resolve his issues.

[@alexwild3760]

Mate where are you in Australia?

[@Ozponds]

West Gippsland. About 100km east of Melbourne.

[@1Igster1]

The skimmer only works for floating debris, will do nothing for waste that has sunk to the bottom. Useless video, did not even show the scooping technique with the mesh net, which would have taken forever in a pond that size and also stirred everything up.

[@Ozponds]

😂😂😂 it’s just what I do in my ponds. Believe, don’t believe. Works for me. Please post a video showing your scooping “technique” I’d love to see it 👍

[@SzerdzsoCortez2]

Hi Kev. Do you have problem with lime(scale) in your pond? I mean the dissolved calcium and magnesium in the pond water. Is it harmful for the bacteries? My pumps stopped multiple times and it is visible on the liner and the rocks.

[@Ozponds]

No I never see it in the ponds. In my aquariums yes. Is it because in the aquariums I add salt conditioner? The ponds I don’t. I’m honestly not sure.

[@LL-fb8wz]

I know wave makers in my aquarium solved this sediment problem with bottom sediment, so I wonder if they make them for ponds.

[@Ozponds]

They do.

[@JhunDumsTVXj]

Wow nice beautiful

[@sue3239]

Hi man l need help

[@Ozponds]

Just watch all the vids 👍

[@philippefenain4405]

Thanks Kev! Wondering if anyone found a pool robot capable of running on pebbles ?

[@Ozponds]

That would be cool

[@sue3239]

Clean

[@MrSamurai137]

Away good stuff Mate 👊 You pond and style have been a great inspiration for me.

[@Ozponds]

That’s nice to hear. Thank you.

[@feylights166]

Someone told me the sediment stirred up by cleaning muck can be toxic to fish. Is this true?

[@Ozponds]

Kinda. Not really an issue in a backyard pond. During floods lots of organic sediment gets washed into waterways. The biological processes can then deplete the oxygen content of the water, and that’s very bad for the fish.

[@feylights166]

@@Ozponds ah, okay. My system consists of two ponds connected by an underground pump system, and a stream that goes from the little pond (with lilies), down a waterfall into the larger koi pond. Sometimes the waterfall gets hindered by muck, so I have to clean between the rocks, but I don't want to knock too much into the pond. You mentioned flooding--what about rain? We get a lot of rain here.

[@Ozponds]

You’ll only have problems if the rain washes in loads of organic material all at once. I’m talking major flooding, houses floating away. That’s the kind of flooding that deposits loads of organics.

[@marie-christinematip4206]

💯💯💖💖💖

[@bassplayer60]

Kev, have you done a video on procedure to clean the bog filter!? Do I shut down the pump? Do I Back flush the filter?

[@Ozponds]

I’ve done a few. I could do another one this winter. I’ve got a couple of filters due for a clean. You can shit the pump of or you can use it to direct pond water over the surface of the bog. Then completely drain the bog and keep draining it until or the water being directed over the surface is coming out the bottom clear. Hope that makes sense. I’ll do a vid in a few weeks 👍

[@bassplayer60]

@@Ozponds thank you Kev. So how do you treat that much water at once? I’m speaking of tap water conditioner?

[@Ozponds]

Usually I do it before I know I’m going to get a heap of rain. If not I just use my seachem prime that I use in the aquariums.

[@bassplayer60]

@@Ozponds thank you Kev! Really appreciate your time and information! So grateful here! ❤️🙏🏻🤙🏽

[@briman1968]

thanks Kev

[@DrJoeJoeHands]

Thank you

[@Ozponds]

😊👍

[@Lee-re1by]

🐟🐟🐟🐟

[@Ozponds]

🐸🍻👍

[@johngarth1]

All these people that go to such extremes to keep clear water make so tough for themselves... I have reversed course to be more less invasive using nature with a " LITTLE " assistance from time to time. I was have a huge string algae bloom and after your videos I once a week just took my net and stirred things up and removed the larger debris and poof no more string algae and no chemicals. Where I'm from in the US I have to deal with the really cold freezing temperatures that put a really thick layer of ice and I get a lot of decay and removing I see now helps. Thank you for your advice showing us to listen to our ponds.

[@Ozponds]

Glad you get something out of my ramblings 😊👍

[@blessedone1186]

Do you have a email address i would to send you a photo of my pond i really need some advice on it

[@Ozponds]

You can contact me through my website. But I get hundreds of emails a week. Unfortunately I can only help those that leave me a donation it takes a lot of my time. I hope you understand.