How to Clean Backyard Fish Ponds

Overview

Regular maintenance keeps the water in backyard fish ponds clear and fresh. However, fish and plants do the majority of the cleaning, so do not become obsessed with cleaning your pond. According to the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, "too much cleaning can do more harm than good." Instead, stick to a basic monthly cleaning schedule for debris and overgrowth, add water whenever the level is low and clean pond filters whenever they become clogged enough to restrict water flow.

Monthly Cleaning

Step 1

Thin overgrowth of floating plants. Use your hands to pull out enough plants to leave 2 inches of space between each.

Step 2

Remove loose or decaying plant matter at the bottom of the fish pond.

Step 3

Prune dead parts of underwater plants using pruning shears.

Cleaning the Filter When Water Flow is Restricted

Step 1

Dip a five-gallon bucket into the pond and fill it with water.

Step 2

Unplug the water pump.

Step 3

Open the pump's filter box and remove the filter medium.

Step 4

Submerge the filter medium in the bucket filled with the pond water. Move the filter medium around in the water to clean debris build-up.

Step 5

Return the filter medium into the filter box, close the filter box and plug the water pump back in to the electrical outlet.

Add Water When Water Level is Low

Step 1

Fill one or more five-gallon water buckets, depending on how much water you need, with water from a garden hose.

Step 2

Leave the uncovered water buckets outside for three days to allow the chlorine from the tap water to dissipate.

Step 3

Pour enough water from the water buckets into the fish pond to fill it to the desired level.