Pressure Washing A Pond?

Question

We have a 3500 gallon pond and for the last several years we have emptied the water and pressured washed the pond. We have a water fall and skimmer which we used during the spring and early fall.

We treat the pond with bacteria and sludge removal all through the year. We cut back the plants in the fall and cover the pond until all the leaves are gone in the fall.  The koi and goldfish have 2 pond heaters to keep the pond opened during the winter

 

My question is should we continue to drain the pond in the spring and pressure wash or can we skip several years as it gets very expensive to do this and I don't think it allows the fish to breed?
 

The other question I have is that we are expecting a large amount of snow this year and I would like to keep the net over the pond but it sinks into the water when it gets heavy with snow and ice. Do you have any suggestions to deal with this issue.
 

Sincerely,
 

M.S.

Union, Kentucky (10 miles south from Cincinnati)

Answer 1

Pressure washing a pond can do more harm than good.

Stripping all the natural growth on the walls of a pond can cause you to have a sterile bowl instead of a healthy pond. Natural bacteria, microscopic life, and healthy algae cling to the walls and liner of a pond and help maintain a natural balance in the pond, pressure washing destroys this helpful layer.

Of course if your pond has been neglected for years and has thick scales or deposits that are not helping then a good cleaning might be recommended but if you have a properly filtered pond and use natural bacteria to eliminate sludge and muck you should never need to resort to using a pressure washer which is very harsh on a pond.

Regarding the pond netting: In my pond I keep the net on just until the snow starts and then take it off as by then all the leaves and pine needles have already fallen and I've removed them from the net. I sometimes put a long piece of pipe over my pond across the two edges as a support for my net as the leaves tend to sag it in the middle. A couple of wooden boards or pipes can help support a net and keep it from the water.

Another technique is to use two of those flower hanging basket holders that you can plant in the yard and create a support to keep your pond netting above the pond somewhat like a tent. The simplest is just to roll up and store the net as soon as the ice starts to form.