7 Helpful Koi Pond Cleaning Tips

If you are considering the installation of a koi pond, this is a feature that will enhance any property. It’s important, however, that you understand the work and maintenance that goes along with owning a koi pond. As manufacturers of a natural koi pond cleaner, we have a few tips that can make koi pond cleaning as easy as possible.

1. Don’t Overfeed Your Koi

Typically you feed koi small amounts a couple of times per day, and this is probably one of the best parts of owning a koi pond. Koi are enthusiastic eaters and feeding time is always fun for owners as the fish scramble about and munch.

While it’s tempting to hang out and feed them for an extended time, they really should not eat for more than about five or six minutes at each feeding. If you notice excess food after this time, you probably are over-feeding your koi and this can cause issues with water clarity and quality. The fish food sinks to the bottom of the koi pond and, along with fish waste and other debris can create a sludge layer that reduces oxygen levels in your pond.

When it comes to koi pond cleaning, cleaning up sludge is one of the most difficult tasks for pond owners. Feeding just the right amount reduces the possibility that you’ll encounter sludge build-up, and this can make koi pond maintenance far easier.

2. Lunch Time = Koi Pond Cleaning Time

When you feed your koi, it’s a great idea to take this opportunity to clean up your koi pond a bit. Skim out leaves and debris from the surface, and remove debris from around the edge of your pond.

These leaves and debris eventually sink to the bottom of the pond and add to that sludge layer. Spending just 10 minutes per day might be all it takes to keep that pond water as fresh and clean as possible. But any time you are walking by your pond and notice a leaf or a twig, pick it up and dispose of it. A bit of maintenance here and there can reduce the necessity of having to really get in there and clean and vacuum the pond.

If you notice that plants are growing and taking over too much of the surface area of the pond, it’s also wise to cut back this plant growth. While there are many benefits to including plant life in your pond, too many plants will reduce oxygen levels and create an unhealthy situation for your precious koi.

3. Invest In A Quality Pump

Every koi pond needs a pump, and it needs to be big enough to circulate all of the water in your pond about every hour or two. Without circulation, the pond will become stagnant, and stagnant ponds are breeding grounds for many types of weeds and floating organic matter, which not only looks unattractive, but it also can lower those oxygen levels and lead to fish kills.

4. Install The Right Filtration System

You’ll need a pump to agitate your water, but you also will need to purchase a filtration system, to filter out waste and debris. Typically, it is best to purchase a slightly more powerful filtration system than you actually need. There may be times where you don’t have quite as much time to focus on koi pond cleaning as you would like and your filtration system will be powerful enough to help keep your pond water as clean as possible.

5. Be Mindful Of Your Fish Population

When you have too many koi for the number of gallons in your pond, this can pose a serious problem and make koi pond cleaning more difficult. Fish produce a good amount of waste, and if your pond is overcrowded, this waste can cause oxygen levels to drop and promote the growth of that green floating organic matter.

Your fish will have to compete for oxygen, and this can lead to fish kills, so if you have too many koi, it’s a good idea to find new homes for some of them as quickly as possible. Even with a good quality filter and pump, an overabundance of koi can be a huge problem.

6. Use A Natural Koi Pond Cleaner

At Healthy Ponds, we have created an all-natural pond cleaner designed to be safe for Koi Ponds. Our AquaLily® pond cleaner uses beneficial bacteria to eat away at sludge, debris and floating organic matter. Not only is the AquaLily® water cleaner ideal for Koi Ponds, but it is also veterinarian-approved and safe for fish, wildlife and even humans.

For ponds with less than 1,000 gallons, our AquaLily® water cleaner is the ideal choice and this floating lily dispenser is an attractive addition to your koi pond. You simply open the dispenser and add a bacteria pack and place the dispenser into your koi pond. Each bacteria pack lasts for 30 days, and at the end of this period, you just need to add a fresh pack.

For ponds with more than 1,000 gallons, we have our larger All Purpose Water Cleaner. This cleaner works in the same way as the AquaLily®, but it can be used to treat up to 2,500 gallons. Both the All Purpose Water Cleaner and the AquaLily® can prevent many common pond issues such as the build-up of sludge, the formation of floating organic matter and pond odors. When used in conjunction with a proper pump and filtration, as well as our other koi pond cleaning tips, you are likely to avoid the most common pond issues.

7. Take Special Care During Summer

When water temperatures begin to climb over about 70 degrees or so, this can cause oxygen levels to drop and make life very uncomfortable for your koi. Ensure that your pond’s pump is working efficiently, and you also can use a secondary aeration system, such as a fountain to keep that water moving and a bit cooler. It’s also wise to provide some shade for your pond so that there are some cool spots for your koi to enjoy.

When water temperatures climb, this can make koi pond cleaning more difficult, as it can cause organic matter to grow and you’ll have to work harder to keep the water clean, so keeping a healthy water temperature definitely makes koi pond maintenance easier. It’s also important to keep an eye on water levels, as water evaporates more quickly during the warmer months and you need to make sure that you have enough water to accommodate all of your koi.

Koi pond cleaning doesn’t have to take a ton of time, especially when you have a solid filtration system and pump. Using our koi pond cleaner also makes koi pond maintenance much easier. If you have any questions about using our koi pond cleaner, give us a call or send us an email at any time. We also have products suitable for fountains, rain barrels, aquariums, bird baths and other small water features as well as products for large ponds and lakes.