Can You Use a Gravel Vacuum Cleaner in a Pond?

Problems

• Gravel cleaners disturb the bottom layers of the aquarium in order to remove dirt, decaying food and other debris. Because aquariums are such small environments, even 100-gallon ones, decaying organic material rapidly causes dangerous chemical changes in the water. Ponds need their sediment layers to remain undisturbed to help nourish pond life, such as plants and bloodworms. Gravel beds or rocks at the bottom of ponds provide a safe harbor for the development of tiny, young fish.

Pond Vacuums

• Pond vacuums, also called pool sweeps or spa vacuums, act as mechanical skimmers that remove large chunks of debris from the top of pond water or down to the top of the pond sediment layer. Pond vacuums are attached to a garden hose and are best for ponds that are only a few feet deep. Unlike gravel cleaners, which are pushed deep into the gravel until hitting the bottom of the tank, pond vacuums often do not disturb the sediment layers. Avoid disturbing the roots of pond plants or the plants may be killed. These vacuums are best used in autumn.

Filtration Units

• Ponds need large mechanical and/or biological filtration units in order to remove debris from the water and keep oxygen levels high enough for fish to survive. Mechanical filters need to be large enough so that their pumps filter the entire pond’s water capacity in two hours, and they need to be cleaned with a strong blast from a garden hose at least once a month in order to prevent clogs and damage. Biological filters use large bags of filtration media such as zeolite chips or lava rock to help filter debris from pond water. This filter needs monthly maintenance by draining and gentle rinsing off with clean tap water.

Other Pond Cleaning Tips

• In the fall or after a storm, skim off as many leaves from the surface of the pond so that they do not sink, rot and cause an ammonia spike. Never feed fish when the temperature dips below 45 degrees Fahrenheit because the fish will be too sluggish to eat. Using ultraviolet, or UV, light sterilizers can help kill some types of algae, fish parasites and bacteria. Ozone generators help debris clump together into larger pieces so that they can be trapped by a mechanical filter.