Is it time to change the water again? Cleaning a carp pond doesn't mean having to remove the fish, drain the water and refill it. You can do this by simply draining the water halfway without removing the fish!
Steps
Step 1. Get a good screen and try to remove debris
If the water smells like rotten eggs, stop. You will need an inflatable kiddie pool with a mesh cover and a pump or airstone to oxygenate the water. You will need to remove the fish temporarily as you drain the water and remove debris. Make sure the water in the pool is chlorine-free. Catch fish with the net and place them inside a floating bowl in the pool. Cover the bowl with a tablecloth and let it float for 15-20 minutes to get the fish to adapt to the water (using the pump). After that, put the fish inside the pool by covering it with a mesh cover and using the pump while cleaning the pond.
Step 2. If the pond doesn't smell like rotten eggs, use a net to remove debris
Drain 25% of the water and fill the pond using a chlorine remover. The tap water is around 50 degrees, so add it slowly to get the fish accustomed to the change in temperature. Use a pump or airstone to oxygenate the water.
Step 3. Over the next few days, drain the water again by 25% and fill the pond using the same technique
Advice
- Remember not to expose the inflatable pool to the sun (if it is not very deep, the water will heat up too much)
- Remember to add a product to remove chlorine from the water.
- Check for debris in the net and remove snails, dragonflies and other critters to return them to the pond.
