Clean Out & Maintenance
We offer Clean Outs and Maintenance for koi ponds, goldfish ponds, fountains, and most water features.
Clean Out
Annual, 2x per year or Quarterly
A pond or fountain clean out is designed to remove algae, debris, leaves, twigs, fish waste, silt and unwanted nutrients that have broken down into sludge and muck at the bottom of your pond. This will give your water feature a fresh start allowing for clearer water, happy fish and healthy plants. A full cleaning is typical in the spring as water temperatures rise before beneficial bacteria fully establishes but is sometimes done additionally in the fall or quarterly.
IN PERSON CONSULTATION - $200
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Up to 1hr walkthrough & inspection of your water feature to answer any questions you may have
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Discuss what you would like to see happen, set expectations, create goals and a plan of action
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Go over pricing and schedule
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Includes an itemized intake form of all water feature components
Maintenance
Weekly, 2x per Month, Monthly, Quarterly
Koi ponds need consistent and regular maintenance. It is an important factor in keeping it healthy, beautiful and clean. A well cared for pond will ensure that plants and fish are in good health as well as elevate the enjoyment that a pond provides. While some may enjoy the daily and weekly routine, others would rather hand over those tasks to a professional and spend more time enjoying the pond life.
IN PERSON CONSULTATION - $200
-
Up to 1hr walkthrough & inspection of your water feature to answer any questions you may have
-
Discuss what you would like to see happen, set expectations, create goals and a plan of action
-
Go over maintenance pricing and schedule
-
Includes an itemized intake form off all water feature components
Do I need a Clean Out or Maintenance?
Not sure what the difference is? Here’s a breakdown of each service to help guide you.
CLEAN OUT
Pricing is determined by size, condition, history and set up
$400+
starting price for smaller features
Fully drain pond or fountain of all water
Anywhere from 1 hour to multiple days of work
Typically done in the spring
Available for all types of water features
MAINTENANCE
Pricing is typically a standard flat rate for most water features
$225
per month for a standard pond
Requires a clean out and inspection by us to get started
Does not drain pond other than partial water changes
Up to 1 hour of service from our techs
Available for select water features*
What’s Included?
Clean Out
Preparing for the Clean
• Pump out water and drain completely
• Use pond water to fill holding tanks for fish, plants, frogs, etc
• House fish in an aerated, covered holding tank during clean
• Basic assessment of fish health
• Save decaying plant matter to allow for any smaller creatures to show themselves and return to the pond
• Store plants in a holding tank
Cleaning Process
• Remove large debris and string algae by hand
• Shovel or vacuum out sludge and dispose in a designated area
• Hose off waterfall, rock edges and liner from top to bottom in all cracks and crevasses to remove all loose dirt and unwanted algae
• Hand scrub liner and rocks with water, avoiding chemicals and power washing as to not completely strip the beneficial bacteria
• Perform a 1/2 water change in holding tank(s) to acclimate fish to new water reducing risk of shock
Equipment Care
• Use pond water to clean out filters, filter media, skimmers, and pumps and inspect to make sure in proper working order
• Backwash any pressurized bead filters
• Replace any filter media as needed
• Inspect and flush out any plumbing
• Check leveling of skimmers and filters
• Inspect underwater lighting, clean lenses, replace any bulbs or redirect angles if needed
• Inspect and/or replace UV light*
Integrity Check
• Inspect liner for damages or leaks and repair as needed*
• Make any necessary minor adjustments to liner and folds
• Adjust any rocks that may have shifted over time
• Re-stack and secure any rock moved during the cleaning*
The Final Phase
• Start filling pond, treat water with dechlorinator and stress coat
• Split, repot and fertilize plants while removing dead leaves, stems and buds* ($25 each)
• Turn on pond and continue to fill as water circulates through filters and plumbing
• Place plants in and around pond and slowly introduce fish to their new environment
• Add natural bacteria if necessary and do final clean up of site
Things to Note
POND CLEAN OUTS REVEAL LEAKS
Rinsing away built-up muck and debris can unclog holes in the liner allowing water to travel to new places. This is especially true when removing gravel from the bottom of your pond or moving around large rocks or when cleaning a pond that has not been maintained regularly. We assume no responsibility for these leaks and will bill accordingly for diagnoses and repair.
EXTERNAL BEAD OR PRESSURE FILTERS
In some cases it is best to do the pond cleaning and wait about 2 weeks to then clean the pressure filter. We have found that certain ponds will go green after a cleaning because too much beneficial bacteria was stripped and there is not enough ‘good’ bacteria to fight off the ‘bad’ bacteria. Waiting to clean out an external filter helps prevent this from happening.
Maintenance
Plants & Fish
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Thorough trimming of all pond plants, removal of dead leaves, stems and buds
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Trim nearby dead plants and blow/vacuum nearby leaves to prevent falling debris
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Fertilize all submerged and bog plants in containers
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Observe fish behavior, appearance and overall health
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Diagnoses, treatment, supply and removal of fish
Ponds, Waterfalls & Fountains
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Surface skimming to remove leaves and other debris
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Small water changes and water leveling as needed
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Chemical or visual water quality testing with treatments as needed
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Light scrub of fountains and waterfalls, clear any debris blocking falls
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Minor adjustments to rock placement to hide liner or enhance/improve look
Equipment Care
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Thorough rinse of filter media, quality check and replace when needed
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Backwash any pressurized bead filters
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Empty and clean skimmer leaf basket and side baffles
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Check function of uv light, pump, pressurized bead filter, filter fall, auto fill, skimmer or any other relevant equipment
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Repaint or replace any plumbing if needed
FAQs
Is my water feature eligible for your maintenance program?
Not every water feature is a candidate for our maintenance program. In most cases we require an exploratory clean out to learn more about the pond and its system, what it needs to be properly maintained, discover any issues or potential issues and guarantee the best results. If your setup lacks the necessary equipment to properly be maintained, we can provide an estimate to get your water feature up to par.
Do I need to be home while you are doing maintenance?
No. While you do not need to be home during a maintenance visit, we do need to get a hold of you if something comes up. Please provide us with the best contact method and availability during your scheduled days.
If I have an issue, can you fix it since you’re already there for maintenance or service?
If you want to add a service to your visit, let us know ahead of time so we can bring the materials we need. We will do our best to accommodate any requests as long as we are still able to complete our checklist in that time bracket.
- No additional cost services: Adjusting low liner, unclogging a pump, partial water changes, initial troubleshooting for a leak, minor plumbing repairs, replacing filter media, etc. (While our labor is free, there may be a charge for materials.)
- Additional cost services: Adding plants or fish, rehoming fish, changing out a light, repairing a leak, replacing UV lights, adding pump bags/prefilters, full water changes, etc.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule a maintenance or service visit?
You can certainly cancel or reschedule a service at least 24 hours in advance. Same day cancellations/rescheduling will be billed a $50 cancellation fee.
What can I expect from your visit?
You should not expect a pristine, crystal clear, problem free pond. It is a natural ecosystem, not a pool. You can expect that we will show up for scheduled appointments and prioritize the health of your water feature.
In addition to our checklist, we take the time to sit with your pond, get in the pond, watch the fish, tend to the plants, look at water quality and get to know your pond. We treat it like our own, with love and care and attention to detail. We will make any important notations on your invoice or contact you directly.
How frequently should I schedule services?
We offer weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and quarterly regular maintenance visits. Each water feature has a different set of needs. Frequency of visits depends on the filtration setup, size of water feature, fish load, leaf drop, owner’s participation and more. It is ideal to do some form of maintenance at least every week and if you are more hands on, you may only need us biweekly or monthly.
If you notice yellow lily pads, built up muck and debris/leaves, algae forming, dead blooms, poor water quality or your water flow has slowed down due to build up, then you should consider upping your maintenance.
What if I paid for the year upfront and now I wish to cancel?
You can certainly cancel your services with at least 14 days notice. You will be reimbursed the remainder of your payment for services not performed.
