What do I do with my fish when cleaning my fish pond?

It's spring time, you know your pond needs to be dumped and cleaned because it's a mess!  You've decided to do it yourself or maybe you even found the perfect pond professional to get this dirty job done for you.  Then that thought, that one thought of : "What am I going to do with these fish while the pond is drained and I'm cleaning it?"  Or it could even be: " I just hired this pond professional to clean my pond, but I love my fish and what are they going to do with my fish while they have my pond drained?"

Fish Holding Tank

You guessed it, we need a container for our fish.  Something large enough to house them for a few hours or sometimes a day or so.  We use a collapsable 500 gallon tank, maybe two or three if necessary depending on how many fish are in the pond.  Now we know if you're doing it yourself, investing in a $1000.00 collapsable fish tank doesn't really make sense.  In this case, you can get 100 gallon or even 300 gallon rubbermaid stock tanks that will do the job perfectly in most cases.   We certainly recommend a container that will hold at least 100 gallons and you may need more depending on the number of fish and the size of your fish.  

These stock tanks can be purchased from many home and garden stores.  If you're in the Long Valley area you can purchase or order them from Hoffman's Supply.   Once you have a good holding tank ready, pump some of that pond water into the holding tank and you're about ready to move your fish.  

Fish Tank, Check!  Now what? 

You have your fish container, what else are you going to need to keep your fish safe during this yearly ritual of a pond cleaning? 

1. Fish Net 
2. Koi Sock (if you have fish 8-10" and Larger) 
3. Aerator 
4. Net to cover the Fish Holding Tank. 
5. Water Conditioner/Pond Dechlor

You have all the items above, now we need to use them.  The fish net and the koi sock are going to help you move the fish from your pond to the holding tank.  In the holding tank the aerator needs to be running at all times.  This will provide the fish with the much needed oxygen.   The more oxygen the better.   Add the appropriate amount of Water Conditioner per label and the number of gallons your holding tank is holding. 

Last but not least, DO NOT FORGET THIS STEP!  Cover that holding tank with a pond net.  Trust me, this is a very important step.  I have made the mistake of not doing this and would hate to hear the story of you doing the same.  Fish will jump, and you guessed it, if they jump in the holding tank without a netting cover they will end up on the ground!   We certainly don't want our fish on the ground.  

Once your fish are all tucked away in their temporary home during the cleaning, it's time to get down and dirty and get that pond cleaned out.  

Related Links:

• Spring Pond Cleaning Services
• Why should I clean my fish pond or water feature in the spring?
• How much does a fish pond cleaning cost?
• My pond is open and cleaned, now what? ​

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