Pond Cleaning in Exeter
Professional pond cleaning services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Professional pond cleaning for garden ponds. Sludge removal, plant thinning, filter maintenance, water quality improvement - your pond healthy and clear again.
More Than Just Scooping Leaves
Pond cleaning done properly means removing built-up sludge, thinning overgrown plants, cleaning filters, and leaving the biological balance intact. Rush it or do it wrong and you can crash a pond's ecosystem. We take the time to do it right.
What We Do
- Sludge removal - vacuum or bail out decomposed material
- Plant thinning - cut back overgrown vegetation
- Algae control - remove blanketweed and string algae
- Filter cleaning - check and clean biological filters
- Water quality - test and advise on balance
- Fish care - safe handling and temporary housing
💡 Pro tip: Don't clean everything at once. Keep some old water and don't scrub every surface - you need to preserve beneficial bacteria. A sterile pond crashes; a properly cleaned one stays balanced.
Done Right vs Done Wrong
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Fish safely housed during work | Fish stressed or injured |
| Sludge removed, beneficial bacteria kept | Everything sterilized, ecosystem crashes |
| Plants thinned, not removed entirely | All plants cleared or left overgrown |
| Filter cleaned, not replaced unnecessarily | Filter destroyed or ignored |
Why Choose Us for Pond Cleaning in Exeter?
Sludge and debris removal
Plant thinning included
Filter cleaning/check
Fish-safe methods
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment Check pond size, fish load, sludge level, plant growth. Discuss what needs doing and plan the work.
Step 2: Cleaning Transfer fish if needed, remove sludge and debris, thin plants, clean filter, check equipment.
Step 3: Refilling and Return Top up or partially refill, treat water if necessary, return fish when safe. Advise on ongoing maintenance.
🔧 DIY Tips
🔧 Tools Needed
- Pond vacuum or wet-dry vac
- Large containers for fish
- Net and fish-friendly bucket
- Pump (if draining down)
- Shears for plant cutting
- Pond water test kit
📐 Steps
- Remove and safely house fish
- Lower water level (don't empty completely)
- Vacuum or scoop out sludge from bottom
- Thin overgrown plants - remove about 1/3
- Clean filter media gently in pond water
- Refill with dechlorinated water
- Test water quality before returning fish
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Complete water change - kills beneficial bacteria
- Cleaning filter in tap water - destroys biology
- Removing all plants - unbalances ecosystem
- Rushing fish back in - water not ready
💡 Pro Trick
Do major cleaning in spring or autumn, not summer. Warmer water holds less oxygen and temperature swings stress fish more. Cooler seasons are safer for disrupting the pond.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
Combines Well With:
- Pond pump/filter replacement
- New planting around pond edges
- Water feature maintenance
Related Services:
- Garden clearance around pond
- Planting Service - bog plants and marginals
Best Time:
- Spring (March-April): Before growing season starts
- Autumn (October-November): After leaves fall, before winter
- Avoid: Hot summer months - high stress for fish
Frequency:
- Full clean: Annually for most ponds
- Light maintenance: Remove leaves/debris throughout year
- Filter clean: Every 4-6 weeks in growing season
Water Changes: We typically replace 30-50% of water during cleaning, not everything. Preserving some old water helps maintain biological balance.
Fish Stress: Minimize by working efficiently, keeping fish cool and oxygenated, and not returning them until conditions are suitable.
Green Water: If your pond goes pea-green after cleaning, it's temporary. UV clarifiers help but good plant balance is the long-term solution.
Wildlife Ponds: Need gentler approach - more about sludge removal and plant management, less about pristine clarity. We adjust methods accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should ponds be cleaned?
Full clean usually once a year in spring or autumn. Regular maintenance like removing leaves and thinning plants throughout the year keeps things manageable. Heavily stocked fish ponds might need more frequent attention.
What happens to the fish during cleaning?
We temporarily transfer them to a holding container with pond water. Keep them safe and stress-free while we work, then return them once the pond is clean and water is suitable. Some jobs can be done without removing fish entirely.
Do you clean the filter as well?
Yes, we check and clean filters as part of the service. Replace media if needed (quoted separately). A clean filter makes a huge difference to pond health between full cleans.
What if the pond is really neglected?
We've seen worse, trust us. Badly neglected ponds take longer and might need multiple visits to get right, but they're salvageable. We'll assess and quote realistically - sometimes a full renovation is needed.
Pond Cleaning Also Available In:
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
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