Question:
A water change would freshen the pond up. If the pump is working it can pump the water out for you . If not find a kid in the neighborhood to bail out some of the water and maybe scoop the leaves out. Add a bottle of muck busting bacteria to eat up some of the debrie. Good Luck! szplit & schnauzer
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My health hasn’t been the best the last couple months and I neglected doing any >pond maintenance. First the pump/filter unit stopped working, then the fall >leaves settled on the bottom and caused my once beautiful 3X3X2.5 ‘ pond to be >transformed into a smelly muck hole. >What can I do to improve the matter short of hauling 5 gallon buckets of water >with my still somewhat frail body. I don’t have any help and money is tight. >Would the addition of more waterplants help at all? >Are bleach or chlorine out of the question? >I’ve got to kill the putrid stench first and then worry about the rest come >spring. I’m having doubts I’ll ever enjoy this hobby again. >Any advise is appreciated. >Many thanks, >Elsie B
Response:
Changing the water really is the way to go. Pump the water out of the pond with your regular pump by running the hose onto the lawn or garden. The dregs can be taken out using a wet & dry shop vac. I buy shop vacs at auctions for about $15 and use them until they burn up. A local garden club can usually help you find a person to help with the heavy stuff. where do you live? I would help if you are close. Ted
Response:
My health hasn’t been the best the last couple months and I neglected doing any pond maintenance. First the pump/filter unit stopped working, then the fall leaves settled on the bottom and caused my once beautiful 3X3X2.5 ‘ pond to be transformed into a smelly muck hole. What can I do to improve the matter short of hauling 5 gallon buckets of water with my still somewhat frail body. I don’t have any help and money is tight. Would the addition of more waterplants help at all? Are bleach or chlorine out of the question? I’ve got to kill the putrid stench first and then worry about the rest come spring. I’m having doubts I’ll ever enjoy this hobby again. Any advise is appreciated. Many thanks, Elsie B
Response:
>My health hasn’t been the best the last couple months and I neglected doing any >pond maintenance. First the pump/filter unit stopped working, then the fall >leaves settled on the bottom and caused my once beautiful 3X3X2.5 ‘ pond to be >transformed into a smelly muck hole. >What can I do to improve the matter short of hauling 5 gallon buckets of water >with my still somewhat frail body. I don’t have any help and money is tight.
Elsie B, I can really sympathize as I slowly recover from a bout of thyroiditis. I highly recommend checking to see if there is a pond club or even a garden club in your area. These people love to adopt folks who need help with their ponds. Call around to the garden shops/nurseries. If you newspaper puts out a club section check that, though don’t think if you don’t see or hear something it’s not there. Another place to check is your Master Gardener office or County Extension who might have area club contacts. >Would the addition of more waterplants help at all?
Yes, yes, yes. >Are bleach or chlorine out of the question?
Yes, yes, yes, totally out of the question! Some C&S Aquaculture would probably help a lot check out this website www.pondguy.com >I’ve got to kill the putrid stench first and then worry about the rest come >spring. I’m having doubts I’ll ever enjoy this hobby again.
See my ponds thru the seasons: http://home.earthlink.net/~alanjordan1/jjspond/index.html ~Keep ‘em Wet!~ ~jan~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a Remove Z to E-mail
Response:
A water change would freshen the pond up. If the pump is working it can pump the water out for you . If not find a kid in the neighborhood to bail out some of the water and maybe scoop the leaves out. Add a bottle of muck busting bacteria to eat up some of the debrie. Good Luck! szplit & schnauzer
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->My health hasn’t been the best the last couple months and I neglected doing any >pond maintenance. First the pump/filter unit stopped working, then the fall >leaves settled on the bottom and caused my once beautiful 3X3X2.5 ‘ pond to be >transformed into a smelly muck hole. >What can I do to improve the matter short of hauling 5 gallon buckets of water >with my still somewhat frail body. I don’t have any help and money is tight. >Would the addition of more waterplants help at all? >Are bleach or chlorine out of the question? >I’ve got to kill the putrid stench first and then worry about the rest come >spring. I’m having doubts I’ll ever enjoy this hobby again. >Any advise is appreciated. >Many thanks, >Elsie B
Response:
Changing the water really is the way to go. Pump the water out of the pond with your regular pump by running the hose onto the lawn or garden. The dregs can be taken out using a wet & dry shop vac. I buy shop vacs at auctions for about $15 and use them until they burn up. A local garden club can usually help you find a person to help with the heavy stuff. where do you live? I would help if you are close. Ted
Response:
My health hasn’t been the best the last couple months and I neglected doing any pond maintenance. First the pump/filter unit stopped working, then the fall leaves settled on the bottom and caused my once beautiful 3X3X2.5 ‘ pond to be transformed into a smelly muck hole. What can I do to improve the matter short of hauling 5 gallon buckets of water with my still somewhat frail body. I don’t have any help and money is tight. Would the addition of more waterplants help at all? Are bleach or chlorine out of the question? I’ve got to kill the putrid stench first and then worry about the rest come spring. I’m having doubts I’ll ever enjoy this hobby again. Any advise is appreciated. Many thanks, Elsie B
Response:
>My health hasn’t been the best the last couple months and I neglected doing any >pond maintenance. First the pump/filter unit stopped working, then the fall >leaves settled on the bottom and caused my once beautiful 3X3X2.5 ‘ pond to be >transformed into a smelly muck hole. >What can I do to improve the matter short of hauling 5 gallon buckets of water >with my still somewhat frail body. I don’t have any help and money is tight.
Elsie B, I can really sympathize as I slowly recover from a bout of thyroiditis. I highly recommend checking to see if there is a pond club or even a garden club in your area. These people love to adopt folks who need help with their ponds. Call around to the garden shops/nurseries. If you newspaper puts out a club section check that, though don’t think if you don’t see or hear something it’s not there. Another place to check is your Master Gardener office or County Extension who might have area club contacts. >Would the addition of more waterplants help at all?
Yes, yes, yes. >Are bleach or chlorine out of the question?
Yes, yes, yes, totally out of the question! Some C&S Aquaculture would probably help a lot check out this website www.pondguy.com >I’ve got to kill the putrid stench first and then worry about the rest come >spring. I’m having doubts I’ll ever enjoy this hobby again.
See my ponds thru the seasons: http://home.earthlink.net/~alanjordan1/jjspond/index.html ~Keep ‘em Wet!~ ~jan~ Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a Remove Z to E-mail