Anyone Use a Trash Pumpt to Clean pond?

[scesnick]

I have a nice pond that is spring fed that we swim in every summer. The kids love it. It is very old though and is getting pretty full of silt. I have posted here in the past about using a trash pump to clean it out but still haven't got around to it. Well, since the kids are a bit bigger now the wife is on me to clean it out this spring.


A pump would be ALOT cheaper than draining the pond and excavating it. Also, I am worried that the dozer would screw it up and hit shale or something on the bottom and the pond would no longer hold water. This pond is the focal point of my property. It is right in front of our house and if it was just a dry pit, that would not be good.

Has anyone used a pump ( diaphragm or trash) to clean out a pond? I was wondering how well it worked. Or maybe even an aggitator pump.

 

[moored4]

Have you got a picture of the Pond. How big is it? and how Deep?

 

[ken4831]

I use a trash pump driven by a 3 hp honda engine. several times have used this pump to drain my 75'X50' foot spring pond. to clean out and check the jet pump piping. usually takes 2 days to drain. I now have a 4" line to drain it takes same length of time just doesn't need a pump.

Also cleaning the sediment will allow water to become dingy due to minerals in soil until a layer is again deposited to settle.
ken

 

[20 20]

I have a nice pond that is spring fed that we swim in every summer. The kids love it. It is very old though and is getting pretty full of silt. I have posted here in the past about using a trash pump to clean it out but still haven't got around to it. Well, since the kids are a bit bigger now the wife is on me to clean it out this spring.


A pump would be ALOT cheaper than draining the pond and excavating it.

I am some what are you wanting to use the trash pump as a muck remover? If so I don't believe you'll get the results you're looking for. If you're thinking about draining and digging, which is what most do then it will work.

Also, I am worried that the dozer would screw it up and hit shale or something on the bottom and the pond would no longer hold water. This pond is the focal point of my property. It is right in front of our house and if it was just a dry pit, that would not be good.

Well 1st we need some info, what is your land{soil} like? Do you have any info on when the pond was orginally dug? I won't dig a pond unless I do a soil check 1st to know what has to be done. A dozer won't hurt anything UNLESS you didn't have optimal soil in the 1st place. Either way if you suck, dig, push, grade the layer of seal away then you'll have a leak. Now with that said if your pond is in clay then dig dig dig. We need some more info if you have it? I think you'll find out the best way to clean up a pond is drain dig fix and let refill.

Has anyone used a pump ( diaphragm or trash) to clean out a pond? I was wondering how well it worked. Or maybe even an aggitator pump.

I'm sure you have been told this about ponds, digging isn't the issue getting rid of the spoils is. How deep, and how big an area, are you planing on dredging?

 

[scesnick]

The pond is about 3/4 of an acre. It is 50+yrs old and my grandfather build it. I'm not 100% sure of soil make up. I do have a creek that runs right by this pond ( to the right in the pic ) It has a clay base and it is alot deeper than the pond. Meaning that although the creek runs close to the pond the pond is up on a hill.. .

I was referring to sucking the sediment off the bottom with some type of pump. Not necessarily a trash pump possibly one of these view category | BJM Pumps Electric Submersible Pumps


here is a google map pic of the pond

Frostburg, Allegany, Maryland - Google Maps

 

[955Lincoln]

Never done it before but in theory it should work with some special set-ups. However, it may be too much work depending on the size of your pond. The suction end of the hose would have a sharp edged pipe attached to it so you could scrape along the bottom to get the silt broke up and flowing out with the water. You would need a way to catch the debris but also allow the water to drain back into the pond. Something like a FEL with holes, dump trailer, dump truck, etc. Sounds like a mess. Anyway, some ideas.

Did you make it out Sunday? The riding was actually loads of fun but sitting around really sucked because of the rain, snow, and cold.

Edit: slow typer here

 

[scesnick]

Never done it before but in theory it should work with some special set-ups. However, it may be too much work depending on the size of your pond. The suction end of the hose would have a sharp edged pipe attached to it so you could scrape along the bottom to get the silt broke up and flowing out with the water. You would need a way to catch the debris but also allow the water to drain back into the pond. Something like a FEL with holes, dump trailer, dump truck, etc. Sounds like a mess. Anyway, some ideas.

Did you make it out Sunday? The riding was actually loads of fun but sitting around really sucked because of the rain, snow, and cold.

Edit: slow typer here

Hey,
I was just planning on pumping all the sludge over the hill and be done with it.
I didn't make it out. My buddy Shawn made it down there I think. It was too cold and snowy for me.

 

[xkbal]

While I haven't used these they do look like what you're describing so it should be possible.

Piranha Mini Dredges: small & compact dredges for sand, mud, & muck

 

[scesnick]

While I haven't used these they do look like what you're describing so it should be possible.

Piranha Mini Dredges: small & compact dredges for sand, mud, & muck

I seen those before. I really like them and they look like they would work well but the $9,000 base price for the small one turned me off in a hurry.

 

[MMagis]

There are companies out there that will suck the muck off of the bottom of you pond for you. I can't remember any of them off hand, but my buddy had mentioned it. I don't think you'll be able to do it well yourself, without spending a lot of money.