Thanks for the feedback, Paul and Bill.
I used to have one of those cheap above ground pools that are sold in the big box stores. It had a filter that sat outside the pool. Water ran into the filter from the skimmer and returned via an inlet near the bottom of the pool. When I wanted to vacuum the pool, I would disconnect the hose at the skimmer and attach it to a vacuuming wand. It did a good job of removing any sediment and leaves without returning anything to the pool. However, I realize a pond is a different beast and would never be vacuumed as often as a pool, and the volume and consistency of the removal would be much different than a swimming pool. Guess that's why no one is writing about it on the internet and there are no YouTube videos about it.
BTW, for all the "expensive" pond vacuums being sold out there, it seems like the companies selling them are mainly the ones telling you how good of a job they do. My reading of what folks say who actually own pond vacuums is they are not as impressive as the advertising for them.
I did read that a pond needs to be cleaned (or vacuumed) once a year (once again info from pond vacuum makers/sellers), but if you are good at removing leaves and other stuff that blows into the pond on a regular basis that that cuts down tremendously on decaying matter, that a thorough cleaning can probably be updated to every 2-3 years, something closer to the schedule you mentioned, Paul.
Bill, I think waders would be a great tool for working in the pond and have thought of buying a pair. My pond size is similar to yours. 10x15 with a max depth of about 32". It's hard to figure the total volume as the bottom varies and the width and depth of the shelf surrounding the pond varies. I am guessing somewhere around 1600-1800 gallons, but that is a very rough estimate. I am putting rocks and gravel on the shelf that surrounds the pond for planting, but do not plan to put rocks or gravel in the bottom...my thinking is that would facilitate cleaning when I do need to clean the pond. BTW, I do not plan to plant anything in pots with dirt. All plantings will be directly into the gravel or pots with Microbe-Lift Aquatic Planting Media. (The latter is what I use in my small, filtered pond.)
I may be "worried" about something that won't be that bad or difficult to deal with. Keep in mind, I don't have any mechanical filtration. I am trying to keep this pond as natural as possible since it is down in my food forest. I do have two pumps. One is electric that goes to a small spillway and pumps at about 900 gph with the rise according to the company's figures. I put a bag of bio balls in the spillway, but they are by no means enough as the chamber is small. I have a second solar pump that pumps at about 600 gph, but it only pumps when the sun is out. With the pumps, I am mainly using them for aeration/keep the water moving. I have also started to add plants that will eat up nutrients such as water lettuce (about 2 dozen), frogbit (a dozen), and hornwort (a dozen clumps). I plan to add a lot more plants, but probably not until spring. Everything I read about natural ponds is the first year is a greenwater/algae nightmare until you can get enough plants established and growing.
Well, I started collecting flat and flat"ish" rocks from all over the property. Rocks are our Number 1 crop here in PA, so there are plenty. Next up, now that I finished the spillway stonework will be to add rocks and gravel to the shelf and hide the liner with rocks. I have a long way before I have to worry about my first major clean out, but I like to think ahead.
If anyone else has input, I sure would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks!
