Clearing out a pond

[Saria88]

Hello,

I wanted some advice: we need to empty our pond in order to re-seal it (it's a concrete one built up, rather than a hole) but I want to disturb the wildlife as little as possible - we still have little baby newts around as well as everything we can't see - what would be the best time to do it? I know the newts don't usually stay in the water over winter, but I don't want it to get too cold to do anything outside! If there are a few still around, will I distress them too much and possible cause harm by emptying it (obviously re-locating them in a nice quiet bit of undergrowth before!)?

Thanks in advance for any tips

Sarah

[Tringa]

Hi Sarah.

I'm guessing the newts are adult, ie they are not still in the newtpole stage.

If so, then they will be fine in the undergrowth.

We cleared our pond in May and removed about a dozen newts and 30+ frogs. Very soon after refilling all were back in apparently with no problems despite every one of them being caught by hand and deposited under bushes.

I agree you don't want to leave it until it is too cold.

Dave

[Malcolm Banks]

I have a slightly similar dilemma. My pond is now in it's 3rd season and I plan to remove some of the silt/sludge in the deep end at the end of October (and also reduce some weed/plant concentrations), when it is still bearable temperature-wise and when most things have slowed down for the winter. Although I plan to do this using an old VAX (I used this approach for the shallow end last year and it worked well) to suck up the silt into a large (ca 200l) plastic box. I will leave this overnight to settle, decant the clear water back into the pond and then sieve the silt, removing all the macroorgamisms I can spot. This took quite a while last year but I reckon was worth it. In your case you have to empty the pond, so you might consder removing most of the water down to the silt, and then sucking the slit/mud in a pond vaccum of some sort (or VAX) into a large container in the the same manner as above. I sucked up large fat bodied chaser and aeshna larvae and they appeared non the worse for the experience. However my pond is not big at 2 x 4 m, much bigger than that could take a long time to sieve the silt.

If you just going to discard all the silt/sludge to seal your pond, then sadly, ignore all of the above, but like you, I would be keen to hear of the experiences of people who have attempted this before and the method used, since I have worked out this plan but not sure if it will work in the deep end? Maybe I should get my snorkel on and discover the extent of silt/sludge before acting.
M

[Malcolm Banks]

I should have added that I used our large steel kitchen sieve for the task, my wife is very understanding.
M

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Banks

I should have added that I used our large steel kitchen sieve for the task, my wife is very understanding.
M

Understanding is she?

Hmm.... Has she cleaned the bathroom recently? I would check your toothbrush carefully.

[Malcolm Banks]

[quote=Hmm.... Has she cleaned the bathroom recently? I would check your toothbrush carefully. [/QUOTE]

Mmmm....interesting thought, just as well that cleaning the bathrooms is my job...and she is now a fully indoctrinated convert to wildlife watching.
M