Do you have a wetland filter on your pond?

Here's how we clean them!

Below is a summary of key tips that are outlined in this video.  To watch this video in it's entirety, click on the video - and be sure to leave your comments

The transcript from the YouTube video titled "Pro Tip | How to CLEAN a Recreational Swim Pond WETLAND FILTER - Fast and Easy" by Columbia Water Gardens.

This video, by Carl from Columbia Water Gardens, provides a step-by-step guide to efficiently cleaning a wetland filter, which is the heart of a pond's digestive system.

Summary of Wetland Filter Cleaning Process

1. When to Clean Your Wetland Filter

  • Decomposing Organic Matter: Clean the filter when you see a thick layer (about an inch) of decomposing organic matter on top of the rock [00:00:47].
  • Channeling: Look for evidence of channeling —small holes or paths where water is bypassing the filter media and coming straight up [00:01:07].
  • Benefit: Cleaning removes excess nutrients, making your pond "shine so much better" and performing more efficiently [00:01:24].

2. Tools and Setup

  • Trash Pump: Use a gas-powered trash pump(e.g., 15,000 GPH capacity) [00:01:35]. The trash pump is recommended because it is efficient at blowing and separating muck quickly [00:09:04].
  • Hose and Nozzle: Connect a fire hose with a fire nozzle to the pump's discharge to direct the nutrient-rich water to other plants and landscaping on the property [00:01:40].
  • Set-up: Set the pump's snorkel (intake) down into the wetland filter's snorkel (vault) and prime it with water [00:02:18].

3. Cleaning Steps

  • Step 1: Drain the Wetlands: Pump the wetland filter completely dry[00:02:47]. If there are multiple wetlands, pump them all dry [00:02:50].
  • Step 2: Rinse and Re-Pump: Move the pump's intake to the main pond and use the spray nozzle to blast the organic matter back out of the wetland filter. The goal is to send the muck back down into the snorkel, where the pump can then re-pump it out and over the wall [00:02:57].
  • Step 3: Repeat: Repeat the process (pumping out, then rinsing/re-pumping) two to three times until the wetland is visibly clean [00:03:12].
  • Environmental Tip: Keep the nutrient-rich water on site to water and fertilize the surrounding plants, which encourages deeper root systems and reduces irrigation demand [00:09:10].
  • Ecosystem Care: When cleaning, be careful not to completely destroy the organic layer, as it is a "living, breathing ecosystem" that is home to beneficial life like dragonfly nymphs, which eat mosquitoes [00:04:29].

Video Details: