How often should my pond be cleaned?

Most ponds benefit from a professional clean once or twice a year — typically in spring and autumn. Koi or heavily stocked ponds may need quarterly service to maintain filtration and water quality.

Do you remove the fish during cleaning?

Yes. We use oxygenated holding tanks to safely house fish and amphibians while we clean or drain the pond. All wildlife — including newts and frogspawn — is handled carefully and returned once the pond is refilled.

Can you work on large ponds or small lakes?

Absolutely. We have heavy-duty Oase vacuums, pumps, and large holding tanks for big ponds and lakes. We regularly service estate ponds, ornamental lakes, and rewilded water bodies across Devon and Cornwall.

What’s included in your pond maintenance service?

Our service covers debris removal, silt extraction, filter and pump checks, water quality testing, and native plant care. We can also advise on long-term improvements like filtration upgrades or wildlife planting.

Are your cleaning methods wildlife-friendly?

Yes. We avoid harmful chemicals and use tap-safe conditioners and rainwater where possible. Our methods protect sensitive species and encourage a self-balancing ecosystem.

Do you offer regular maintenance plans?

Yes. We provide flexible monthly, quarterly, and annual plans for homeowners, estates, and community sites. Regular care keeps ponds healthy, clear, and cost-efficient all year round.

Which areas do you cover?

We’re based on Dartmoor in West Devon and cover Exeter, Newton Abbot, Torbay, Plymouth, Tavistock, Okehampton, Bodmin, Truro, and surrounding areas.

Professional pond servicing across Devon and Cornwall

From checking and replacing pumps, filters and UV clarifiers to carrying out complete pond drain-downs, we provide practical maintenance and repair services for established garden ponds.

Equipment checks, repairs and minor maintenance from £450.
Full pond drain-down and cleaning services from £600.

Submit a Pond Maintenance Enquiry

Pond equipment checks and minor repairs

A pond does not always need a complete clean-out. Poor water clarity, low flow, recurring algae or an unreliable waterfall may simply be caused by ageing, incorrectly sized or poorly maintained equipment.

We can inspect your existing system, identify likely faults and recommend sensible improvements.

This service may include:

Pump, filter and UV clarifier inspection
Flow-rate and circulation checks
Cleaning blocked pumps, filters and pipework
Identifying worn, damaged or incorrectly sized equipment
Replacing pumps, UV units, filter components or pipework
Minor leak investigation and repairs
Water-quality testing where relevant
Advice on practical upgrades and ongoing maintenance

Equipment inspections, minor repairs and maintenance visits start from £450, including VAT.

Replacement equipment, materials and any additional labour are quoted separately before work proceeds.

Enquire About Equipment Repairs

Full pond drain-down and cleaning

For heavily silted, neglected or overgrown garden ponds, the most effective option may be a complete drain-down.

Our full clean-out service can include:

Temporarily holding fish where required
Pumping down the pond
Removing accumulated silt and organic debris
Cutting back or dividing excessive aquatic plants
Cleaning pumps, filters and accessible pipework
Inspecting the liner and visible pond structure
Refilling and recommissioning the system
Reintroducing fish once conditions are suitable

Small pond drain-down and cleaning services start from £600, including VAT.

The final cost depends on the pond’s size, depth, access, fish stock, volume of silt, plant growth and whether waste can remain on site.

Request a Drain-Down Estimate

Sasaquatics pond maintenance team cleaning pond in Cornwall

Can the removed silt remain on my property?

Where possible, it is best for removed pond silt and vegetation to remain on the property, close to the pond but positioned where it cannot wash back into the water.

Pond silt can often be spread thinly beneath hedges, around established trees or in suitable garden areas. It may need to drain beside the pond before it can be moved.

If material must be removed from site, additional labour, transport and disposal costs will apply.

Common problems we can investigate

You may benefit from a maintenance assessment if you are experiencing:

Reduced waterfall or filter flow
Green or cloudy water
A UV clarifier that is no longer effective
Pumps repeatedly blocking or switching off
Excessive sludge or unpleasant odours
Overgrown lilies or marginal plants
Damaged pipework or leaking fittings
An older filtration system that needs replacing
A pond that has not been properly maintained for several years

Pond Equipment Repairs, Replacement & Upgrades

Pond pumps, filters, UV clarifiers and aeration systems all require occasional inspection, cleaning and replacement. We can assess existing equipment, identify faults and recommend practical repairs or upgrades.

Our equipment services can include:

Complete replacement of outdated or unsuitable systems

Pump, filter and UV inspections

Fault-finding and performance checks

Replacement pumps, UV units and filter components

Pipework, valves and connection repairs

Filter cleaning and recommissioning

Aeration installation and upgrades

Larger, natural or wildlife ponds

This service is mainly intended for established domestic ponds with pumps, filters or manageable drain-down requirements.

For large ponds, lakes, heavily silted waterbodies or ponds requiring machinery, please use our dedicated pond and lake desilting enquiry form.

Wildlife ponds that do not contain mechanical filtration may be better suited to our pond restoration or habitat-enhancement service.

Large Pond & Lake Desilting
Wildlife Pond Restoration

How the enquiry process works

Complete our pond-maintenance enquiry form and provide:

Your location
Approximate pond dimensions
A description of the problem
Details of any pumps, filters or UV equipment
Information about fish
Photographs of the pond and equipment
Access and parking information
Your approximate budget

We can then advise whether the work appears suitable for a maintenance visit, equipment repair, full drain-down or a larger restoration service.

Start Your Pond Maintenance Enquiry

How much does pond maintenance cost?

Equipment inspections, minor repairs and servicing start from £450 including VAT.
Full drain-down and cleaning services start from £600 including VAT.
Larger, deeper or heavily silted ponds may require more labour, holding tanks, pumps or waste handling and will be priced accordingly.

Is replacement equipment included?

No. The starting price covers the agreed visit and associated labour. Replacement pumps, filters, UV units, pipework and other materials are additional unless specifically included in your quotation.

Do you take away pond waste?

Where possible, silt and vegetation should remain on the property. Off-site removal can be arranged where practical, but transport and disposal charges will apply.

Can you look after my pond regularly?

Ongoing maintenance may be available for suitable ponds, particularly where regular equipment servicing or seasonal visits are required.

Do you treat blanket weed?

Yes and we can investigate the underlying causes of persistent blanket weed, including circulation, filtration, nutrient levels and water chemistry. Treatment alone is rarely a permanent solution.

Not sure what your pond needs?

Send us photographs and a few details through our dedicated enquiry form. We will review the information and advise whether the most suitable next step is an equipment visit, repair, drain-down or wider pond restoration.

Pond maintenance services across Devon and Cornwall

Pond Maintenance, Equipment Repairs & Clean-Outs