It doesn’t matter if you have a fish pond, one with duck, or just one alone, they all get gunky over time. As a result, you need to make sure that it is clean and fresh at all times – even if you don’t have anything living in there. After all, there is little worse than a dirty, smelly, pond.
What you need is a pond vacuum, and this works by removing all of the water, debris, and grime from your pond in a quick and effective manner. In the end, you are left with a sparkling pond, and you can often filter the old water and put it back in, so it is just like new.
Anyone who has a pond needs one of these in their shed or should hire one, at least once a year to ensure everything is in perfect working order.
Of course, picking the right pond vacuums cleaner is not necessarily easy, but we are here to give you a hand with things.
In order to help you find the best pond vacuum, we have put this guide together, compiling all of the relevant pond vacuum reviews in one place, so that you can get your pond back into the condition it should be in.
How to Use a Pond Vacuum
When you buy pond vacuums, the instructions for use will vary between models and makes, so it is important that you read the instructions before you operate it. However, in this section, we take you through the basics of how to use a pond vacuum.
Step One: place the vacuum around six feet from the edge of the pond, and then place the discharge hose on an area of lawn where you want the water to go.
Step Two: attach the appropriate nozzle to the main hose and turn the machine on.
Step Three: stand on the bank of the pond and lower the hose into the water, holding it below your waist for the best results. Do not touch the water or get the main body of the vacuum wet.
Step Four: Use slow and even movements to clean the pond, while also switching nozzle according to the task at hand until everything is clean. When the machine is full, allow it to empty and then start again, repeating as necessary.
Pond Vacuum Hire
If you don’t want to buy your own pond vacuums, or you would rather test one out first, you can always hire one instead. The prices for hire do vary between locations, but you will often find that the rates are very reasonable.
Most tool stores and hires will have them available, and you may even find that your local garden centre has some as well. Generally speaking, you can hire the pond vacuum cleaner for the day, although there are some places that may allow you to borrow it for longer with an additional fee.
How to Make a DIY Pond Vacuum
If you really fancy trying your DIY skills out, there is always the option to make your own pond vacuum. You will need to make sure you are careful with both the building and operation of your newly made vacuum, but we have gathered some video tutorials that might be able to give you a good idea of how to make your own.
Best Pond Vacuum Cleaner
1. Oase Pontec Pondomatic Pond Vacuum Cleaner
Our Pick For Best Pond Vacuums
Oase is an excellent brand to go for, and one that produces a whole range of pond vacuums for you to choose from.
This model is one of the best on the market, and certainly, one to consider for clearing ou your pond. Take a moment to read the reviews below and see what you think.
The Good
This pond vacuum has a good, compact, build that allows for easy transportation from your shed to your pond.
The handle on top is easy to grasp and hold, making carrying it a more comfortable experience.
It will remove dirt, debris, and algae from your pond in a quick and efficient manner, but also ensures that the gravel is not collected due to the 10mm diameter of the hose.
The 30L tank offers a massive capacity, and it works excellently by filling and draining in a timed cycle to save you the extra work and effort.
The tank also features a sludge draining system using the specially designed nozzle to get it all out and into a container via the connecting hose. It’s a powerful machine that also comes with a brilliant 4m suction hose, 2m discharge hose, and 3 nozzles.
The Not So Good
Some customers have noted that the pond water drained will be lost unless you have your own filtration set up to save it so that it can be put back into the pond.
Our View
This pond vacuum comes at quite a reasonable price and is an excellent option to go for when you need something that will really work hard to get every inch of gunk and sludge out of your pond.
While it doesn’t save your pond water for reusing later, you can set up your own filtration system to salvage it. Plus, it comes with fantastic nozzles and hoses included, allowing you enough space and energy to get everything tidy.
Also Read: Best Garden Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
2. Oase Pondovac Start Pond Vacuum Cleaner
Our Pick For Best Budget Pond Vacuum Cleaner
Often, it is good to find something that is good value for money, especially when it comes to big tasks like cleaning out your pond and getting it back into good condition.
Another model from Oase, this one promises good quality and plenty of value, so make sure you take a look at the reviews.
The Good
This pond vacuums is the perfect size for any job, and it comes with an excellent and sturdy handle to ensure that transportation is quick and easy so that you can get started.
Plus, it is compact and a good weight so that it won’t cause too much strain. This model is also ideal for collecting sludge from your pond, and it will provide plenty of power to do the job thanks to the 1400w motor.
It is completely automatic, with a 30L capacity that will automatically empty when it is full, allowing for a constant flow to ensure your pond is emptied without interruptions.
The suction hose is an excellent 4m in length, and the discharge hose measures in at 2m. Additionally, there are a number of different heads that can be changed according to your needs when cleaning the pond out
The Not So Good
Some customers found that the instructions were a little difficult to understand.
Our View
This pond vacuums comes at a very reasonable price, so it fits into a good number of budgets quite comfortably. While there are some who found the instructions a little difficult and fiddly, once you get the hang of things it gets a lot easier, and you will have no problem operating it.
With a fantastic capacity, it has more than enough space to clear your pond out, as well as some great accessories and brilliant hose length.
Also Read: Best Commercial Vacuum Cleaner Reviews
3. Oypla Heavy Duty 1400Watt 30 Litre Garden Pond Vacuum Cleaner
Our Pick For Best Pond Vacuum for Sludge
Sludge is the bane of every pond, and it is the thing we dread when clearing it out. It can be hard to get rid of, and suck up, which is why you need a pond cleaner that is ready to take the task on.
This model from Oypla is fast, effective, and ready to go, so read below and see if it takes your fancy.
The Good
This pond vacuum cleaner sports a powerful 1400w motor that is sure to clear everything out in no time at all.
It is compact and portable for easy transportation between locations and even features a moulded handle to make it a more comfortable experience.
The tank has a 30L capacity as well, including a system that automatically discharges the waste when it is full for your convenience. There is also a debris bag included, and this filters out all the grime so that you can put the water back in afterwards and enjoy a beautifully clean pond.
Fully automatic, it makes light work of any sludge that has been compacted in your pond, and also comes with three different nozzles for a really deep and thorough clean. It really does have everything you need to get started included.
The Not So Good
Some customers feel that it could have been more powerful.
Our View
These pond vacuums come at an incredibly good and affordable price, which means it fits into most budgets quite comfortably.
While there are some who feel that it could be more powerful, it still remains a very good and reliable machine that will remove sludge from your pond and even ensure that the water can be saved and reused when you are done.
It comes with an excellent range of accessories, as well as a fantastic hose length that will really help you out.
Further Models of Pond Vacuum
Here are some further models of pond vacuum, just in case the ones above do not quite meet your requirements.
4. Oase Pondovac 4
This pond vacuum has a surprisingly compact build and design, with two wheels on the back to make transport smooth and easy – as well as ensuring that you don’t have to carry it around.
With a two-chamber system, this pond vacuum doesn’t have to stop as it fills and empties simultaneously so that you can clear the pond out quickly and effectively.
The universal nozzle is also fully adjustable, so you get all of the pond gunk without sucking up and of the gravel.
The motor is strong for 2.4m of depth, and there is a 5m suction hose alongside the 2.5m discharge hose. Considering everything it comes with; the price is pretty reasonable as well.
To Conclude
Hopefully, this guide has helped you to find the best pond vacuum, and the pond vacuum reviews have allowed you to make a good choice with regards to which one is going to make cleaning out your pond a much easier task.
It is so important to maintain your pond on a regular basis, and that is why we have gathered up some of the best models on the market, each of which come from brands that are both trusted and reliable.
Whether you are in search of something that can get rid of all the little debris without taking the gravel, or you just want to get rid of all the sludge that has built up over the years, there is a pond vacuum cleaner here that will perfectly suit your needs.
What did you think of our pond vacuum guide? Are there any that you would have liked to see or recommended? We love hearing from you, so make sure to leave us a message in the comments below.
Last Updated on February 3, 2022 by Gemma Tyler
