R. B.'s Pond Vac

Click on the smaller pictures to see larger ones with instructions!

For the last several years, I have been searching for a way to vacuum the bottom of the pond.  First, I learned about utilizing a Shop Vac. That worked pretty good especially after I drilled a hole in the handle to cover with my thumb when I wanted more suction.  In this fashion, I had some control over how much water was taken in by the vacuum but not total control.  I even invested in one of the Shop Vac's with the built in hole in the handle,  pump, and water hose connection which would allow me to pump the water out of the vacuum and back into a container full of filter material and then back into the pond.  This certainly was much better for my back than having to carry a 5 gallon container of pond water over to the flower bed and pour it out.  But still I was faced with the same problem.  Too much water was removed and not enough of the gunk from the bottom of the pond.  I have tried several home made devices and they just didn't turn out until now!  

Today I got some pictures as I tested my new Pond Vac and it worked really well.  If you have a pump (I recommend the Supreme Mag Drive Pumps) for your pond, a water hose, a bucket and a little ingenuity, you can build one too!               

Before           After

Supplies Needed:

• six       90 degree elbows 3/4" pvc

• one     3/4" T's with 3/4" threads in T  

• 6'        3/4" pvc pipe

• one     1" T              

•  6"       1. 5" pvc pipe

• two     1. 5" connectors

• two     1. 5" x 3/4" FPT bushings

• two      small pieces of egg crate material      

• three    adaptors male 3/4" threaded pvc

• two     3/4" T's

• one      bag of quilt batting or filter floss

• two     3/4" x 1/2" male threaded tubing connectors    

• 6'        of 1/2 " ID tubing *

• 10'      of 1" pvc pipe*                                                                                                                                                        

*depending on how large of pond you have!

These are the lengths I use for my pond which is 11. 5' x 17. 5'

     Finished  Pond  Vac.

Phase I:  Head Assembly

     Click on the picture for directions and a closer picture of the head assembly.                             

Phase II: Intake Filter Assembly

   The intake side of the pump requires filtering so that the pump isn't damaged by any debris that would go through it.  Only tiny particles will be making their way through the intake filter.          

Phase III:  Output Filter

   The output side of the pump is connected  to a 3/4" male threaded pvc adaptor, 3/4" pvc pipe is inserted which is long enough to bring it above the water line of the pond.  Top this with a 3/4" female treaded 90 degree elbow.

The trick to getting this to start working is getting all the air out of the line.  I have found that it is best to put the vac head with the handle and tubing attached in the pond. Shake the vac head a little with the handle.  You should see some air bubbles come out. Place the pump with the intake filter assembly attached into the pond.  Connect the other end of the tubing to the intake filter assembly under water working the air out of the tubing before you connect it.  Note that the pump doesn't have to be seated on the bottom of the pond for this process and the 3/4" pvc pipe makes a good handle to hold the pump and put it into position after the tubing is attached.

Plug it in!  There you go!   Watch the output filter for flow.  If you don't get water coming into the bucket right away, you didn't get all the air out of the tubing.  Repeat the above process.  Keep an eye on the flow and when it slows down considerably, disconnect the pump and bring the vac head out of the water.  Check the slit in the pipe for debris.  You can easily take the whole vac head apart to check for debris as well.  Also, disconnect the intake filter assembly by removing the connector closest to the tubing and then unscrew the filter assembly from the pump.  In this photo you can see what I caught in about 10 minutes of vacuuming.  Just wash out the filter assembly from the small threaded end.

I know this sounds complicated but it really isn't.  It is just hard to describe and all the pipe and fitting sizes and names are confusing.  I know what I want when I go to the store but I don't have a clue as to the names of them.  If I have used the wrong terms for some of the parts, please excuse my ignorance.

If you need further details, email me:     

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since  11/14/99

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