Power Down

• Turn off the pumps, fountains and any circulation equipment going to the pond.
  
  

Find Your Fish Temporary Accommodations

• Obtain a large container to give your fish a place to stay while you're cleaning the pond. If you only have one fish, a bucket will do. If you have two or more, use something larger, such as a wading pool. Siphon some of the water out of the pond into your container, filling it up halfway. Fill up the rest of the container with unchlorinated water. Use a net to catch your fish and move them to their temporary home. If you have a larger pond and a lot of fish, or anticipate that the cleaning job might take some time, put your aerator in the holding tank with the fish and switch it on.
  
  

Relocate Your Plants

• Annual cleaning is a great time to feed your pond plants.
  
  Continue to siphon the water out of the pond. As the level drops, remove any pond plants and move them to a shady spot so they don't get burned by the sun. Check for any disease or discoloration. Clean off any algae or other growth on leaves. Trim any dead or dying shoots. Fertilize the plants as necessary.
  
  

Rock Cleaning

• Take out any rocks or in-pond features that you have and set them aside. Clean them off with a strong spray from a garden hose.
  
  

Draining

• Siphon out as much of the water as possible.
  
  

Scrub Time

• Take a soft-bristled brush and clean off any algae from the liner. Do not use soap or any cleaning chemicals, as this will harm your plants and fish. Don't press too hard or you might damage the liner.
  
  

Getting the Gunk

• Using a shop vac, vacuum out the gunk at the bottom of the pond. Be sure to pick out any snails or other pond creatures. You want to keep these because they are beneficial to the pond ecosystem. Place them in the tank with your fish as you continue to clean.
  
  

Pump It Up

• Clean out the pumps and any filtration systems in place in your pond. This usually involves spraying off the charcoal filters, but your pumps and equipment may vary. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning.
  
  

Putting It All Back

• Put your pumps and filtration systems back into the pond. Return the plants to their positions as well as any rocks or other underwater features.
  
  

Water Time

• Fill the pond back up with fresh water. When finished filling, add any dechlorinators or other chemicals to restore your pond's balance.
  
  

Something Fishy

• When the water is conditioned, add your fish back to the pond. Do this by capturing your fish and putting them in a large baggie with some of the water from their holding tank. Tie the top of the baggie off and set this in the pond. This will allow the fish to gradually become acclimated to the water temperature.