Treat organic buildup and sludge in ponds, koi ponds, fountains, birdbaths and backyard water gardens. This guide is for the small bottle, dosed by tablet count.
Remove leaves and uneaten feed to limit new buildup.
Routine: 14 days. Heavy: 7.
Check conditions before deciding a dose is due.
Count → Spread → Let sink → Record
Have the dose table, a net and a phone or notebook ready. Remove reachable leaves and debris from a stable position. Check water temperature if possible.
1
Count the required tablets
Use 1 tablet per 25 US gallons. Find your water volume in the dose table, count the tablets and close the bottle. Spread the dose across the water being treated; do not pile it in one corner.
2
Spread, do not pile
Distribute the checked dose at several points from safe, stable bank positions rather than in one pile. The picture shows the action, not a tablet-count recommendation.
3
Let the tablets sink
Let the tablets sink naturally. Do not premix them in water, bury them or enter the pond to place them; continue normal pond care afterward.
4
Record and plan your check
Record the date and tablet count, and plan a check in 7 days. Before the next dose, use the schedule below to review conditions and count from your last actual application.
Follow-up: check before you apply
Routine care: every 14 days. Maintain an improved pond bottom and manage new organic deposits. Intensive care: every 7 days. Address existing accumulated organic debris; not every type of bottom sediment calls for intensive treatment.
Review buildup and water conditions first, then keep or change the plan. Count from the last actual application; never stack doses to catch up. This calendar starts at Day 1 and assumes no change of plan.
Example treatment calendar: review buildup before each planned dose
When
Routine care
Heavy buildup
Day 1
Prepare, then make the first application
Prepare, then make the first application
Day 8
Check and record; no routine dose
Check; apply only if still following this plan and due
Day 15
Check; apply only if still following this plan and due
Check; apply only if still following this plan and due
Day 22
Check and record; no routine dose
Check; apply only if still following this plan and due
Day 29
Check that care is still needed; apply only if due
Choose the next interval first; apply only if due
Day 29 is a review point, not a mandatory dose or completion deadline. For example, after dosing on Day 22, switching to a 14-day interval on Day 29 puts the next possible dose on Day 36, subject to another check.
Pond care between applications
Use the stated dose and schedule whether or not you have a dedicated aerator. Aeration is recommended for best results.
Without an aerator
Remove reachable leaves and dead plant debris, and clear away uneaten feed. Keep part of the water surface free of floating plant mats and debris. Do not stir up the pond bottom or add extra product to make up for having no aerator.
If you have a fountain or pump
Keep existing fountains, waterfalls, circulation and filtration running as their instructions recommend. If you later add or restart an aerator, follow its startup instructions.
Review the same spots every 7 days
From the bank, compare debris and odor at 2 fixed spots and note how any fish are behaving. If you cannot see the bottom, record that. Check conditions and the time since your last application before dosing again.
How many tablets do I use?
Small-bottle dose per application
Water volume (US gallons)
Tablets per application
250
10 tablets
1,000
40 tablets
2,000
80 tablets
4,000
160 tablets
The dose is 1 tablet per 25 US gallons. For a rectangular pond, estimate US gallons as length × width × average depth × 7.5, with all measurements in feet. Use the water volume of the area being treated, not the bottle size.
Routine care: every 14 days. Heavy buildup: every 7 days. These are application intervals; use the table for the amount at each application.
If something is wrong, what next?
Check the pond’s condition before applying again.
Check water temperature
Best results when the water is above 50°F (10°C).
Recent use of other pond treatments
After using an algaecide, disinfectant or fish medication, check both sets of instructions for compatibility and spacing. If unsure, send us the product name and application date. Do not mix different treatments together. Check any UV settings against the relevant product and equipment instructions too.
Gasping fish or abnormal water conditions
Pause further applications, check the water, aeration and circulation, and promptly contact a pond-care professional. Muck treatment is for organic buildup; it does not replace emergency oxygen support, water-quality assessment or treatment of fish illness.
Still unsure after checking?
After checking dose, water temperature and incoming debris, send us photos and your application record if you still cannot judge the next step. Do not experiment with repeated extra doses.
Suitable use, storage and after-use care
Use the dose directions for this package size and the water area being treated.
Suitable use
For organic buildup and sludge in ponds, koi ponds, fountains, birdbaths and backyard water gardens. Match the tablet count to the water volume using the dose table above.
Storage
Keep in the original, closed packaging in a cool, dry place. Protect unused product from moisture and follow any additional storage directions on the label.
After use
Close the package after measuring. Collect accidental spills without raising dust and follow the label and local requirements for disposal of unused product and packaging.
Take care during use
Apply from safe, stable positions on the bank; do not enter the water or wade into sediment to place tablets. Avoid breathing dust or getting the product in your eyes, and wash hands after handling. Keep the original package closed and out of children’s reach.
First aid
First steps after accidental contact with this product. Keep the product label available.
In the U.S.: call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for exposure advice. If someone collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or cannot be awakened, call 911 immediately. Do not wait for an email reply.
Skin contact
Ordinary skin contact generally needs no special treatment. Wash the area clean with water.
Eye contact
Immediately rinse with plenty of room-temperature water for 15–20 minutes. Remove contact lenses if easy to do. Seek medical attention.
If inhaled
Move to fresh air. If coughing, irritation or other symptoms persist, seek medical advice. For trouble breathing, call 911 immediately.
If swallowed
Do not induce vomiting. Contact Poison Control or a medical professional immediately. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Need help deciding the next step?
Tell us the pond or treatment-area details, the last application date and amount, and what you have observed. Include photos if available and mention any recent pond treatments.
