[RichardA]

Does anyone have an effective way of cleaning pond filter foam pads please. It seems to take an age to do mine. I understand that over cleaning is not recommended but mine catch a lot of sludge as pond is a big one and over looked by pine and other trees so particles of lots of leaves/needles and other gunk gets trapped on pads.

[ANHBUC]

Would it survive a jet wash?  Just hold it down with a brick so there is a small area that still has all the right bugs etc. in it.

[spottymint]

Would it survive a jet wash?  Just hold it down with a brick so there is a small area that still has all the right bugs etc. in it.

Not a good idea.

Jet wash if attached to the mains would contain chlorine, which would kill all the beneficial bacteria in the filter, which is used to breakdown the toxic fish waste.

If you left one or two filters unwashed, maybe that would be ok.

Water from a water butt should be fine, if power washer can attach.

Another option, a bucket of water from the pond, massage the sponges in the bucket, changing the water regually & then top the pond up with dechlorinated water.

Dirty job though. 

Clean filter & water change in one., & old water on the flowers, means garden watered too.