I have a small (12' x 25') pond in my backyard that the previous owner did nothing to keep algae and slit problems down in. The silt has gotten so bad that the bottom is cover with well over 6-8 inches of silt. I bought a 3/4 hp pool pump to work the circulation and the waterfall. What I was wondering if anyone can give me ways to get rid of the majority of the silt so I can put down fresh gravel. I have fish in here, so draining and scooping aren't good options. Please let me know.

jdpwolf,

The quickest, most effective option would be to drain and scoop and keep your fish in containers while doing so. If that is not an option, then you might consider bacteria such as used in septic tanks. Some products are sold specifically for pond application. I have heard of some success with that, but have no first hand knowledge. Continuous aeration from the bottom can also help with the problem, but you should start that gradually and work up to 24/7 in order to not harm your fish.

You can vacuum all of the silt out of it almost like but you will have to catch all of the fish or just take a chance that they will survive,