Pond Care

API Pond & Waterfall Cleaner

PondActive oxygen

API Pond & Waterfall Cleaner uses active oxygen to clean the surfaces a pond brush struggles with — the slick on waterfall rocks, the film in a fountain bowl, the grime in a bird bath. It works on contact, is safe for all fish and aquatic plants, and signals its own progress: treated debris turns white when the job is done, ready to be lifted out with a net. Dose 10 ml (two teaspoons) per 378 litres for a pond, keeping pumps and aeration running, and wait 24 hours before repeating. For waterfalls and fountains the pump goes off for 15 minutes so the powder can sit on the wet debris. The tub holds 1 kg.

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Live pricing and stock on jungleaquatics.com — purchase through Jungle Aquatics, with delivery across South Africa.

Dosage calculator

Enter your pond volume and the calculator works out how much API Pond & Waterfall Cleaner to use for each rate on the pack.

Pond volume

Measured in

Use length × width × average depth in metres × 1 000 = litres.

Pond dose10 ml per 378 litres
Enter a volumeSprinkle evenly with pumps running; repeat after 24 hours if needed

For waterfalls, fountains and bird baths, apply directly to the wet debris with the pump off instead.

A guide only — always follow the dosing instructions printed on the pack, and measure with the bottle's cap or a syringe rather than by eye.

Technical details

Product type	Active-oxygen cleaning powder
Pack size	1 kg
Pond dose	10 ml (2 teaspoons) per 378 litres, sprinkled evenly
Waterfalls and fountains	Pump off, apply to wet debris, wait 15 minutes
Bird baths	Sprinkle in, wait 15 minutes, rinse and refill
Repeat	After 24 hours if needed
Safe with	All fish and aquatic plants
Made by	Mars Fishcare, USA

Keep pumps and aeration running during a pond treatment, and rinse the powder off plant leaves if any lands on them.

How do I clean a waterfall without emptying the pond?

Switch the pump off so the water stops running over the rocks, and sprinkle the powder directly onto the wet debris — it needs contact with moisture to react, and a dry surface does nothing. Wait 15 minutes, then switch the pump back on; the loosened film washes down and can be netted out of the pond. For the pond itself, keep pumps and aeration running and sprinkle 10 ml per 378 litres evenly over the surface, then net out the debris once it turns white and wait 24 hours before any repeat. If powder lands on plant leaves, rinse it off straight away.

Active oxygen, not a scrubbing brush

The powder releases oxygen on contact with wet surfaces, lifting the organic film off rocks, liners, waterfall courses and fountain bowls. It reaches into the crevices a brush cannot, and it does the work while the pond stays stocked.

Debris turns white when it is done

There is no guessing whether the treatment has worked: surface debris goes white as the reaction completes. Net it out at that point rather than leaving it to sink and decay, and the pond is genuinely cleaner rather than just stirred up.

Different method for each surface

In a pond, keep pumps and aeration running and sprinkle the powder evenly at 10 ml per 378 litres, then wait 24 hours before repeating. For waterfalls and fountains, switch the pump off so the powder can contact the wet debris and wait 15 minutes before switching it back on. For a bird bath, sprinkle it into the water, wait 15 minutes, then rinse and refill. Wash it off any plant leaves it lands on immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to remove my fish before using it?

No. API states it is safe for all fish and aquatic plants when used as directed; keep pumps and aeration running during a pond treatment.

How do I know when the treatment is finished?

Surface debris turns white. Remove it with a net at that point.

Can I use it in a bird bath?

Yes. Sprinkle it directly into the water, wait 15 minutes, then rinse the bath and refill it.

How soon can I repeat the treatment?

Wait 24 hours before treating a pond again; waterfalls and fountains can be re-treated as needed.

Is API Pond & Waterfall Cleaner available in South Africa?

Yes — the 1 kg tub is available from Jungle Aquatics in Fourways, Johannesburg, with delivery nationwide; live pricing and stock are on jungleaquatics.com.

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South Africa's leading pet and aquarium store since 2007 — with the API range on the floor in Fourways, advice from people who test water every day, and easy ordering from anywhere in the country.

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