Xref: kermit rec.ponds:120809

I have a small pond and with a separate barrel pond that flows into it (then
gets pumped back into the barrel). Anyways, I don't have any fish in the
barrel, just plants. In the main pond I have some gold fish, tadpoles and
snails. Today I noticed something in the barrel. It (or they) is skinny
and about 3/8" or 1/2" long and appears to almost jump through the water,
very fast. Does this sounds like mosquito larvae? I know someone posted
some pictures on here recently that another identified as larvae, but I
couldn't find that post again.

Whether or not they are larvae, should I have at least a couple fish in the
barrel too?

Thanks, Scott

P.S. I started my pond about 6 weeks ago or so. A couple weeks later, my
water got real green and murky with algae! I kept putting the plants in as
I had planned and about 2 weeks later my water went from not being able to
see through at all to crystal clear! Like everyone says, PATIENCE! But it
is hard!