Hi Kate,
welcome to rec.ponds!
Before you do anything get ahold of this book:

EARTH PONDS SOURCEBOOK
The pond owner's manual and resource guide
by Tim Matson

Read it and it will answer a lot of your questions.
You can also contact your local county extension office.

It is beautiful and with proper management it will stay
that way.


kathy :-)
algae primer
http://hometown.aol.com/ka30p/myhomepage/garden.html