Plants suck up the nutrients (fish pooh) that feed the algae. Shade
prevents the algae from thriving. To me the best way to keep the pond
clear is a veggie filter with the addition of plants in the pond that cover
the surface (water lilies, duck weed, etc.). The only reason you would not
want the entire surface covered is that you could not see your fish and if
you have oxygenator plants, they would need the sun.

"a425couple" wrote in message
...
I'm glad I found this group, I've added back to April.
Is there a FAQ I've missed seeing?
(group has lotsa info., but I'm not fully understanding much.)
I've read the charter.
I live in temparate Pacific NW.

I do not know much about this (so corrections are welcome - especially
where I have names wrong).
For years I've had and enjoyed two ponds with fish.
The fish are currently only 'goldfish' or similar/related.
They each have about the same number of fish per gallon and/or surface
area.
This year the only 'floating' plants are what I've heard called 'frog bit'
(each 'leaf' is about 1/8" long, three leaves per plant). This plant
currently is restricted to about 1/3 of each ponds surface area.
I have pumps (currently use them about 2 hours every couple of days). Top
one squirts a stream of water a couple feet and lands back in pond.
Bottom one pumps water down a 3 step cascade.
I've 'mucked' out considerable gunk from the bottom of both (but never
drained or totally cleaned).
When evaporation exceeds rain, I fill tap water (clorinated etc.) into
barrels, let sit for 24 hours, then add.

The real difference between ponds is my "Bottom pond" has a large "Water
Iris", big grass like leafs, some stems and at time yellow flowers on
stems.
This grow on a 'shelf' - takes about 1/5th of surface.

In years past, they both had the water clear up probably in late
June/July.
This year the bottom 'brown' has pretty much cleared up fairly recently.
The top pond's water still looks quite 'green'.

Is this likely "algae"?

What problems does it cause?
(Besides limiting viewing?
Is too much of it harmful to fish?)

Does running the pumps make it worse?
(by increasing oxygen in water?)
(Running pumps more & longer certainly did not seem to make it better!!??)

One person advocated, letting the 'frogbit' expand to cover 2/3 of
surface.
Does that help?
(If so, real quick and easy to do!)

I've tried some with various filter ideas, and somewhat open to more.

Thanks for your indulgance.