**PIP added** Do any of you have a small decorative pond?

[mrs.jacinthe]

Our rental had one. It got nasty if the pump was turned off. I'd definitely turn the pump on. Also, look into some koi or other pond fish, they'll help keep the bugs and algae down, too. Do you have a local pond store? They have great advice.

[Deleted]

We have a couple with one in our negighborhood, and someone with some local ecological group came out when she had frogs and I think she told them NOT to run the pump during tadpole season. She said the tadpoles would take care of any mosquito larvae. But all of this is second-hand and I could be remembering wrong. I think lots of frog species are in trouble, so I might try to find someone in the area to figure out what sort it is and how to best manage the situation (through safe eviction at the right time of year to get rid of the pond or through managing it in a way that is safe and helpful for the frogs). Maybe an extension office could point you in the right direction?

[ssmjlm]

We had one with our old house. The pump was a necessity. Although the previous owners didn't bother to tell us that and when we moved in, a friend thankfully realized that there was a pump, but it wasn't working. The pond was 100x better with moving water, otherwise it was gross.

Unfortunately one day the pond met it's fate and we awoke to it basically exploding in the middle, forcing the fish into one corner. We traded the fish into a local store and filled in the hole.

[marshmallowmars]

Our first house came with a koi pond. The pump broke after the first few weeks so we just decided to fill it in and move on. We sold the fish on craigslist, scooped out all the water and fabric and filled it in. We also sold the rocks on craigslist.

[kaylie]

My MIL has one. It has a pump (that I think looks like a little waterfall) and a few koi fish. She really doesn't do anything except keep it running and there's no algae. I would try running the pump to see if that clears it.

[My]

We have one that came with our home and we absolutely love it. The previous owners didn't take care of it at all....it was slimy, green, and full of frogs. We drained the pond, pressure-washed the rocks/lining, and the took the frogs to a nearby stream. I do not want any frogs in our pond because it is located underneath our master bedroom window, and they get crazy loud around here, so we pour bleach in the pond about once a week. The bleach is by far the best product I have found to keep the slimy green crap away, as well as a great frog repellent. And it is cheap! The bleach also keeps all the bugs away, so we don't have to treat the pond for that. We have a pump and a fountain....so keeping the water moving also helps with the algae. Oh and I am sure bleach isn't the best option, as I am sure it eat away slowly at the lining, but hey, it is a great way to knock out all of our problems at once.

[treedimensional]

Apr 10, 2013 12:57:47 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

Barley straw in a vented plastic ball. Float it in the pond, it will prevent new algae. And a few cheap goldfish from Walmart will eat the existing algae as well.

:Y: