The pond I made is natural. I use no chemicals or colorants and I work with nature to keep the pond healthy and accessible to all life including a select few thoughtful humans!

To keep pond "scum" from forming, I use two tools. 1) a solar panel run DC pump and a regular garden hose, and nozzle makes an easy fountain that splashes the pond surface and breaks the water tension and disperses any build up. 2) I use a small Koenders windmill that sends bubbles up via a pumice stone. This helps aerate the pond. All that's left is occasional weeding.

I don't have a liner because I have clay soil but you can use EPDM rubber (environmentally friendly) if you have sand and need a liner to hold the water. Crushed marble sand is pretty neutral and makes a great beach. Keep vinyl and ocean beach sand away from fresh water ponds. Both are toxic.

The first year was pretty quiet. The next year frogs arrived, small fish appeared and dragonflies, along with all kinds of other helpful pond bugs made the pond their home. Different grasses grew around the edges and painted turtles came to play with me while I went in the pond to weed and swim.

This year a pair of mallards visited. I do kindly shoo away Canada Geese because my pond just isn't big enough. If a snapping turtle shows up, I catch them and relocate them to larger places too. They are too opportunistic and I like all my toes.

Herons vist, birds too, deer come to drink, mink dive in and out, and even a Fisher have been known to come. Each year has been different and I can hardly remember what it was like here before the pond.

Remember, a pond is a hole in the ground with water in it that naturally starts to fill in the moment it exists. Still, it's beauty and enjoyment offset the work required to keep it in healthy form and "manage" the growth.

Good post!