Question
I recently built an 18' x 6' pond with a waterfall at one end, about 2 1/2 - 3' deep in the middle, 16" around the sides, in two sections. Fair number of plants - 8 water hyacinths clumped together, one water lilly, two water irises in containers, six total horsetail and/or cat tail in containers. The water fall spills into a 3' by 3' by 2' deep pool, all rocks no plants. There is a restricted shallow neck, about 8" deep and a 2' long, flowing into main part of the pond where all the plants live. I currently have three young goldfish (about 2-3" long, one small bass and one bluegill (both 4-5" long). I live in New Mexico, the pond is decently but not totally shaded. My question: on warmer sunny days, the algae is getting started. Not a problem yet, but I think it may get worse as the summer wears on. What do you suggest? More goldfish? Plecostomus? I currently am not feeding the goldfish and they appear to be thriving.

Answer
Your pond is in the 1000-2000 gallon range like mine.  If it gets sun, it will certainly get algae. Goldfish will just make more waste to feed more algae.  Once your bass is larger, he may eat the other small fish in which case you may want to add more.  Plecostomus will eat attached algae but not suspended algae.  Algae is controlled by having lots of plants, good filtration, good bacteria, maybe some barley straw, and more plants.  So, I suggest more plants.  I have a large section on my web site on various ways to control algae at http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/algae2.htm that may be of some help as well.  Good luck!

Robyn