Question
I have a 250 gallon outdoor pond which i stocked with 8 feeder goldfish ( doing great..they're growing nicely), in it i also have 3 hardy lillys a small pump and waterfall kit ..all doing well.
Also, i live in Nj so these fish are going to winter outside in some pretty cold temps. Am told they'll do fine so long as I use a pond heater to keep the pond from freezing over completely.
My question is regarding adding a couple of small common plecos to control algae that appears to be blooming in this summers heat.  Should i or shouldnt i, or what other species would you reccomend.?..thanx in advance..p.s i love your other pages on fish and have viewed your short vids.

Answer
I don't recommend plecos.  Not only will they die below 50-55 degrees F (requiring you to bring them in for the winter), they also may suck on the sides of goldfish.  You've been to my site?  Most people who post to me from here haven't heard of it.  My pond algae page (below) has ideas to deal with the algae.  I don't recommend fish to deal with attached algae in a pond.  Adding some Japanese trapdoor snails or ramshorn snails is one option that may work in your situation.  The main thing you want to do is shade the pond with plants and other things and aerate it well in this horrible heat.

Here are some pages on my site that may help:

Pond algae - http://www.fishpondinfo.com/plants/algae2.htm
Overwintering - http://www.fishpondinfo.com/winter.htm
Goldfish - http://www.fishpondinfo.com/gfish.htm
Plecos - http://www.fishpondinfo.com/pleco.htm

Good luck!
Robyn