Keeping a pond clean(ish)
I have just finished scooping up buckets full of fungus from the bottom of the pond and now have it looking reasonably good, but there must be an easier way of keeping it clean?!
I use a flat dinner plate-sized mesh thing attached to a broom stick and scoop gunk up from the bottom of the pond, as well as swishing it through the water to pick up fungus. The pond is around 40cm deep (18 inches, I suppose) and two metres by one and a half metres.
Are those things that bubble up the water effective? We have water restrictions (Australia) and it hasn't been legal (though it might be okay now) - still, do they work? Are there chemicals you can put in the water that are safe and environmentally okay? Should I load the pond up with plants?
Would appreciate your ideas.