Keeping ponds freshwater clean. (aerators and pumps: includes a list of companies selling pond equipment)(Buyers Guide)

A Pond's Cool, Calm Surface mirrors the simple beauty of nearby flowers and shrubbery, making it a natural focal point in any garden setting. So it's not surprising that small, freshwater ponds are a popular feature in home gardens and rural landscapes.

Today's ponds have multiple uses beyond simply being pretty -- everything from irrigating a nearby garden to raising fish. Large ponds also offer recreational opportunities, including swimming in summer and ice skating in the winter.

While a pond can provide both tranquillity and natural resources, ponds that are improperly maintained can become havens for bacteria and algae, ruining natural landscapes. Therefore, it's important to know how to properly care for a pond.

A natural pond is a depression that is fed by a creek, spring or stream. Over time, topsoil erodes into the depression, making it shallower and slowing the water that moves through it. Slower, shallower water …