That's what I thought you were going to say! What about an oxygenating plant to go under the water? Any good recommendations - is it necessary or not? My current pond is pretty murky right now, I can't see very far into it....I'm getting ready to clean it all out and start fresh. I also have frogs in my garden and they have already started mating.....just yesterday I counted over 100 new eggs in the pond. There are also still a few tadpoles left from last Spring. Ugh, I did not want the frogs to start mating again until I changed the water and put new plants in! Right now all I have in there is 4 leaf clover plants and they are almost gone....very straggly and falling apart. This pond has not received any care at all, but has supported frog eggs and numerous tadpoles for the last year. There are a couple of snails but thats it. I know there just has to be a lot of sludge at the bottom, and I can't imagine these new eggs surviving with the pond in this state. I plan to take them out and put them back in after I've cleaned it out and added the new water lily, just hoping they'll make it! I appreciate any suggestions anyone can give me to keep a low maintenance pond of this size. I want it to be like a natural ecosystem, which it has been, but I want it to be healthier with clearer water and to be able to achieve this in the most natural, low maintenance way possible (and with as few products as possible). Thanks for your advice!