We have blooms (and still have scum!)

[mmerry]

I don't know really what they are....  (I -still- need to learn more about plants) but we have some pretty flowers!  We also still have black scum on our waterfall rocks... it's so sad.  The water seems to be pretty clear lately.  Also pictured is one of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels who thinks I planted the maiden grass for him to eat

[cindy]

bubbles on the water means you have DOC (dissolved organic compounds) which means you probably need a water change. If you have fish, should be doing about 10% weekly.

Don't let the furbaby eat any algae, guaranteed poopies.

You can turn the waterfall off, pour some peroxide on it and scrub 

[mmerry]

bubbles on the water means you have DOC (dissolved organic compounds) which means you probably need a water change. If you have fish, should be doing about 10% weekly.

Wow - what a helpful hint   I always thought that there was just too much motion in our water.  Do we need to try to be "cleaning" the bottom like you do a fish tank, or will water just help?

Thanks!

[KatFish]

BTW, your plants appear to be iris.

[Pondering]

Those are really pretty flowers!    Only my yellow iris's have bloomed so far, along with 1 white lily.  That blue/purple iris with yellow would look really nice next to my yellow ones.

My dog likes to eat the Pickerel, except she pulls it out drags it across the lawn and gnaws on it. 

[Julles]

Very pretty, Merry.  And don't worry about the waterfall scum; it's a part of nature.

And, yes, you should be removing mulm or other gunk accumulating on the pond's bottom.  You can usually net it out.  A little left in won't hurt, so just get what you can. 

I do a partial water change every Sunday (learned about it here on AP).  I let the water drain out via the hose coming from the pump, while I do other maintenance tasks.  Then when it's 10%-25% down, I start refilling, and don't even worry about chlorinated water from the city's system, since it's such a small amount.