There is a small retention pond behind my house. I have never had a pond before so I know nothing about taking care of them. The pond is pretty new--about 2 years old. The water is pretty stagnant and there is duckweed (I think that is what it is) growing in a scattered pattern on it. It has a drain that goes into a creek behind it. How can I keep the water from being stagnant and get it looking as pretty as others in the area? The others in the area aren't being taken care of by anyone but they look great. Here are ideas/suggestions I've gathered:
1. Install a pump/fountain to get the water flowing.
2. Plug up the drain.
3. Put some kind of fish in it.
4. Go to some of the nearby ponds that look good. Dig up a bucket full of the soil in the bottom of it. Dump it into my pond. The idea here, I believe, is that microbes in the pond are what makes the other one look good. This way, I would be introducing them to mine.

Let me know if any of these will work or if there is something better. Please keep it simple and low maintenance!

Do some measurements of the pond's size, shape, and depth. How far from power are you? Find an aquatic plant ID book and see what if any you have yet. This may be the difference between your pond and other established ones nearby. See what you have before you start adding anything else. the soil from other ponds will probably have seeds or spores in it. How is your water clarity. What are your goals for the pond.
Robert B