Charles,
As I am sure you may know nothing you do will be a quick fix for Algae/Muck reduction. A good air setup in the deepest part of your pond is a good start. A 2 diffuser setup with a Gast or a Thomas would work good on your pond I think. 1 have a 1 acre pond and I am using a GAST 1/3 hp pump. It works great but each to his own. I too would go with the diffusers instead of the rings. I can't tell you for sure but I think the fusers have more uplift in them and move more water. I been using a bacteria product going on 4 years now. I like it and it seems to work for me. With that said some would say they don't work at all, but I think along with air running there is a place for Beneficial Bacteria products. PM if you want to know more about that.
As far as your canal area goes. Can you get a excavator down there to dig it out? That would be the quick fix for the canal. Course you have to do something with all that muck then.
Keep in mind air and bacteria products are just tools for proper pond management. They work but they do not work fast!! You will need patience.
I been running air for 5 years and using bacteria for 4 and I have to say Ive lost about 8 inches total of muck. Where I see it the most is along the shore line. Where I used to have 8 inches I now can feel the hard bottom at about 2 to 3 inches. So it does work it just takes time!
Good Luck man sounds like your on the right track!!
