We just bought a house with a 50'X75'X 6ft deep pond. I'm observing it as spring is now here and I see large tadpoles, frogs, and other insects in and on the water's surface. For a few weeks we had a male and female duck living here. The water is clear along the edge for about 3 or 4 feet and then there is no visibility. I'd like to know what I need to do to make the pond safe for swimming and just bring it to a healthy state; it was negelected by it's previous owner (although he did try to make a "beach" at one point, but now all that sand has slid into the pond and made it shallow around one edge). I am looking into a solar-powered aerator, but what should the PH be at, and what constitues a generally healthy pond? I've read Tim Matson's Earth Ponds Sourcebook as a start, but I think I need some direction! Thanks!
