The plants help filter the water naturally. The more plants you have, the less algae you will have. In fact, if you have the right balance, few fish and lots of plants, you really don't need to have a filter. Most of Wake's pond is filled with plants such as water hyacinths, dwarf water lilies, sedges and pickerel rush. He does, however, spend an hour a week skimming algae and moss out of it.
Water gardening can offer educational opportunities for young gardeners.
Eureka High School junior Burleigh Wilson built a pond in his backyard as a project for his agricultural science class. I had been thinking about building a pond in my backyard for a couple of months, and then we had this old diseased apple tree that had to come out. Wilson said his pond is approximately 10 by 15 feet. After hand digging the hole, he lined it with a heavy duty rubber liner designed to last 25 years. Wilson then blanketed the bottom and sides of the pond with smooth river stones purchased from a landscape materials supplier.