The life you see in your pond is just a fraction of what you do not!

Put water in any container, add a little time and sunlight, and walaa! You will have life.

Every pond owner should own a microscope. A single gallon of mature pond water contains hundreds of microscopic creatures that are invisible to the naked eye.

There are two reasons to own a microscope. The first is simply for fun if you should find yourself in a scientific mood. The more serious reason number two is that some pond problems can only be correctly diagnosed with a microscope.

Many beneficial organisms live in your pond. Amoeba, protozoa and other fancy named creatures that eat decaying matter and waste and provide food for bigger animals, like your baby fish.

There are also harmful organisms that can inhabit your pond, and hopefully they aren't in yours. There are always predatory creatures too small to see, but they usually don't become a menace unless they gain strength in numbers. Parasites, harmful bacteria and viruses are the main culprits, and most cannot be detected until they've done some damage to your fish.

The strong argument for purchasing a microscope for diagnostic purposes is that many symptoms may appear to be one illness and yet be something entirely different. Thus, the medicine you incorrectly treat with may have no effect at all.

Microscopes also reveal a great deal of plant life that you may find very interesting.