Successful pond water quality management can be approached from two different mentalities: "motor cruiser" or "sailboat" to label these philosophies for nautical types. The former embodies "mastering" the system with large pumps, mechanical filters, perhaps ultraviolet sterilizer technology, chemical filtration, testing and addition of products to "keep the water right". On the other end of the spectrum, the sailboat  approach to pond-keeping involves passive countervailing strategies to maintenance. Perhaps shading the pond surface to an extent, a much larger non-pressurized biological filter area/volume, and the use of what is called "oxygenating grasses".

    Oxygenating grasses are a group of plant species defined by their function and utility more so than their taxonomic affinities. None are actual true grasses (family Graminae), but either as unattached or rooted, totally submersed or emergent forms, appear "grass-like" in morphology. These "grasses" provide useful functions for pondkeepers in the ways of oxygenation, use of carbon dioxide, uptake (bioaccumulation, nutrient transport) of nutrients like nitrates, phosphates that might otherwise fuel pest-algae overpopulation growth, make habitat for juvenile fishes and other beneficial life, and are decorative; beautiful in their own right.

    On the few do ...