[Grandpaw dodge]

Thanks for your informative replies - I note the contents well, however I forgot to mention that the goldfish were merely a means to an end - they are soon to be prey food for the local herons, and if I am extremely lucky the odd little egret.
I have had ponds for years and have always enjoyed the spectacle of dozens of tiny frogs hunting in the undergrowth that is my garden, I have to say that I have not observed "ornamental" fish taking tadpoles - perhaps they do - It's just something that I have never seen.
Acording to various research the fish faeces ads to the silt and produces the natural bacteria that helps balance the pond water to an agreeable PH, but in all honesty - I aint gotta clue who is right!

This weekend I am hoping to collect some roach and rudd fry to introduce into me pond as I have kingfishers in the area and am attempting to attract them to me pond - probably be a dismal failure - the fun is in the trying AND it keeps me outa the Pub! I have seen kingfishers perched over the pond on two occasions, but that was when it had large fish in it, I have yet to place a diving perch over the pond for obvious reasons.
An Ornithologist friend tells me that when young kingfishers fledge they will at some time fly round an area looking for likely feeding pools, whereas the adults already have established feeding places and I am unlikely to attract them - so it is the young'uns that I need to "cater" for, Mmmm - I spose time will tell on that one.
The real downside is that I am still having huge problems with feral cats, but that my friends - is a completely different story.