New barrel pond

[solarpoweredsophie]

A bad small is not normal. Cloudy water and a little algae is a normal cycle start.

All other advice aside, start by fixing your potted plants. With no fish you need something to feed your plants. So I think you will need a little soil about 2-3cm but you will need to "trap" the nutrients in the pot. Trap it with sand or clay/kitty litter about 4-5cm top and bottom. The sides also if that's a mesh basket.

What is the liter per hour on the pump should have a sticker or something.

 

[GBBUDD]

Your pond smelling is a result of decay. You already know your plants are not growing where you are ripping out hand fulls every week. So the reverse is rotting and that is your smell. It's not some issue only your pond is fighting . We all get some to a degree some more some less.