Lindyip, I build a lot of koi ponds and I will share with you what I have learned over the last twenty years. First with your concern about Herons. Keeping the fish safe from heron is something that can't be guaranteed. But with the right design the risk can be cut down. A deep drop from the edge of the pond is the first step. It has to be at least 2 ft down to the first flat area. Deeper is better and I prefer at least 3 ft. But this is just the first step. The next thing that needs to be addressed is the pond edging. The last thing you want around the pond is flat surfaces that the heron can stand on. The heron will just stand on the edge and wait for fish to come by. I prefer to use round rocks that start in the water 8 to 10" under the water and protrude out of the water and over the edge. I have built koi ponds less then a mile from heron rookeries with no problems. My own koi pond I know gets visited by heron but I have never lost a fish in it to a heron yet my smaller garden pond a 100 ft away the heron get the fish all the time. The koi pond has been there for the 19 years. Next I would suggest a bare liner with at least two bottom drains. The last thing you want to have to do is to empty the pond to clean it. Not because of the work involved but because it will destroy the bacteria that it take a very long time to grow. As far as a UV light it will depend on how patience you are. For the first few years you will have problems with green water and string algae but after about four years the pond will take care of itself as far as algae goes. That is how long it takes to grow the bacteria that will take care of the algae. But those first few years the pond can be out of control. Mike

With reference to the new home, you need to use a product called BIN Pigminted Shellac. It's sort of expensive, but well worth the cost. During application it smells like a bottle of rubbing alchol was spilled, and it is advisable to wear a respirator while applying. Because it's a shellac (white) it's a permanant seal for the nicotine (brown color) as well as the odors. It is suitable for use on both the walls and the floor underlayment. DO NOT use a water-based product REGARDLESS of what the salesman tells you. I spent 9 years running a Sherwin Williams paint store, and know what I'm talking about. Waterbased primers that advertise as odor blocker/nicotine blockers require at minimum 2 coats, but offer no guarantee against bleeding from the nicotine, and very little odor blockage. Secondly, although the tempation is to use 'cheap' rollers, DON'T. The alcohol in the BIN will dissolve it shortly (the glue) leaving a terrible mess. Use rollers in the $5-7 range. The product tries odor free within an hour or 2, and unlike oil based products there isn't a lingering odor afterwards. You can paint with latex over the primer after it dries. Carpet/tile over the floor. Good luck!

I would never trust most of the koi sellers on Ebay because of the potential for Koi Herpes Virus, but there is one fantastic seller. Do a search for SJKOI on Ebay. He's located in california. His fish are nice and also very healthy.

Saintpfla, you won't have a mosquito problem in a pond with a good circulating pump. They really only lay eggs in standing water. Besides which, if you have a few fish, they eat the larva, especially fish like guppies, minnows, mosquito fish, gambusia and the like. As for raccoons, that depends on how much of a problem you have in your particular yard. If you have a lot of raccoons, a pond can really be difficult to maintain. Depth of water helps a lot. Even if it is only deep in the center, it gives the fish a place to hide, especially if you add a piece of 6" to 10" pipe to make a "cave" for them to hide in. In the summer, you have to top off the pond more often to compensate for higher evaporation, but if you have a nice depth to it, the fish will be fine, if they aren't overcrowded, and if you have enough floating vegetation or tree coverage to provide shade. The winters in Florida are nothing for goldfish, koi and most tropical fish to contend with. I've never lost a fish due to temperatures at either end of the range. It is not nearly as much work as you might think, once you have reached a proper balance between plants and fish. And they are SO worth it. Nothing else adds as much sheer beauty and tranquil relaxation as a pond. It really is the final step in bringing "nature" into your yard. Marcia