We dug our first one on a whim back in 1996 and now have about a dozen water features all over the yard. IF you are into gardening, wildlife, fish, the maintenance isn't that bad. Especially if you do it right the first time. That is a big pond which means easier to keep water temps stable but sometimes harder to have enough plants to control algae. If you aren't interested in koi, goldfish are fine in smaller ponds. Koi require significantly more filtration and care and need big ponds that especially are at least three feet deep for proper muscle growth as they swim up and down. Swimming only horizontally does not let their muscles develop evenly and shallow ponds are harder to keep stable. It is really up to you! IF I had space, I'd build a big pond in a heartbeat.

I have three rocks running off one pump. I measured the rocks and then asked the pump seller to recommend the size of pump. The first one wasn't strong enough so I returned it for a stronger one. DH made a three prong T with PVC pipe to split water to all three rock columns.

*Preface notes: Family has owned a beach cottage (built from the ground up) for over 30 years. Recently, another family member has built another house right down the street. Here are the good/bad/ugly/genius from both.* -Elevator from garage level to upper levels. Wonderful for grocery/luggage unloading and for the less-capable to have easy access to the living levels from any level. -MULTIPLE HOT WATER HEATERS. Look into Insta-Hots. I yell this because last January was "Crazy Cold Water Town" for half of the house during a birthday weekend. 1 bedroom and the kitchen/downstairs shower had warm water (3 people). The 2 Master bedrooms and 2 other BRs shared a water heater for 2 bathrooms. That's 5 adults and 7 teens sharing one water heater in a 2 hour period. Cold! -Open Kitchen with: *fridge drawer for snacks/fresh seafood (take your pick which goes in there) *2 dishwashers (non-human) *an ice maker -Near beach/pool private shower and/or showers (newer beach house has two large walk-ins, older house has one). Just have an outdoor FULL shower where you can walk in in a bathing suit, shower in your birthday suit and emerge in a great outfit. They are the shizzle ("yes, I said "shizzle"). I have taken one indoor shower in 20-some years and it was cold (see above). -Another ice maker (or GIANT cooler) and full fridge under the house. You will use (and need) way more ice the you expect and you will always need more room for food and beverages. Especially if you eat fresh seafood or have teens/kids in college. -Two Double or Queens in the secondary bedrooms. Do it. -Baby Crib. Do it. -Easily managed materials. Old Beach House has to be painted outside (Everything! Porch ceilings, all outside including: outside shower, porch rails, deck rails, you get it...) every 5 years, which equals a ton'o money. New beach house is clad in ipe and teak woods, copper, and has a sustainable plastic-like material used for the outside shower doors. House is virtually maintenance free. Cost to set up is more, but maintenance? Feh. So much smarter than Old Beach House. -Window Film. Don't clog up your beach view with curtains. -Hurricane shutters! DO IT! The best and easiest to install that you can afford. If you have to clamp down on your own, make it easy on yourself. If you have to hire someone local to clamp your house down, make it easy on them. They have their own house and family to worry about, you know?

Let's close this thread. It dates back to early 2015 and is way too long and it confuses people when they see two Birds and other mobile features... threads going at the same time. There's a later thread, Birds and other mobile features in the garden 2015 #11, that's current and will continue until it gets too long and the 2016 threads start. In general, I have no problem if people want to continue a discussion on an earlier thread with relevant comment, but newer posts are better put in context with newer threads (that sounds a little convoluted but I hope it makes sense). Claire