I have always used the galvanized tanks. I have two very large ones that were used when I got them. They had pin holes in the bottoms but my husband soldered them all up and then he sprays the bottoms with the spray on rubberized undercoating that you can buy at auto parts stores. That seems to work pretty well to help them last. I have had people tell me that doing this will only make them rust out faster but so far that has not been the case. The two tanks have been going for almost 3 years now and they have not sprung any leaks. I don't like the look of the poly tanks and don't really want to spend that much buying landscape blocks or something to cover it up. I spray painted the outside of my galvanized tanks a light tan/dirt color and they blend into the area better. The galvanized tanks will eventually spring leaks but if you can fix them yourself its not that big of deal. The poly tanks may or may not last longer, it just depends. Sometimes they will crack if the tank isn't real level and the weight of the water isn't even. Sometimes they will crack if something hits them pretty hard, such as a rock thrown by a lawnmower.

I'm here Horton......and I'm thinking that sounds alot easier than trying to do it myself! I think I'll start looking in the phonebook. Amoore......what exactly did you find them under.......just "welding"? What size are your tanks, and how big were the cracks and where were they? Mine were 100 gallons and the crack was right under the drain. Good to hear its working for you!

I totally agree, for such a small pond, I have gotten so much pleasure: watching birds splash around, the fish darting, and pond plants grow so fast too! I love sitting on my deck and just watching the pond. I was surprised that more people don't have the metal stock tank ponds, I guess they don't fit into every landscape though. I got my pond from Western Farm Center here in Santa Rosa, CA, which is just a farm supply center, anywhere you can buy livestock feed, chicken coops, or any other farm supply will most likely have stock tanks, but you may have to order the size you want, I did. Mine was $130 before tax, but it was definitely worth it. Digging is one of my absolute favorite blogs, even though I don't live in Texas, it's a great way to visit without having to deal with the heat, humidity, or mosquitos. Another one of my favorites is danger garden, she has an amazing eye for design and she has the same size stock tank as me, she actually has 11(!!) in total in her small Portland yard. Stock Tanks: They're not just for cows! Any way, I am so jealous of your pygmy purple trop. water lily, I really want a trop. too but they are so expensive! I think that's odd because they grow so darn fast. Really I want one of those Victoria amazonica water lilies, now I just need a bigger yard, heheh... But really though, I do want a trop, but I also want something with fragrance, really intense fragrance, and also dwarf, tall order, but if it's out there I WILL find it, Mwahaahhaaha!!! I don't know what color the flower is, because the friend who gave it to me had it in a tiny (1 ft tall, 2 ft wide) pond, so in all the years she had it, it never bloomed. No tags, either. So it will be a surprise, I will post pics when it blooms, and it will bloom, it better if it knows what's good for it. Here is a link that might be useful: Danger Garden-Pond

Hi lola, I have always had rubbermaid poly stock tanks. I did have several crack. :( A couple of them were my fault, since I let them freeze full of water one winter. My above-ground ones I now empty and turn over for the winter. I don't have fish. I have 2 300 gallon ones that are sunk into the ground. One is a lotus bog, and the other is for plants/frogs/snakes. I do use a big deicer in the winter in that one. It's all up to you. Sinking them half-way would keep them cooler in the summer, if that's needed, and a little warmer in winter. I'm afraid with fish, you're always going to have raccoons trying to get your fish. You could put a run of electric wire around the ground around it. What size stock tank do you want to get? Your chances of not having coons get your fish might be greater if you don't put any plants/pots near the edge...........but then again, they're not afraid of swimming. I've seen lots of pics on here of metal stock tanks for ponds, and people seem to like them. I liked the poly ones 'cause they're not so bright. Good luck, and be sure to post pics once you get it going.