seedsvr - the Pondmaster 190gph pump/filter/filters pads and sponges, and bell fountain kit cost about $50 to $60 (today). Don't remember what it cost in 2002/2003 when I bought that one. All plants are in small pots except the floaters. No soil, only aquarium gravel. I am in MD and I throw my WH on the compost pile at the end of the season where it continues to bloom and then dies either from drying out or if cold weather comes. I haven't had any WH for 3 or so years now. I'd actually like to get some more but I refuse to pay the high prices people ask for that weed. I have two other ponds now and the Pop-up sits in my garage as I don't feel like fooling with it (or my ponds for that matter:-) It was fun and I enjoyed it while I had it up and running for two seasons. I'd get a big tub if I had it to do over again (like suggested by another poster). I've never seen a clear pop-up before. When they first came out they were copper or dark like mine. Clear I would think would encourage algae with the light which means you probably won't see the plant roots or fish for long unfortunately.

kashmi - your dealer is an idiot, plain and simple. steam doesn't matter ???? ask him the worst possible thing that can be trapped in today's tightly built homes? He won't know cause he's an idiot but it's warm, moist air. You wouldn't consider not having a fan in your shower/bath - why? Warm moist air. Now, cooking steam doesn't present near the amount or problems a shower does but to say steam (from cooking) doesn't matter is ridiculous. What about odors? Grease is not the only thing that smells! Now, as to the height of the downdraft extension- sure taller is better all other things being equal (which often they are not). It gives a broader capture area for that steam and grease because the filter area is generally larger on a taller vent. On some you can vary the height of the extension so you'd have the best of all worlds: catch the grease that your sales weasel is soooooooo concerned about AND catch the steam ABOVE that skyscraper lobster pot. Be wary of this fella.

Ceramic tile is known to do stuff like this (tenting) because it is slightly porous. Porcelain tile has LESS chance of tenting because its porosity is extremely low - almost impervious to moisture. It is much lower than ceramic. And yes, it can take as much as 10 years for a "bad" install to show itself in wet conditions. It can take that long to get the tile so wet that it's expansion is so great it breaks the bond of the adhesive. And yes...cut back adhesive is a poor substrate to bond to (for the Original Poster). Both of these photos (OP and andreadell79) are complete redos. Once a section starts to tent, you have to assume the WHOLE THING is going to go to he!! in a hand basket. Sorry but these are complete redos.

Potatoes: I rinse these to remove dirt and sand. A complete sanitation is not required if these are to be thoroughly cooked at high temperatures. A potato that is eaten raw should be thoroughly cleaned. When I was a child, barn manure was spread on the garden at the start of the season. Potaotes and root vegtables grown therein came in contact with manure. You bet, we washed these before consuming. In my opinion, mellons should be washed before cutting because these are eaten raw. I know, when I was a kid down on the farm, most folks gave it no thought about it. Stray dirt was brushed off the mellon and then sliced without any further cleaning. We probably got by with this practice since the exterior of our own mellons, if comtaminated, was contaminated with local dirt and such, and we probably had natural resistance to some of the local 'dirt'. But we may not have resistance to contaminants on food stuffs transported from distant locations.