hydro-ton is basically like lava rock but usually its used in hydroponics... its more uniform round balls with an extra porous surface to trap oxygen (and hopefully beneficial bacteria and particulates) for roots to get the best water/oxygen ratio... I also plan on using irises and watercress as well as any other well suited filter plants. the brick box is about 1 1/2 - 2 feet wide 4 or 5 feet long and about 3 or 4 feet deep. It will sit on a foundation of concrete out of the water but surrounded on three sides by a collection basin/small pond. I was planning on putting the pump into the skimmer unit which will be located in the pond and pump it to the box and up through the stone and out the water fall... which then drops into a small pond/water collection area, then narrows into a stream which feeds the main pond. the pond itself is about 5-6 feet wide and about 7-8 feet long... the distance of the pond to the waterfall is about 15 feet, however it meanders so its probably more like 15-20 feet if stretched in a straight line. The box certainly will be big enough to house a pump but i was hoping one pump is enough. I'll post pictures of the excavated area tomorrow if i have time.

Great that he is sloping the pad, I always do that with features that I build. I always seal the base of a waterfeature with either waterproofing materials (thinset, Dec-O-Shield is a good one) or similar products. In this case if the feature should leak it will leak back into the pool. Heres to a good job well done.

The climber supports were just wire from B+Q, they are attached to wooden posts at either side of the wall, I've just used tacks (like a U-shaped nail, like a croquet hoop!) ... I should have used Barrek Strainer so that the wire could be tightened, not that they have become lose but I just think they would have been better. I saw a cool idea for a climber (think it was on chelsea), it was basically wood 2x2's place in a Jenga style against the wall, looked great. as for the waterfall, no, not done anything with it, although i have now found a company who will make a steal lip for the water to flow out of the brick.

Please refer to original post :-) This picture shows a top-down picture of the right pillar again showing the size of the pebble pool sunk in the ground bordered by the ferns. Image link: