Thanks David. I guess I should have listened in Chemistry class 30 years ago. LOL. Believe it or not they now offer a horticultural class in my daughter's high school (no such thing back in my high school days). I've already embarrassed my daughters by asking if they offer any evening courses for adults... unfortunately..they don't. I guess for now I'm okay as the values are the same as in previous years. Having said that, my pond plants grew very poorly in my new pond last year. First pond was only 600 gal, but the water was crystal clear and plant growth was good and looked lush near the end. Second pond (rebuilt last year to 1500 gal with skimmer system) had almost no plant growth, despite me buying more plants (mistake contributing to this was repotting all the plants to gravel only). Now I've rebuilt the pond a third time this spring (modifying the plant shelves, new liner, still 1500 gal) and the lilies are doing a little bit better.. but plant growth is still very slow. (It has been a cool spring). The PH tends to be always high at 9.0 (8.0 at its lowest). Our tap water is 7.5. All the rocks in and around the pond are granite with the exception of 1 small limestone rock which is the waterfall spillway. This year I've also attached a small bog filled with 50% peat moss & 50% sand. Same liner from pond is continued over to bog with a small drop at two points so that water can be easily wicked into the area. (A pile of gravel and rocks separte the dirt and pond water in the 2 low spots so that dirt doesn't make its way into the pond). Water does not circulate in any way through it and doesn't seem to affect the PH at all (I thought it might lower the PH a bit). Anyways, I'm wondering for the long run, if my PH is okay and if its just what its meant to be for my pond. Or am I missing something or doing something a bit wrong, that could make the pond water quality better. I know not to mess with PH chemical modifiers. But if the fish are possibly making too much ammonia, or if its just part of new pond syndrome, or it there is something safe and natural that I can do to improve on it, then I would like to know. The fish are thriving, the water at the moment is yellow/brown/greenish murky (presuming its algae bloom) and there is a bit of airy floating algae patches on the surface, but no green algae growing on the liner yet. I know I need to be patient, but its been filled since end of April.. and I'm just seems like I'm waiting forever... Judy

The adventures in concrete continue. I figured out that there is indeed an overflow pipe. It'll need some attention, though, because it's metal and pretty rusted. I've thought about putting a PVC pipe over it as a sleeve -- both to back it up for its eventual failure and to adjust the depth of the pond deeper. But that's taking a back seat to the concrete. Oh, the concrete. So, yes, it's amazing that it wasn't leaking more when we first got into the house. I started picking at some spots in the interior that looked like they were about flake off anyway. Which revealed a patchwork of patches. Chipping away some more revealed layers of paints (thoroseal?), roofing tar (?!), more thin layers of concrete, fiberglass, more tar with gravel...got it all down to a layer that wouldn't come off with a cold chisel and hammer. Ow...my back. I'm soon to the point of finding a way to make it hold water again. I'm coming around to the thought that further layers of concrete covered with "goop" might not be a great idea. I'd like to find a way to put a liner in it, but there are some really large edge rocks that are mortared in that hang over, that would be over the water line. I'll post a picture when I get closer to addressing that issue. I've spent some time pulling out the intake lines and shoring up the "pump house." Turns out, the half-assed mortared walls fell apart as soon as I took the large rock roof off. Holy cow...I had my head under that thing when I took the old pump out! Here's the new set up, with a new bulkhead pipe, extension of the pipe to the waterfall, new electrical outlet and concrete floor: I had to extend the water line that runs up to the waterfall and used a rubber coupling on the existing ABS line to extend it with PVC. Thought about concreting it in (to shore up the pond wall and surrounding embankment), but I think I'll wait until I get a pump attached to make sure it works. I'll soon start trying to make it hold water. I think I've learned the lesson that more layers of concrete might not be a great idea. Putting a liner might be the right call. There will be challenges with some big overhanging edge rocks that cemented in. The liner could go 'over' them, but I wonder if there's a way to tuck the liner in under the edge and have it stay put?

Why do you want to put in minnows? From what I've heard they reproduce rapidly. You already have an excess of little fish, and this may be too much for your pond to be healthy. Just wait and see what happens with the goldies you have now. If they get sick, die, or just do poorly, your pond is already overpopulated. If they thrive and get fat they will eventually bring your mosquito fish population under control. Your pond is big enough to handle quite a few goldfish if you have good filtration and if goldfish are all you have in the pond. It really isn't possible to determine how many you can have with a large population of another kind of fish in there too.

Lets stay positive! Big Box Store carries a very good selection of gesneriads. General public really doesn't care for the Latin names. The flashier the marketing name, the more chance the people will buy and enjoy it. So - "flying dolphins" instead of Columnea. "Tropical Angel" grows really good plants to distribute through big box stores, but they cannot make the name right 99% of the time. You and I would prefer a little sticker that would say: Columnea linearis "Purple Robe" prefers light soil, morning sun window, and consistent watering but no water sitting in a saucer. Enjoy." But it would probably eat into their profit margin and it would never happen. I.