Thanks, GJers, for your comments...I'll post some more pics with a full view of the pond on a separate thread. I found "Mr. Troll" at a nursery & did buy him new several yrs. ago...he stays outside all yr round ...& is in 3 pcs...head, tummy & jeans/feet...I loved that Billy Goat Gruff story! The birdbath has exceeded my expectations (used Silicone II for Doors/Windows Clear) ... made it in March last yr & it withstood all summer/fall & in garden shed this winter...good as new & out there at the pond again this yr! Cheap plants ($1 bag) are from our wonderful volunteer organization, "Green Scene"...they sell once a yr, new plants & old dug up from gardens all around the area...money donated to community schools/projects like trees, bushes, plants...an awesome place to find your gardening needs. I'm retired now so this is my 2nd yr of volunteering...before that I always was a member & bought at the sale! I also buy some new GJ stuff ...try to buy on sale or use 40% coupon at Hobby Lobby...here is a cast iron chicken I bought this yr. for 50% off there...but it's planted in old GJ egg basket & I add ivy, sedum, ornamental cabbage & some hen & cks ...sits on the patio: back view: Thanks for all your ideas & comments! Jeanne S.

Thank you all for the input - sounds like FILTRATION is indeed where I need to go with this. Actually I only have 4 large sarassas & 2 medium sized shubunkins in the pond right now Big Red (large red comet) and 3 small comets are still in the basement tank after the disaster I had earlier in the spring. I wasnt testing the water (didn�t need to before, I had many easy, trouble free years with 4-5 fish in a 150 gal pond) and when I finally did I did there were nitrates, nitrites AND some ammonia, which necessitated the first of several big emergency water changes . I had a lot of debris powdery brown stuff from the pine tree falling into the pond throughout April & 1/2 of May which I was told was pollen. The water turned into dark brown muck not clear tea colored water, but dark particles that couldnt be seen through Honestly, I would not want more fish than the 10. They are large enough that the pond doesnt look empty or sparse at all. I meant I would give away fish if I was to decide to reduce the size of the pond. Mike -thanks I think I may be taking a little road trip!! Well I guess Im learning - the whole mess earlier this spring was a wake up call - either take care of the fish properly. Or not, and pay the price. When I started, I thought oh well just replace the fish each spring. But when you have them as pets for 10 or 12 years it kinda changes your outlook. Besides, a few healthy active fish are much more pleasant to look at than a lot of them that are not doing well or lethargic because they are too crowded. Hmmm trickle tower - that could work. My original concept was more like a trickling, gurgling bubbling spring coming out of rocks �-rather than a sheet of water coming over a ledge like a waterfall. Or maybe something like a stack of plastic stacker trays with rocks in them inside a tall bin?

What about in the dark? I see a blueish glow from mine at night. I'm still in the learning process. I'm just going by what happens to me.

Kay - That is going to look just SOOOOO great when it is finished. I love the idea of a big pond. Sure does look like a LOT of work though. What are you planning to do with the pile of soil there that was dug out to make the hole? You are fortunate to have family that is willing to come and work! And not just alittle work at that. Last Chance for Romance looks fabulous. I just love that daylily.