Vanessa, I will be reusing the same rocks and big tank, so I still won't have the "natural" pond that I wanted, however, the new spot is on a slope so I can make a fun stream. azponder... hahaha... yeah, I'll tell him.. the pond comes first!!! And, yes, he will be helping this time!! I moved all those rocks all by myself last time. Anne

OK!!! You guys were freaking me out a bit....I just figured since the pond was very very clear I didn't mind if they put their feet in at the very top where the water is moving. I wouldn't let them drink it or anything ofcourse. I never thought of "bad could hurt us bacteria" I just figured it looks cleaner than most lakes around here and we'd be fine. Ofcourse my oldest fell in (she could touch the bottom) and I scooped her right out but she did get some pond water in her mouth. I imagine it tasted pretty yucky cause she kept gagging and spitting it out. We do have pretty great immune systems though and I read a book by jordin rubin a couple months ago that said it is important for children and aldults to play in the dirt and get germy....it is good for the immune system. As for electric shock....hmm never thought about that one. all the plugged in equipment is dry and on the deck? Should I worry about that? The previous owner sounded like she got in all the time to clean never mentioned turning the pumps off....and told me don't worry if when I clean it I get those wormys on me that they werent leeches?? HMMM! I wonder. I'll have to take a pic next time I'm out there. My fish too seem pretty healthy...I even saw 3 babies in there yesterday...call me stupid but I didn't know how they got in there. Fish DO IT?LOL I'm in pflugerville tx (right outside of austin) (marti8a) where are you?

Man, that's impressive. How old is the grove?

no, mostly high tech stainless gas or propane. i think an outdoor beehive oven would be nice to have though. wood burning fire pits, but even alot of those were ceramic logs and propane.