it got to the point pictured below, and then the #%@$!& snow and artic cold came. It is still roughly as pictured below, although I did shape up the corners, remove some roots, and more or less level out the bottom since this was taken. If I was to take a pic of it now, it would be a white indention in the ground, surrounded by more white :-(

Thanks guys! Calamity, that's exactly what I want to do. Had originally planned the pond beside the garage digging down a foot so that part of the pond would be underground and insulated then raise the walls 2' above that, but it would not get 6 hours of sun a day, limiting my plants. So I decided to use a stock tank and move it to the patio/driveway and keep it 2' deep for the sun. I have a perfect place for it. Can't imagine with the weight distributed over the stock tank, it would crack the cement. Since I would drystack the retaining wall stones, it would be totally portable! I will use a capstone on the top to hidw the liner lip. Will either keep a pump running all winter or use a stocktank heater to keep a hole in the ice I had a little fountain pond for years made from 2x12's with a liner on top of a gravel base. I kept a pump running all winter and it never froze solid and I kept goldies in it year round and they were fine year after year. What kind of paving block did you use, Calamity, that allowed you to round the corners? Looks great!

Yes, a small above ground pond would more than likely freeze. Where I'm at, it gets cold (below freezing), then it'll warm up to about 35/40, rain, then drop below freezing again so then we end up with ice everywhere.... This last winter was super mild and quite pleasant, but we go in cycles. We have mild winters then we have cold rainy ones, then cold snowy ones, then cold rainy ones, then mild...and the cycle continues. The nice thing about the location I've picked is that it will be somewhat protected from wind (which is what really gets us up here when it comes to things freezing!), it is somewhat protected from the rain, one side of the pond would be up against the house and the other side up against our porch which would be a bit of a heat source...I know not much but, but enough to help. We have some plants here that if you plant them out in the yard, even if you mulch them, they don't always return, but if you plant them up against the house, they get just enough eat to survive. Sooooo, I am thinking, considering it'd be fairly protected from the elements, if I toss a heater in, I might be able to keep it just above freezing. Plants I don't mind if I have to take them in, I can put them in my fish tank during the winter if there aren't too many. But I would not have room in my tank for pond fish and unless I build a separate mini indoor pond to use in the winter, I won't be able to bring pond fish in. I did consider the bathtub idea. I found one for $30 on craigslist, but the sides of it extend out a bit further than what I want so it would take up too much room on the cement. I'll keep my eye out though for something that might work. I did find a cast iron one but the guy sold it already :( Hubby wasn't excited about that anyways because he doesn't want a heavy tub to move to the backyard, hehe. Keep the ideas rolling! Once I get it done, I'll post up pictures, but it'll probably be awhile. I have summer classes starting in a week and a competition to prep for so I plan on spending the next month or two just keeping my eye out for super cheap items I can use, then after my competition I will see what items I have gathered and hopefully be able to put in the time to build it all.

No I didn't keep fish in them. I wanted a pebble pond so I can see the bottom and because blue herons and raccoons can steal the fish. To keep fish outdoors, you must have an inground pond at a depth below freezing level. This is so below the ice, the fish will be kept alive in winter. I would recommend something like 5 or 6 feet - depending on the kind of fish you wish to put in. Koi for example require a large deep and wide pond. It doesn't work for above ground ponds unless you take extra measures to ensure it's sides are well insulated as well. Also, predator animals like raccoon, birds can try to eat the fish so the deeper, the better for the fish.