My first surprise was when I woke up to my pond down about a foot. I filled it back up and let it set without the pump running (wasn't leaking from the liner) and it didn't go down any. I then dug up the line from the skimmer to the water fall and it wasn't leaking. After that I tore the waterfall apart and discovered the water was going behind the falls because the water fall tub was slightly crooked. After that was fixed (6 weeks later)my pond pump quit and I had to buy a new pump. Then the dreaded algae bloom. I fixed that by filling a tall waste basket with filter material with rock and marbles in the bottom to keep it from falling over (like the last time I did that.) My pond was looking mighty clear and I looked out and thought I was seeing the bottom. I noticed both pumps had stopped and went out to reset the breaker. To my surprise the water was gone except maybe 2"x2' and my fish were dying. Three koi and three gold fish already dead. I ran and got a 40 gal. pond and ran the rain barrel water in it and put slime coat, water conditioner and peroxide. I put eleven goldies in that. I held up my white goldie till it started to recover. I discovered something had removed the tubing going from the extra pump to the home made filter. I then scrubbed down the pond took (5 hr's) and rinsed it a couple of times. Put goldies back in that evening. My pump and water falls are working and I haven't lost any more fish. I loved my koi and hated to see them go but I only have a 1400 gal. pond so think I will stay with only the goldies. I have had my pond about 4 years and this is the first time I lost any fish. Today I was emptying a rain barrel and discovered a goldie in it. Named it Lucky. I put it in the aquarium with my fantails. I feel blessed to have 12 goldies. I have learned some lesson's I won't repeat. It's been over a week now and thing's are looking brighter. If I had only remembered what GW member said about "never set a pump on the bottom of a pond".

I purchased the foam from Frank's Nursery ($8). I had a choice between the standard white and a green foam, I chose the green (12W x 36L x 2 thick). Originally I purchased a floral foam, thinking it would be easier to construct, but it just kept flaking apart and would NOT be right for the tank; even if above the water level. After cutting out the pieces I wanted, I used a knife to bevel (or 45 degree) the edges to make it look more natural. I also used my fingers to "smush" sharp edges I did not like. Next I used a product made for sealing foam, in order to make it smooth and paintable ($3.50 @ Hobby Lobby). I mixed a regular acrylic paint, found in the craft sections of most stores(.40c each bottle) with the special foam sealer to start a base coat. I was leary of using some of the "all-in-one" paints because I could not figure out if they would be toxic, and like you, NOBODY knew. I also kept a cup of water to dip the paint brush in to dilute the mixture; I didn't want to see any brush strokes on the foam after it dried. That's where I stopped yeterday. Originally, I was going to slather on silicone (non- toxic) over the entire surface of the foam in order to seal it and make it safe for the tank. However, when I read that someone was using epoxy, I started re-thinking my game plan. I think I will check out the epoxy; I saw some at Menards. Any particular brand? EVERYTHING I have done so far has been improvisation. I have found other websites that make mention of using foam, but NO ONE has actually explained in detail how to go about painting and preparing the foam for a tank. I LOVE the way the foam is turning out. I have been able to custom design the waterfall and shape everything to my liking. I also love that it does not add any weight. I already have quite a bit of a sand substrate from when I had discus and I have also added lots of large rocks to shore up a "bank" to creat an entry/exit point to the water. I am anxious to finish, as this tank has been sitting for almost a year! I have been very cautious and nervous as to what products I use because I know that amphibians' skin will "absorb" toxins in their environment. As far as mixing inhabitants, well I'm excited to hear yours has been successful! I feel that since my tank is on the larger size, it should be able to handle a few more inhabitants than just a couple fire bellied toads. On a final note, I've posted pictures on other message boards I'm involved in and was wondering if anyone here uses snapfish? Can I post pictures from snapfish? I'd like to share my progress so far...

joereal, you were right!!! It was a cricket! Our family came for a BBQ on Mother's day, and sure enough, as soon as the sun went down, that bug started buzzing!! So I had a contest, whoever catches it gets a bottle of good tequila!! My brother-in law got it!! I was tremendously relieved, but didn't want to see the d%@m bug in the bag...they told me it was a cricket -- obviously not the garden-variety type, but something big and weird...hopefully it didn't get a chance to multiply...yuck! sanda

if you want to know what tree frogs eat .. or when.. and you promise not to wet yourself.. go out at night.. and look at the walls of your house.. or the nearest vertical surface ... i think they are cool ... the rest .. but for slugs/snails .. come on.. its natures way .... relish them.. consider them a bonus show in mother nature .... of course.. every year we have some plague roll thru ... one year.. bad lady bugs.. one year cicada .. one year JBeatles ... so what.. the plagues come and go ... rarely.. if ever.. if you can come to some understand with your inner freak .... you just let them be ... the worst for me ... is cleaning up sticks ... and grabbing an otherwise harmless [i really should not be sharing this.. lol].. garter snake .... i have been know to scream like an 8 year old girl and run across the yard like my shorts are on fire ... thank god i have 5 acres.. or the neighbors would have had me committed years ago .. now there is a pretty picture.. lol ...but once the hair on my entire body sets back down.. i just go back to what i was doing.. and the snake.. if not caught in a branch 10 feet up a tree .....is one his way .... and usually all i hear is some snakey mumbling along the lines of... 'what was that all about.. i was just laying here minding my own business' .... anyway.. i digress.. wildly .. apparently ... lol the real problem.. for an IPM .. integrated pest management standpoint .. is that treating for one thing.. usually throw natures balance all out of whack.. and you might end up creating more problems than you solve .... relax.. come to terms with it all .. and get over it.. [and please dont repeat that story above.. that is just between you an me.. lol] ken