I started digging my pond this weekend. Ask me anything!

I am about halfway done with the digging, and I can barely move.

Wanna see?

But that dirt looks awfully heavy. Where are you going to put the birdbath? :D

I have some nice daylily bulbs to put underneath it. :-)

type of algae control system on the planet.

It costs out the woo hoo, but I finally had to bite the bullet and buy one. I got one that runs via a pump that pushes 1000 GPH, with a pondmaster basket filter.

I also have a second pump that pushes 700 GPH that is run through a home-made bucket filter, for extra, extra cleaning.

After a YEAR of battling pea soup algae, I ended up hiring a fella to help me design the filtration system, and after paying him about $250 and spending $350 on the pump and filter, I have the clearest pond on the PLANET. I can see ALLLLLLL my koi and comets in all their glory!!!! IT'S WONDERFUL!

Now my work on the pond is minimal, about 15 minutes a week cleaning the filters. NO more massive water changes, YAY!

I've been considering it. Now that I know they work...I'll watch my finances and bite the bullet.

plants?

Just cheapass goldfish, though. If I bought koi I'd probably be bankrupt everytime one went belly up!

has sat running for a week.

Then once the goldfish have survived, you can move on to maybe 2 - 3 koi for a pond that size.

Course my gold fish are all now 4 inches and counting, after 1 year.

The biggest bad boy koi aka "MOBY" easily is pushing 14 inches.

A couple of tadpoles are GREAT fun to watch evolve and then take off for dry land, but make sure they have an exit from the pond.

Make sure that a decent sized section in the middle of the pond is at least 2.5 feet deep so that the fish can retreat there in case a raccoon or cat attempts to salvage some lunch from your pond.

Lay the lining on a WARM day with plenty of sunshine.

I'm going to put some obstacles in the bottom for the fishies too. Since we're near a lake they have to worry more about herons and cats than raccoons.

No koi for me. Just goldfish. I've read that you need to have at least 3 feet for koi, and there's no way I'm digging another foot down. Besides, I've already got my liner and everything.

Moby...tee hee...

to dig.

They will come up like BUTTUH the next day and your back will thank you.

Take from a gal who has gardened for DECADES in the rock-hard soil of southern california.

It's been sprinkling off and on here so far, so haven't had much problem, but that's definitely a good suggestion! Lotsa clay here too!

But with some plant shelves and a cool waterfall!

I hope not!

I did. As thick as my leg. As a result, my water feature was a little more shallow than I intended it to be. :(

The soaker hose suggestion is a good one. Makes it much easier to dig.