Thanks everyone

I am re doing the waterfall myself. The actual structure isnt moving just the landscape around it.

Worked it out at 1050 US gallons or 875 UK gallons. does that sound ok to everyone?

Ooooh - a nice size, yes indeed

I look forward to seeing the pics of the new waterfall. I hope Bob wasn't too upset when you told him you were changing it? Or are you going to do it late at night when he's asleep and let him think it's still the same?

And I can't wait <hint> to see some pics of your guys swimming their little hearts out

Bob wasnt pleased about it but i want as much of the liner to be covered as possible and the rockery should hopefully hide some of it and make it look nice. The only downside is trying to move boulders that weigh a ton lol.
I thought my red and white fantail had been taken from the pond. No sign of her for two hours and then suddenly she was there. I was cursing every cat in the neighbourhood.
Means really I should think about security from cats and herons now.

Will take pics today of them feeding as they stay at the top then.

What kind of security can you use? A screen or net over the pond? I've often wondered what the best methods of security are for ponds and that would be my only real fear - the other animals.

I can imagine you cursing the cats in the neighbourhood (i'd have done the same thing) and then your surprise when she reappeared - I'm so pleased she wasn't taken

So was I jen as I said to Bob when they went in that I wanted to put her in the tank, but he talked me out of it by saying she would love the pond for a couple of months.
I think its because shes red and white, she sticks out like a sore thumb so im a bit worried about adding the other three red and whites now.

As for security, I thought about a frame work of wood in two parts with wire over the top.
Make it no more than a couple of inches thick so its easy to lift off and on and maybe make one half from tarpaulin so theres shade in the summer and in the winter a barrier from the cold wind we get.

some of mine seem to like to hide under the pump. You go out to do a head count and you heart nearly stops when your missing one....i think they do it to keep you on your toes

Yeah, I actually have a baby hybrid bluegill (don't ask!) in my pond. His name is Percy. He's been doing it lately... I'll feed them and he doesn't start his splashing and jumping routine that he does every time I feed him, so I worry, but I've since figured out that some fish just sleep later than others. I always see him later in the morning.

And Sandy, do you guys have a lot of stray cats and herons? We dont have either (I've never even seen a heron in the city), but we do have big coons. They've never come back here though. Keep in mind that your pond is nice and deep, and that's most likely where the fish will go at night. During the day something could possibly happen, but don't underestimate those fish! They seem to know when they're in trouble somehow.

So Sands.... have you finished the waterfall yet? I'm dying to see some more pics

Erika we have lots of cats that come visit and luckily no fish have gone missing yet. Havent seen any herons so hopefully it stays that way.
I have some pics Jen so will update soon

Alright, I'll be patient

Ok i give in

Here is the top part that ive done as a rockery

before the plants went in


Here it is as it is today with a Pleiris at the back and some heathers.


Hopefully they will grow quickly and cover the space. The filter outlet im going to put slate on the top of it and then a nice big flattish rock to cover it all.

Here ive got some more stones in the waterfall and going to get some more plants to grow up and over to cover the black liner.
I havent done the bottom part of the fall yet as it keeps raining. On the other side im going to get a wooden high planter to run along the length and have plants coming over from that side as well


So, hopefully by next summer it will be covered completely.

Will update again when i do more

And...one of my roses



Its taken it 4 years to flower again, so must like it here better.

Geez Sands (and please don't tell Bob) but doing it over was such a good idea.... the waterfall area looks nice and clean which blends in with the entire look. I love the little rock garden and once the plants start to grow, it'll house the entire area beautifully And no wonder your beautiful rose bush has flowered, the soil looks incredible and it seems as though the grass agrees...

Now I can't wait to see some nice distance shots of the entire area

I definately agree with Jen here.You have done one fine job.It always amazes me how fast you guys seem to put these ponds together,and how they look like they've always been there.I think if I had a pond,I would never get any work done around the house. I'd be nice and tan though. Great job Sandy.

Do you know what's hilarious (and sadly true), if I were to undertake exactly the same pond in exactly the same environment, it'd take me about 2 years to complete. I'd still be laying the first runner of grass which would then be followed by a long 'rest' period

The only way I could re do his work and keep him happy was to let him pick what plants he wanted and he wanted the heather.

Will get to work on the bottom half soon hopefully and show more pics then.

ooooh that looks good, I like your rose

Okay, I'm planning on making my pond bigger maybe next summer. I'd love to have a waterfall like yours Sands, but I guess I don't understand something....... You obviously have a pump feeding the top of the fall..... do you have another pump feeding your filtration system? How DO you have your filtration system set up?

Also, what are those small green "fuzzy" looking plants? I've seen them here before, but I thought they were listed as some sort of "air plant".

The green plants in the rockery are the heathers, you have to be careful what type you get as they can spread like wildfire.

Theres a pump * nearly wrote pimp * going into the filter which is in the shed and then the force of the pump sends it through the filter. The only working part of the filter is the UV light on it. From the filter its then pushed through the two outlets and then down the waterfall where the pump turns it back round again.

The pump pushes through 5000 litres and the filter can handle 9000.

Okay, so you just have one pump that basically feeds the water into your filter (ya must have one like mine) and then from the filter it goes to the fall, right?

Yes, thats right

So did you stock your pond with plants and fish yet? Oh maybe you can take some photos at feeding time! I bet you could get good shots then!

Your pond is so beautiful! It makes me so excited to finally be able to build my own! Once we get settled Ill be making plans for my dream pond.

Id love to see more pics of your fishies and plants if you ever have the time.

Gia - I have the fish in and started another thread with pics of them here http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=50613
I havent any new pics but will get some tomorrow as its supposed to be a nice day.

Sandy your fish are beautiful! I love the orange and white common. Very pretty!

Thanks Gia

very beautiful!