I am starting to think about the things that will go in the pond when it is actually done. The fish will need little hidey places, and I'm not going to have shelves in the pond, so some plants will need to be placed on stands. ...And here we are, back to what things can be put into the pond that will not negatively affect water quality.

I found some little plastic side tables in a natural shade of green that I was thinking of putting in there, and placing pots of water plants on them. Would the plastic do anything bad to the water? I have also read about using terra-cotta chimney flues. Plants could go on those, and fish could hide underneath.

The easiest thing would be to make wooden stands, but would wood (even hardwood like maple) be bad for the water? We could make interesting things out of wood with nice joinery, and no glue or nails.

I am also going to try to make a floating island (someone on the site had the idea, and unfortunately now I can't remember who.)

Pond progress is slowed because the next step is to finish electrical and plumbing out to the pond area, and that has to wait for weekends when my husband can work on it. And there's still more digging to do. So I'm using the time trying to get a jump-start on thinking about things that have to happen once the water is in. Any other things I should be worrying about? Thanks!

One thing I saw, I can't remember where, was to put plants on upside down plastic milk crates. If the holes are big, the fish can swim in and through them.

I read so much about ponds now, that it is all becoming a blur in my head.

Thomas (A Penguin) and I agree that plastic wouldn't harm your pond. The pigment is in the plastic, and we don't think it can leech anything into the water.

They can get sunbleached over time... it may turn whitish and then you could see them. That's the only undesirable thing we can think of.

So plastic in some form it is... Thanks cometgirl and thoughtsofjoy.

I am thinking of pieces of plastic milk jug, with holes drilled in it, and hornwort, anacharis, or other bottom-dwelling oxygenators pulled through the holes, and a stone on top - so they stay in place...

Yes, the reading on all this is a blur. I really don't know anything at all about gardening with water plants, so it's a very large Click to view attachment

I'm partial to the milk crate idea: If the holes are too big for your fish to fit into, than any fry you end up with can take refuge there.

Yes, any wood you use may leech tannins into the water, though it shouldn't be a problem. The only issue I know of with wood is that pine is not good for animals to ingest because it causes liver or kidney disease, though I don't remember which (don't use pine bedding for your guinea pigs because they will eat it and it will shorten their lifespans).

Good point pengin.
I wouldent use anything that is not used for ponds and fishies.

Fish can get caught in milk crate openings and injure themselves on rough edges. Be sure any gaps are much larger than any fish in the pond before you place one in the pond.