On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 17:55:16 GMT, Elaine T
wrote:




Well, first I'll offer a thought. If you're going to keep deep bodied
fish like discus or angels, IMO 3-4 feet deep would be good.
Good! It's IMOs from folks like you that I'm looking for!

I also
don't know how easy it will be to grow plants in 6 feet of water - it
will depend on the light intensity and how much of the pond is in sun or
shade.
Yes, I agree. This is in fact what caused me to start to doubt my
original 5-6'. I sure would prefer looking sideways into a healthy
well-planted backdrop. (The 5-6' deep koi folks don't have this
concern -- because there aren't any plants left in a koi pond.)


I'll also counter with a question. You're going to have to be working
at the bottom of this pond setting planters, maintaining drains, and
possibly cleaning accumulated gunk off of the bottom yearly. How deep
water do you want to have to work in or how much are you willing to
drain for maintenance?
Very good questions. I am hoping, (if I can solve the
"small-fish-eating" problem), to have Spin Drifter type bottom drains
installed as part of the design, which will pull off the mulm and
gunk before it becomes too solid. The koi ponders (there's that word
again) claim that these are very effective. Failing that though, and
for setting planters, I guess it will then be snorkel time. Hopefully
a life vest won't be required thoughg.