Check out:
http://www.austinpondsociety.org/aps.htm
You have a great local resource.

Water Garden Gems is just northeast of San
Antonio (and a few miles from my house), so
only about an hour from the southside of
Austin:
http://www.watergardengems.com/

"daryl wilde" wrote in message
...
We are located in Texas too - right outside of Austin so
freezing water is
not too big a concern maybe once every 5-10 years. This
is why I am going
to have a deep part ~24 ins or so....

The area I am wanting to use is off the back patio and is
partially covered
by a Oak tree- yes I know not the best spot for a pond,
and I am concerned
with this but this is where we want it so we can be close
and enjoy.

There are things you can do to catch leaves, like
netting. I don't do that but others do and can
help with information.

This is
why I am looking for skimmer and waterfall box plans -
$400 is just too much
mula.

Would like to put some plants and small goldfish or koi so
there is some
movement and interest...

Goldfish and shubunkin are wonderful pond
fish and while they can get large, not nearly
as large as koi. Not to mention not nearly
as expensive...

The usual space recommendation for koi is
1000 gallons for the first koi, 200 gallons for
each additional fish. Goldfish, by contrast,
require about 20 gallons each.

With the size pond you're planning, I'd
recommend one hardy water lily, and then
a variety of common oxygenators like
anacharis, hornwort, and maybe some
marginals. Lowes carries some water
garden plants, as well as the specialty stores.
(I'm sure there are some in Austin.)

You can always start small and do what a lot of
other people do and expand later. Just Me "Koi"
is absolutely right about that. If I were
younger I'd already have moved up to a much
larger pond, but I have all I can handle now!

Gail