powerchuter, that is BAD ASS. Did you really get that for only 1K? Is it hard to take care of? How often to you have to clean it, if ever?
I did all the digging and I built home made filters so it really just was the pump, liner, and about $100 in starter fish and plants it was built sep 2003 - i don't mess with it much - have never cleaned it. i do open a valve to backwash the filters every month or so and I powerwash them at the start of the year each season i put in some new floating plants but all of the others keep coming back. i don't want to clog the board with photos but here are links to a few more http://www.zrpy.com/MVC-002F.JPG http://www.zrpy.com/MVC-005F.JPG http://www.zrpy.com/P1010035.JPG http://www.zrpy.com/P1010041.JPG http://www.zrpy.com/P1010051.JPG the key to this system is the long stream, i have chimney blocks laid the legth of that so the fish can swim through them to hide from raccoons. on top of the blocks there is a shelf with filter media that i rooted all the plants into. now the plants grow through the filter and the fish live off eating the roots - the plants then serve as a bog and keep the water crystal clear so i never have to mess with it.
the stream is about 2' deep, the pond averages around 3.5' deep. i'm in boise, so i need a little depth to give the koi a warm spot at the bottom in the winter / and since i trapped 13 raccoons last year the depth keeps those $#%$# out of the pond. '
Mostly true for local nurseries, but they even sell Red Maples at Home Depot in Austin. Also, every nursery will sell many non-hardy plants ... caveat emptor.
