As asked for by Julles and perplexed ponder pictures of my ponds,I took these today so please forgive the lack of green in the grass, but we are in a drought.....no measureable rain in almost 2 months, the only good thing is it's been that long since I've had to cut grass.
The main pond/falls built in 2004, finished in late Aug. took about 2 months start to finnish. DIY..shovel by shovel aprox 22' X 14' at the widest, 11' at the narrowest deepest area about 33", runs a 7500gph pump. This pond is rock lined probably half the rocks in and around the pond came from the digging the rest from the tree line here or at my parents...they have a virtual stone pit, even the lannon/flagstone.
The little upper pond (aprox. 3'x7'x18"), DH built one weekend while I was at work, done shortly after the main pond, we have a small 250gph pump in the skimmer that feeds this pond and then it gravity feeds back down to the falls in the main pond. Used as a veggie filter of sorts, we usually add a few baby goldfish for the summer.
The lily pond, built last year. DIY again, aprox. 18'x13' and has a channel that is about 10' long but the bridge is 3' wide so it seem shorter, varies in depths from 12" to 36". This one has an 1800gph pump, and DIY skimmer/filter. It was supose to be just for lilies, but this year we added the goldfish, but a few males we left in with the koi. This pond is just liner bottom, easier to slide pots around, again the surrounding rocks came from here, my folks and also we went to DH's family farm (since the 1800's) that his Aunt lived at and got stones from the old milkhouse so those are placed specialy. We plan on getting a few more from there yet. The lily pond and main pond are not connected, but the overflow from the main pond does flow to the lilypond, if and when we get lots of rain, like this spring or I forget to turn the hose off when doing a water change
And a couple combo views for perspective.