Laguna,
Nice job! I know how much work it is gathering and placing all those rocks, I did the same thing myself. I brought home rocks by the trailer load all collected in farmland by hand and placed in the pond by hand.
I really hate it when someone says "you can't" or "you must", or uses the word never, or simply condemns what has been done like your committing a crime. I am not sure if it is the sometimes harsh way people say what they say or just the fact I hate to be told what I did for myself and my family did not fit into their mold and I need to change it.
Even though I do not see where Laguna was looking for advice, some just can not but help to give it.
There are proper ways to offer advice but stating one MUST, or should NEVER , or CONDEMNING what they have done, just is not how to do it.Not without having the person and as you can see from this post, others take offense, especially when the person was not looking for advise to start with.
At any rate, LAguna, nice looking pond, and if you have a problem with sludge build up, and find that you do not mind having to deal with it to keep your natural looking pond then more power to you.
I feel the same way. It really is what ever works for you. I had rocks, and this year decided I no longer wanted to do the work having them caused me, so I removed all but a few very large ones, I will not be setting up my 1400 gallon tank in the basement so the fish will stay out for the first time this winter, I cut the herd back to about 20 fish from over 100. Laguna, 4 years, with a heavy fish load, rocks and gravel on the bottom, my 11 original fish turned into over 200 by the end of the 3rd year. I never lost one fish from illness. I pressured washed the bottom yearly when I brought the fish in.
While I am on a rant....... for those who say not too...... I also confess to having fed my Koi catfish food for the past 4 years, and have not seen anything bad come from it. but if by chance my white fish are not as brilliant or the orange fish as orange as the ones fed koi food I sure they will never know it nor will I.
My apologies to everyone for my rant, but I feel once again the harshness of the unsolicited advice was uncalled for.
My apologies also to you Laguna
Curt