Of all the lessons I learned, the most important ones were these:

1. Don’t scrimp on the fundamentals:

• Liner - Go with EPDM
• Pump - Size it for the volume you need, but bigger is always better.
• Skimmer - Build it Sturdy or go with PondSweep.
• Filter - Same lesson here. Build it sturdy or use a Purifalls.

2. A hundred years from now, no one is going to know the difference. Don’t be afraid to experiment. You’ve got a lot of choices. With sufficient research and thought about what you really want, most choices are those of personal preference.

3. Work slowly and patiently and resist the urge to “dive in”. Let each step and the decisions it entails percolate in your head a little. I was like a kid in the candy store and it cost me in some cases. Savor the moment!

4. Most important of all: If it isn’t fun, don’t do it.