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In addition to length and width, pond liners also come in various thickness levels. Thickness is measured in mils, a unit of measurement equal to one-thousandth of an inch, with most pond liners ranging from 15 to 60 mils in thickness. The smaller the number, the thinner (and weaker) the liner. To prevent rips and tears, it’s best to choose a pond liner that’s at least 30 mils thick.

Costs depend on design, materials, plumbing, labor, and optional lighting or filtration features.

How many fish can call your pond home depends on the volume of the pond and the fish size. Your pond's filtration system also influences the number of fish that will thrive in a pond. A general rule of thumb is to have 1 inch of fish for every square foot in a pond that's 2 feet deep. Another rule of thumb you can follow is to have one koi fish for every 200 gallons of water or two goldfish for every 200 gallons.

While they’re popular and have a lot of pros, the cons of river rocks include the following:

• River rocks don’t break down or provide nutrients to plants. 

• These stones can get hot and scorch nearby plants. 

• River stones may heat the surrounding soil to inhospitable temperatures. 

• Rocks can block rainwater from seeping into the ground if installations are too thick or tightly packed.

Most downsides occur when using river rock as mulch in gardens and flower beds. However, you can still incorporate river rocks into your landscape as long as you use them in the correct ways.