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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.

Placing your water feature in direct sun can speed up evaporation, leading to pump damage and algae growth. Shade or partial shade serves as the ideal location for most water features—just watch out for tree and plant debris that may fall in and clog the pump.

Lifespans vary by material and manufacturer, but pond liners last anywhere from 10 to 75 years. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pond liners have a life expectancy of up to 20 years. Other types of pond liners, including those made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), can last 40 to 50 years.

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.