Question
QUESTION: Well online I was looking around at whiskey barrel ponds since I am very into plants and am starting on keeping fish. So I thought of doing a pond but with 4 siblings and one more on the way(I'm 15) the pond could cause a big headache. Even if my parents are okay with doing a small pond I think the 3 step whiskey barrel pond would be a great idea. I thought of having 3 barrels one shorter than the other.
Like the pump pumps it to the top barrel then the water would flow down to the bottom one then it repeats. I live in the southern Oregon coast so my weather is say zone 7 sometimes 8. I would love to do some aquatics,a dwarf hardy lilly,some iris,duckweed,full aqauatics and maybe some others then some fish. I was curious on the viability of this idea.
I have an idea of the pump that it should be able to recirculate the total amount of water 1 time per hour and since the plants and the plant gravel would be good for bacteria that I should be covered with the fish's ammonia.
I have never done this before though so I am trying to find out if this is a good idea what plants would be best,a good pump model/brand ,should there be mechanical filtration and so on.....  
Thanks ,
Josh M

ANSWER: Hi Josh,
Thanx for your question.  Wow!  You have some cool ideas for your whiskey barrel ponds but remember that with toddlers, whiskey barrels pose a potential problem.  Toddlers have been known to drown in just a few inches of water.  I don't want to rain on your parade but if you have toddlers running around, it might not be a good idea right now for ponds or you may have to put the pond in a place where the kids can't get to it.  Now, the best thing I can advise you is to start using Google.com for watergardening ideas.  Type in "watergardening in whiskey barrels" and you'll be amazed at what you get.  Go to your local library and check out some books on watergardening.  The next thing, find a nursery in your city that has a pond specialty.  If you live in SW Oregon you're probably near Coos Bay or Klamath and I don't know what kind of resources they would have in those smaller towns.  You might want to see if your parents are up to a trip to one of the larger cities like Eugene or even Portland to go through a nursery with pond equipment and specialties.  Also, contact these guys,  http://www.oregonkws.org/
It is the Oregon Koi and Watergardening Society.  After that, let me know if you need some more guidance.  I'll be glad to help but this will get you started.  It's best to plan it out and learn what you can first before actually getting on with the project and...above all else, make sure your parents are okay with the project especially if toddlers are in the vicinity.  Hope this helps.
Tom

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QUESTION: I got it taken care of :) In my very small town by coos bay there is a water garden and koi shop so I think i'll go from there. The whiskey barrels are around $50 way too much my dads fine with something bigger but a fence is needed and other protective "extras".
Thanks

Answer
Hey Josh,
It sounds as though you have a plan and you're working with you dad on it and that's great.  I hope you will contact the Oregon Koi and Watergardening Society.  I always access local groups to enhance my gardnening and pond knowledge and basically, most of the interaction is free.  I think it is wonderful that you are interested in watergardening.  If there is anything I can help you with in the future regarding the watergardening, I would love to hear from you.  Take care and good luck!
Tom