Sounds like a plan. Though the wastes would be good for the plants and make the opposite a good plan too. Both plants and animals in both would be best.

Thanks for the feedback..I will take that into concideration when the time comes to put in the fish and plants.
Not sure if I will even put fish in this year..it's already the middle of the growing season here in WI. If anything maybe 2 or 3.

I'm still pretty new to this...but here is what I've done and my thinking on it. Originally we did not plan for the "upper" pond. But when we were designing the stream we came up with the idea to prevent such a sharp turn into the "main" pond. Turns out I REALLY like it. It is shallow though & I won't be able to overwinter my fish there (I'll have to move them to the "main" pond). But I put 8 small goldfish in the "upper" pond & water hyacinth, etc. The way I see it (and so far it seems to be working perfectly)...It seems like an extension of my filtration system. From the bio-falls through a short stream to the small pond,through the plants, down another short stream to the main pond, then of course through my skimmer and back to the bio-falls. My water is staying clear and beautiful!
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I just want to say that I REALLY love your pond, stream, bridge, plants, rocks....everything, Kyponder! :)

Brenda

Thank you SOOO much! It means a lot to get positive feedback...I am really enjoying this forum. I have learned so much & hopefully I can help others too. There was a point about mid-way through building this pond that I was ready to DOZE it in. I had a leak in my stream/bio-falls...then we had heavy rain that washed mud in from a gutter that was drooping...blah blah blah...I was SO OVERWHELMED...but now I'm glad we stuck it out. I took pictures of the whole building process...so maybe i'll document all the trials and tribulations! Ha Ha. Nothing worth having comes easy! Its just a wonderful hobby!