Thank you. In my searches I found a few ideas using "stock tanks". Seemed very simple and inexpensive. I was thinking earlier of just digging a big hole with pond liner. but perhaps something more solid as this will be better start.

I use stock tanks. I have several 300 gallon Rubbermaid ones, 2 of which are in-ground....one as a pond and one as a lotus bog. The other one I leave above ground, but empty it out late fall and turn it over. (Sifting out all the tadpoles is a chore though!)

I had another above-ground one, but left it upright (no water) in the winter, and it filled with rain water and froze and cracked it. I tried repairing it, but it kept leaking. Now I have a 100 gallon stock tank in it's place for smaller marginals. My husband and son dug the two areas for the sunken ones. Not fun! Then they used some sand on the bottom to make it softer for the stock tank, and then set in the tank. Be sure it's as level as possible. Also.......caulk the heck out of the plug. You don't want that to ever leak! I think we've had these for about 10-12 years, and so far, so good. But I'm sort of a stock tank nut. I have 9 for raised beds in my vegetable garden! :) You asked about winter....I use a small deicer to keep a whole in the ice open in the in-ground tank if it freezes, but I really try to keep the pump going as long as possible, to oxygenate the water. I only have frogs, no fish. Good luck, whichever you decide to use.

thank you both for your input. Catherine, can you please tell me more about your stock tank? What size do you have? Would you recommend poly or steel? If steel, will this rust or attract lightening? How did you do your pump installation? Any advice? My goal is a pond but open to other suggestions. I was considering in-ground where I was hoping to avoid having to empty it at all. I am in Canada, and just started looking around at some farming stores especially when it comes to delivery. Oh, and are these items VERY heavy? I assume it will have to be placed in its spot upon delivery? Thanks.

The zinc in galvanized steel is toxic to fish. Also, stock tanks are only a couple feet deep, so they will freeze solid every winter without a deicer.

Plenty of people use liners for ponds successfully.

Hi liebenswert. I have mostly 300 gallon Rubbermaid poly tanks. I know some people use the steel, but are in warm climates. Yes, even the 300 gallon one is heavy. Do you have someone to help you move it? They are pretty small, but were good for me since a larger one wasn't possible at the time. They are about 5' round and 25" deep and weigh 80 pounds. You'll definitely want a deicer in the winter. I use heavy duty extension cords, but you're not really supposed to. Mine are attached to a GFCI, and you never want to work with the pond without disconnecting the cord to it. I just use a box-type filter with the pump inside it. I'll try to find some pics of my stock tank ponds.......ones that were just weeded around them. haha That may be hard to find. haha