Hello, my name is Shane, I live in Lafayette (Kinda near Oakland, and SF but more inland) and recently I started to read about ponds, then a pond was only a dream. I could never afford a large one and don't have the space either BUT I found the wondrous idea of using a wine barrel as a nice looking pond. A local store had them for $40, pretty good price. Another benefit was that the barrel was perfect in the sun room (Fully Netted, although one of my dogs likes drinking from it) so now there are no predators to worry about 
ATM this is what I have...
Equipment-
Small fountain pump w/sponge filter
Small heater for winter
Plants-
1 Small lily -Grown from a bulb, fast grower, showing great color
1 Larger lily -Beautiful, we just bought it, leaves 6in across!
1 Rush of some type, I forget, I'll check later
1 Water lettuce
1 Water Hyacinth
Some hornwort
Some terrestrial moss on a piece of driftwood
Fish-
None, but plan to have 3 goldies
Other fauna-
A frog who visits every once and a while
Some (Soon to be devoured) Mosquito larvae
ATM this is what I have...Equipment-
Small fountain pump w/sponge filter
Small heater for winter
Plants-
1 Small lily -Grown from a bulb, fast grower, showing great color
1 Larger lily -Beautiful, we just bought it, leaves 6in across!
1 Rush of some type, I forget, I'll check later
1 Water lettuce
1 Water Hyacinth
Some hornwort
Some terrestrial moss on a piece of driftwood
Fish-
None, but plan to have 3 goldies
Other fauna-
A frog who visits every once and a while
Some (Soon to be devoured) Mosquito larvae
