I know what you mean about using what you have. That is what we have to do most of the time. We ended up putting 4 18wheeler brake drums on a 5' box blade, and filling the bucket of the tractor up and going over and over and over our pond trying to pack it the best we could. This after it had gone dry numerous times and had an uncle try a few things with his trackhoe. It now seeps very little. 1/2" a day last year. I think we are around the 1/4" a day this year. We could not afford much bentonite or soilfloc. Had an old timer tell us many in this area has sealed a pond with hay. I had some rolls left over from last year, we rolled some into the pond, I also covered my gravel banks with it so grass would grow. I had my doubts, but we are losing less now than ever before, I have grass on my banks and well, quite a bit of algae. But I can battle algae if I can keep water. Sometimes working with what you have is all you can do. Hope you keep the pics coming. Love build threads!