Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Paddlewheel or waterfall features

My old pond is spring fed so I'm not overly concerned with aeration but my wife is wanting some kind of water feature. She pretty much wants a paddle wheel, a waterfall, or a fountain. I prefer one of the 1st two because I want the pond to retain a natural look and a fountain looks two much like it should be in a subdivision or a hotel lobby! What do you guys recommend and what kind of price range am I looking at?

I think the paddle wheel would be pretty cool and fairly cheap depending on how much water you're envisioning to move. The paddlewheel could be fabbed from aluminum, redwood or cedar boards, a steel shaft, stainless screws and a couple of bearings. There could be some really cool designs for the framework/sides, laser or plasma cut from sheet stock aluminum or stainless steel and painted to whatever color you or your wife likes. I think an oil rubbed bronze finish would be nice or just flat black for the frame. If you don't mind the rusty color self-weathering steel would also be a good material choice that's easily fabricted. You can probably spend as little ($400) or as much as you like. If I was going to the build one completely out of wood, I think I would spend the extra dough and go all redwood.

BTW, spring water is extremely low in DO.

There's a mini-golf place near a Menards that I used to frequent. One of the holes has a miniature grist mill with a water wheel that runs off of water pumped across it and recirculated. I don't know the scale, but the structure is not much more than 8' square and the wheel about 4 or 5 feet diameter. It's built and faux painted to look old, like barnboard, including pane glass windows. It would make a great kid's fort, too.

I like the water wheel idea myself. If you go that rate take photos and share. I think others would like to see them as well!

Will do.... it may be a while as right now I'm just getting ideas and trying to decide which route to go.