Yea those are kinda pricey. My pond fluctuates about 6 inches tops. I pump it so some times I shut off the pump for a week or so and then turn it back on to fill up. I think the pallet idea may work the best. That would give fish a great habitat area, I can have the roots go down into the water to use nutrients and give the geese, turtle, frogs a nice place to hang out. Who knows, I may make a couple of them.