I wanted to add a comment regarding Dave D.'s post. The monies and efforts he's talking about (correct me I'm wrong, Guv) are for ponds where the owner wants specific goals, and is going to spend the time and money to achieve those goals.
Most of us are that way here. Also, a lot of us want to achieve our goals sooner than later, or at least not any longer than it has to take.
But none of that should scare you away from going for it, only because you could let the water sit without stocking, or you could stock gradually.
It's the best thing though. Something about owning a chunk of another dimension, and getting to look in...
