Guide For Pond ? I.e. Maintainance, Guides

[PlumbersMerchant]

Ive been recently reading up on all the cool ponds that the forum members have but wonder if there is a basic guide out there as to how to set up the tank, Maintainance of the tank and other simple but basic 'rules'
 
A very easy one comes to mind. In summer with such a large avaliability of water, can you paddle in your pond ?
 
Sorry if this is a stupid question, this is an example of my knowledge of fish ponds
 
Cheers

 

[fluttermoth]

This isn't really the best site for pond advice, but;
 
Dig a hole, line it with 'something', fill it up with water, add a filter of some kind, plants, then fish.
 
I suppose, in an ideal world, you would do a fishless cycle with ammonia, as you would for a tank, but I don't know of anyone who does I would just fill the pond with plants and start off with a very few fish; like a 'silent cycle'.
 
I sort of water change, but not on a regular basis; I do have a lot of fast growing floating plants though, to reduce green water and help with nitrate.
 
As for paddling, well I wouldn't; I've seen the gunk on the bottom! I don't think it would do any harm, as long as your feet are clean, and don't have any creams or lotions on them.