I made this net system back a few years ago from PVC and it worked quite well. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1092948146039384239eiHNSv Jerry "~ jan" <Seewebsite@jjspond.us> wrote in message news:49kfg3phsvut0g1mn6o1q0t06lcl7j0ta4@4ax.com... > On Sat, 6 Oct 2007 04:39:35 CST, gmb <gbutler7@cox.net> wrote: > > >Pond placement is limited but carefully considered on a 1/4 acre > >suburban "spread." We are graced with mature oaks you can't fit your > >arms around. I chose an ABOVE ground pond for several reasons. > >Gail > > If this is a formal pond, above ground can really make it easy to use a > frame or frames and screen/shade cloth across them. My lily pond, a formal > pond, is so easy to cover, I don't know if I'd ever do anything but a > formal pond (if I had the opportunity to do another pond). Plus, leaves > push along the ground aren't going to fall into a raised pond. > > Looking forward to the pictures. ~ jan > ------------ > Zone 7a, SE Washington State > Ponds: www.jjspond.us >

So this is where everyone has been hanging out! ;-) My ISP wasn't carrying this group when it was first being promoted as an alternative to rec.ponds but I'm glad they do! About this question, here's what I do for leaves. My pond is tear drop shaped, 20' long & 12' at it's widest point, approximately 3,000 gallons. I use regular black bird netting from Lowe's. I have a couple of 2 X 4s that I've duct taped together to span length and width of the pond. I stand a large cinder block on its end and rest the 2 X 4s on top. They form a cross suspended a couple of feet over the pond. Over this, I drape the bird netting and anchor it around the sides of the pond with rocks, etc. The netting is at an angle so the leaves tend to roll down to the edge. Those that don't or when they gather into large clumps, I just grab the netting and shake them to the edge and off from over the pond. When the leaves stop falling I take everything down and store until the next Fall. Been doing it this way for about five years now. Good luck with your solution. John "gmb" <gbutler7@cox.net> wrote in message news:1191377645.179171.147550@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > Last year we were brand new pond newbies, now we're a year older but > we "wintered" our surviving fish in a 100 outdoor gal. tank because > the _______ chipmunk ate a huge hole in the liner. Before the > "episode" we draped the pond with a net that had such huge holes it > caught EVERY heavy downward pointing oak leaf stem aimed for the > pond. > > The "pond committee" - that would be me... and husband (the guy that > ends up doing most of the work - my job is "idea gal" and "point and > grunt" and "you didn't do it right" - OK guys... happy? I admit it. > Mr. "gravity man" (see aforementioned husband) was determined to reuse > hated netting. See man that drinks coffee and goes to work. See > Jane... errrr me shake, PLUCK pounds of offensive leaves. We've had > some non-heated but venus-mars conversations about leaves collecting > near the fence (we're talking a 2 month season and we are here to make > sure that isn't a problem with the NEIGHBOR's fence) and then the > aesthetic acceptances or compromises we are willing to take. I swore > I'd rather fish the huge volume of leaves that deal with that dreaded > big hole netting. I voted for frames (flat) with screening because > although flat it would be easy to broom or blow off. My lightweight > frame vision has taken on a heavier look - although we both agree > several frames are the answer, to store, move, maintain. One is > hinged. The bonus of such a plan is it is predator proof, but we > really only want to use it to thwart leaves. Although we haven't > actually stapled the screen in place, I know we are both wondering if > there wasn't a better answer (albeit temporary) that had a less > intrusive affect on our "lovely yard water feature. " Has ANY one > solved this his/her Lilliputian dilemna? We are afterall more mindful > of the fish safety and water clarity than appearances but hate to > defeat the original purpose of something we can look out the window > and enjoy. Discuss... >