i want a sizeable one, after all, bigger is better. how much do these things cost to start up? i dont know anything about this hobby, so please dont say it all depends. give me a ballpark figure and ballpark parameters. if you can...
remember, i want it to be nice and as low maintennance as possible.
Umm... advice is one thing, doing ALL your work for you is totally another. The fact of the matter is, it DOES all depend. It depends on many factors. People write entire books about the subject, it is impossible for any of us here on a message board to merely state: "You can build a 2,500 gallon pond for $5,000.00."
Here is my best, honest advice to you: go to the library, check out a few books on pond building, koi keeping, and pond maintanence. "The Complete Pond Builder" by Helen Nash, is a very good reference book, teaches virtually everything you need to know about pond construction, and has many good pictures of ponds being built, and finished ponds. You can also do more research on the internet, Google up some sites, read and learn.
One more thing, you should really get your Dad involved in the learning process also. My Dad loves my pond, but once I explained/showed him how much work building/maintaining it is, he didn't want that much work. My folks live close by, so he just comes to my house and enjoys my pond instead.
JMO, but the words "pond" and "low-maintenance" don't belong in the same sentence.
