Hey Tuggard. I just spent the last 3 days reading through all 100 pages and i have to say it's been a GREAT read. Your pond looks fantastic. I'm from UK but i live in Dubai and was wondering if i could do something like that! Mind you, i'd need to buy a house with a back yard first! lol. But i suppose the 50 degrees plus weather in the summer would give me endless algae blooms. Plus it only rains for about a week in Feb each year. Most people use irrigation systems here and that along with regular pond refils due to evapouration will kill me, bill wise!
I like how you have mixed the 2 concepts of swimming pool/pond and it must be a great way to spend a sunny afternoon!
What you need to do now is once you have put fish in and it stabalises, is to get an underwater camera and give us a new perspective!
In regards to staocking, i think the Cichlids and the RTS will suffice for now, cos i think if you put too many fish in there, it will get overcrowded later on. Not to mention other wildlife coming into the garden.
Off topic..... That playground for the kids looks wicked! YOur kids must really love you.