"Lynn Strickland" wrote in message
nk.net...
Easy! Length times width, right?

Question is, my (soon to be) pond will have about 104 square feet of
surface
area. There is a waterfall, with a series of smaller 8" deep pools that
cascade into the pond. The waterfalls and their pools comprise about 34
square feet of surface area.

When sizing things up, and using the rules of thumb for plants, fish,
etc.,
does the surface area of the falls count [do I consider it to be 104 sq
ft,
or 138 sq ft]?

Surface area is about the ability to exchange oxygen out the atmosphere so
I'd say 138 sq ft. However equally important is the volume - you won't be
able to keep much in it if the pond is only 6 inches deep!

I.