What function will it serve? Think about the features you'd enjoy most as you begin constructing plans. The most common backyard ponds fall into one of the following categories. A wildlife pond is perhaps the easiest type of pond to construct. It doesn't require a pump, so it needn't be close to a source of electricity. A wildlife pond is built to look like a natural part of the landscape. Because it isn't stocked with fish, it is attractive to frogs, slugs, water sliders, and other animals that may come to it to have a drink or bathe away. A garden pond is more ornamental in appearance. Garden ponds typically have lily pads and other aquatic plants, and are built to complement the design of one's garden. Artfully arranged stones, small pump-based waterfalls, and a smattering of goldfish are often features of garden ponds. Most ponds do best in spots that get mixed sun and shade, since this environment allows plants to grow and keeps algae at bay. You may want to locate the pond in a place you can see from your home, so you can enjoy it even in cold or rainy weather. If you're constructing your pond in the backyard, the first thing to do is call your gas and electric company and ask them to come to your house and mark the locations of your gas and electric lines, so you'll know not to dig in those spots. If you have a larger property, other considerations may be involved. Call the Department of Agriculture to find out if there are places on your property that are protected watersheds, and ask if there are any other local regulations you should know about before you begin digging. Don't choose a spot too close to trees, as you may damage their root systems. If you live in a wet region, such as in the eastern region of the United States, your pond can be just a few feet wide and deep. If you're in a dryer regions, like the southwest region of the US, a shallow pond will evaporate quickly. Conduct research to find out what depth makes sense for your region. Larger ponds are easier to to maintain. They're more stable, so plants and other wildlife have a better chance of survival. Use a rope to lay out the shape of your pond and get a sense of the size you want. Keep it in place to guide you as you begin to dig.
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One-sentence summary -- Decide what kind of pond you want. Choose a location for your pond. Consider the size and depth of your pond.

Have a 30-second speech ready that explains your business as briefly and efficiently as possible, including information about your purpose, your service/products, and your goals. Having a practiced pitch that you can rattle off to anyone can help you in situations where you're trying to make a sale to a customer as well as it can when you're trying to bring an investor on board. If you can't explain your business in this short time, your business plan needs refining. For your coffee shop, you'd want to explain what you do (sell coffee), your services (the drinks you offer), what makes you special (maybe the coffee you serve is rare or locally roasted), and what you plan to do next (expand to another location, new products, etc.). Earning a positive reputation is like free advertising; your customers will spread the word of your business to friends and come back frequently. Treat each and every sale like the success or failure of your business depends on it. This also means that you should be consistent with every action your business takes and every interaction with customers. For your coffee shop, this may mean throwing out a burnt batch of coffee so that your customers are always served the absolutely best product you can offer. You should always look to your competitors for ideas, especially when you're starting out. Chances are, they're doing something right. If you can figure out what that is, you can implement it in your own business and avoid the trial-and-error they probably went through to get there. One of the best ways to do this when you're starting out is to examine your competitors' pricing strategies. In our coffee shop example, it would be much simpler to price your coffee similarly to competitors rather than to experiment with different prices on your own. Once you've gotten established, you should always be on the lookout for places you can expand. Whether that means moving to a larger storefront, increasing manufacturing space, or opening a new location will depend on your business and goals. Successful business owners realize that one of the primary opponents to long-term growth is remaining stagnant. This means taking the risk of expansion rather than resting on your laurels at one, original location. For our coffee example, maybe there is a nearby area that you find is underserved by coffee shops. Once your primary location is up and running smoothly, you should investigate opening a new shop in that area. This could also mean moving up from a small stand to a full coffee shop, depending on your circumstances. Another way to increase the value of your business is by seeking out other areas where you can make money. Assuming you've already established your primary business, look around and see where you could offer a different service or product. Maybe your customers frequently visit your store for one item and then immediately go to another store for a different item. Find out what that other item is and offer it. Some easy diversification options for your coffee shop would be offering pastries, sandwiches, or books for purchase.
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One-sentence summary -- Perfect your business pitch. Earn a reputation for good service. Watch your competition closely. Always be looking for growth opportunities. Diversify your income streams.

When water evaporates, it leaves the salt behind in your tank and it will increase your salinity. Use fresh distilled water that has been heated to the temperature of your aquarium to replace any lost water. Mark the tank at the top where the water level should be so you know how much water to add back in. Water needs to be changed and replaced every 2 weeks to remove filth and chemicals. Use a water siphon to remove 20% of the water from your tank and replace it with the same amount of heated saltwater. Alternatively, clean the tank weekly by removing 10% of the water once per week. When you're mixing saltwater for a water change, make sure your solution has the same salinity as your tank. A stronger or weaker solution will raise or lower your tank's salinity respectively. Mix and heat a saltwater solution 1 day before you perform a water change on your tank. Over time, salt deposits will form on the sides of your tank. The salt is removed from your water and will lower your salinity. Add a saltwater solution to your tank to raise the salinity back to the levels you need for your tank.
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One-sentence summary --
Top off evaporated water with fresh water if the salinity is too high. Change 20% of the water every 2 weeks. Match the salinity of new saltwater with your aquarium. Compensate for salt creep by adding saltwater solution to the tank.