I have 4 kids and 2 ponds! Still have 4 kids!! Make them safe and make sure kids understand dangers. They are a source of great enjoyment, and beats sitting in front of the box watching people watching ponds! My pond is about the size you are planning, and it's teeming with life. It tends to start the season quite green, but when the plants pop up and I add some barley straw in an old stocking, it soon clears up. Make it safe and enjoy it. You need about one third of the surface covered to avoid to much algae build up. Lottie ;D