Water Gardening: Help please! Beginner attempting water pond..., 1 by whozzat08

whozzat08 wrote:
It started out as "something" to attract frogs, and grew into a pond, made with what I have on hand. I am stuck. I have been walking around it trying to figure out how to put it all together for 2 days. I started filling in the first tier with pea gravel today, then stopped because I do not want to have to take it all back out. So, I thought I would throw this challenge to the experts.
This is what I have:
free prefab plastic form w/3 shelves-lined because it leaked(thats why it was free)
the tiers are on graduated beach sand covered w/lining
- shelves build into sand under the surrounding lining for pot plants
pea gravel 2" deep in pond
6 bags of play sand (still in bags)
6 bags of pea gravel
small rocks
med rocks
2 large rocks
flat rocks assorted sizes
2 water pumps

plants:
Large elephant ear babies
ferns from under the house
canna
canna lilies
feeder goldfish (inside right now in a makeshift aquarium)

It gets morning shade, and you can basically divided the large rock and tiers right down the middle -half shade/half full Texas afternoon sun on the left

I have been reading the past posts. I figured I have to make a gradual ledge so that if a frog or lizard gets Into the pond, they have a way to get out. I don't want to start putting it together, then find out I forgot one step (or two), and have to take it all down.
Is this the right place to ask these questions? Any help would be appreciated!
bev