Help please! Beginner attempting water pond...

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

these are the rocks

close up

I'm liking what you've done so far, not sure where to take you from there, but, I'll be checking in from time to time to see how you make out..

Well, I'm not sure what to advise, either. What are you going to do with the plastic liner? I'm having trouble deciphering the configuration... maybe you could add some more pics from the side and around the space...

Brenda

Bev,
How nice to get all those goodies. Where the black liner is on the back is that going to be filled with water? It's hard to tell from the shot.

I have a small pond in my front yard I love the sound of water...

Let us see how it turns out ok?

Amos

Sorry. I post a question, then my computer goes down. Just got it back up.

The pond liner is in the ground and set up. The flat pink rock is resting on the rim of the pond liner at the bottom of the first picture. That was all there was going to be until I decided I wanted the sound of flowing water

I had a hill of old sandblasting beach sand behind the pond to set up the fountain. I had a problem with the sand. It kept falling under the house through the lattice work. DH drove stakes and I put left over pieces of plastic roofing tin in front of the stakes and started piling the sand against it. That kept it contained. I put the plastic runner down on the sand and then made the different levels in the sand to slant the containers to flow into the pond. The containers are not sealed and I didn't want all that sand to wash into the pond if we get a hard rain. The plastic leftovers I used to cover the sand on each side. Again just to keep the sand from shifting and flowing into the pond. The plastic tin and stakes looked unsightly, so I just draped the plastic over that to. The last picture (close up) is just the "flowing fountain".
I found a problem. The hose that carries the water to the big rock became pinched several times as I was trying to place the rock around the pond. I found a piece of copper pipe , put the hose through it and ran it up from the pond to behind the big rock under the plastic. Now I can pile rocks without pinching the hose.
I will post pictures tomorrow. I cleaned up around it and placed some of that rock, so it looks a little better now.

Here is what I have so far. I was wondering if you need to place sand or gravel under the rocks surrounding the pond?

another.. I have a Frog behind the rock in the second bowl!

another

You did an amazing job. What a transformation.

You did a great job with the water garden, really nice. Have you thought of maybe a sweet potato vine growing in pots to cascade down each side of the waterfall, the lighter green ones might make things pop! You may have to trim it to keep it in check over the summer. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/53068/

Yes, sweet potato vine around the back would be very pretty!

Thank you! I have 4 sweet potato's that I forgot about. They have sprouted sitting on the kitchen cabinet! The sprouts are about 4" tall on each, and I will get them ready to pot.
I thought about putting them into the ground just to see what they would do. These are a purple/dark tone not the green, but since they volunteered themselves they will do for now to cover the plastic! And if I put them in pots, they could be moved around easily. I will be on the look out for a green leaf type. Thank you for the link. I did not realize sweet potato plants had such a nice look.
I put 7 little goldfish and 2 minnows in yesterday. We had a short thunderstorm blow through last night and it must have terrified them. They finally came out of hiding this evening. Nothing fell apart or flooded out.

random questions..
The neighbor's pecan tree is dropping things that the storm blew straight into the pond. Are they harmful to fish or the water? The castings stain the concrete drive (and my white vehicle) I get out as many as I can but a few have made it to the bottom of the pond. I put a little netting around the pump, and clean it as needed.

The 6' lantana tree to the left of the pond is drawing beautiful butterflies... and dropping tiny flowers into the pond too.

The fish survived three weeks in a large pickle jar inside the house. I don't want a fish massacre because of my ignorance.
bev

I love the purple sweet potato vines! You can put them in the ground. I don't know about the tree debris (we don't have those kind here...), as for the lantana I don't think that will hurt anything but if someone knows better than me please chime in.

Brenda