Hi everybody. I guess I'll start by saying I don't expect answers to every question. I just don't want to leave any not asked.
1. Fresh water access and application
I have read that keeping the water from going over a muddy square will do it, but I don't see how that's possible. If I mine out a diversion from a flowing source, won't it be impossible to construct walls and a floor for the square where I tap the water, allowing that square to get muddy?
Assuming my understand above is somehow wrong, I've read that I can use a flowing loop to keep water fresh. If I create a loop of flowing water, and keep the pump and reservoir system disconnected with a bridge, will this prevent stagnation, assuming that aside from the tap points, water only touches constructed walls and floors?
Towards this end, are wood floors and walls as good as stone? Stone is scarce in my fortress, while wood is abundant.
If I need water to go down a few levels, before coming back up, will I need to install a floor on the level above, so that I may have a constructed ceiling, or does the ceiling material not matter?
Does water flow just fine down through stairs?
2. Color coding
Is there a stone and wood key or legend around, so that I can more easily pre-plan important areas to be in specific colors?
3. POWER
Does anyone have a link to a working water reactor room? One that is actually powering something, so that I can get a better handle on it, before I start designing away.
4. Floors and plants
I've read of some plants growing too much, and all over. If I floor over most of my fortress, will this prevent wild plant growth on the floored areas?
5. Extra cavernous space
Under my embark site, which is clay for four more layers down, I am carving out odd spaces all over, around underground water sources, and have no NEED for them, aside from mining them out for the stone. However, I would hate to waste them. Can anyone give me some ideas on what I could use them for, aside from drowning traps?
6. Invert signals. Assuming I will have a pump stack keeping a reservoir above my highest used fortress level full (fun waiting to happen, I know), what is generally the best/easiest/most-efficient setup to quickly and effectively invert the signal from a lever or plate, which could be made to automatically reset after use? IE: Lever/plate ->
-> plate -> device that needs its operation inverted.
7. Labeling. I'm sure this will be a palmface, if it is answered, but is there an easy to way to label a construct, or an arbitrary square, so that I won't have to remember every lever's use?