Koi Pond and Waterfall Builders- What You Need to Know

Executive Summary by: Douglas Hoover

Koi Pond: You could spend $3,000 on a water feature and find out you still need an additional $1,000-1,500 for plants and amenities, such as a deck, gazebo, walkways, fish or
landscape lighting in the pond, waterfall and lawn.

koi ponds

How big is a water feature? Small ponds 1½ to 3 feet deep can facilitate a sump pump located within the koi pond. A pond any deeper than 3 feet requires an exterior pump for better accessibility and maintenance, and at a higher cost.

The size of the waterfalls will determine the size of the pump needed. The higher the waterfalls, the bigger the pump needed to supply the water and the greater the cost for electricity. You might consider placing a koi pond next to an existing deck.

Consider adding an exterior patio or French doors to your house to access your water feature area. Long term, a properly maintained nitrogen cycle costs less than maintaining a pond that uses chlorine and other chemicals. Fish, plants and proper bacteria are needed for healthy koi pond and nitrogen cycle. Once properly established, a healthy fish pond is virtually maintenance free.

Are you willing to remove or replace certain trees or bushes to enhance the waterfall and pond? Certain trees can contribute a great deal of debris to the water feature that fouls the water and may cause premature failure of the filter system.

The greater the “white water” the more sound is produced. What about electrical supply for the pump and equipment? What about a water supply for an automatic water leveling system? Water is very accessible in any household and getting it to the water feature site is a minor expense. Simply tap into an outside water faucet.

There are hundreds of questions that arise in the course of a water feature project.

Before Creating a Koi Pond

Executive Summary by: Anne Clarke

Koi ponds require a lot of time and maintenance. Here are things to consider before building your koi pond:

• Make sure that it is at least 2 feet deep, but preferably much deeper (a 6 foot deep koi pond takes up no more room in your yard than a 2 foot deep one!)
• To be a proper Japanese koi pond, shape and style of the pond itself is everything.
• Vertical walls will increase your koi pond volume and help protect your koi from predators.
• Have a pond skimmer system.

Also, check out my other guide on garden ponds and water garden plants