How to Build a Pond for Koi Fish

Build your koi pond with either a hard or soft plastic liner.

Koi ponds are central points of interest for gardens, providing a place for the large, golden, black and orange koi goldfish swimming within. Kits are available to help you build a koi pond. Build your pond with enough water depth to protect the fish during the winter months and deter potential predators such as raccoons and weasels.

Things You'll Need

• Koi pond liner kit
• Can of spray paint
• Shovel
• Measuring tape
• Sand
• Water
• Plants
• Rocks

Instructions

1. Lay out the area where you want to locate your koi pond. If using a hard plastic liner, place the liner upside down on the ground and use a can of spray paint to mark its farthest outer boundary. Turn the liner over and mark on the ground where the liner will be deepest.

2. Dig out the area where the pond will be located, first digging out the deepest section, then working around the shallow sections as well. Use a measuring tape to determine when you have dug deep enough. If you are using a flexible plastic liner, dig the hole to the shape and size you want, providing steep sides at least 2-feet deep, with at least one area positioned below 3-feet deep. This will help the fish weather the winter.

3. Place the liner into the hole you just dug. Fill the vacant spots between the dirt and the liner with sand if using a hard plastic liner. If using a flexible liner, these spots will be filled up when the pond is filled with water.

4. Fill the pond with water when it is in place then add the fish or plants. Surround the pond with low growing ground cover plants to help hide the edges of the pond. If you have used a flexible plastic liner, surround the pond with large rock to both hold down and hide the liner edges.

Tips & Warnings

• Children can drown in koi ponds. When installing the pond take special care to prevent children from having access to the pond. Adding plants with sharp spines may be a helpful deterrent.

References

• "A Practical Guide to Building And Maintaining a Koi Pond"; Keith Holmes; 2002
• "Smart Guide: Ponds & Fountains"; Editors of Creative Homeowner; 2002
• "The Water Gardener's Bible"; Ben Helm; 2008