Posted by Aquatic Ponds to Koi Ponds and More

Underwater organisms & living things require a curated ecosystem to thrive. While some underwater creatures may survive in a regular pond, Koi, a Japanese Carp needs to be safely put in a KOI pond that is professionally set up. Even if you curate a Koi pond at home, make sure that you follow the steps of construction and safety to the fullest. 


Here are the essentials required to build a KOI Pond: 

  • An aeration system
  • A pond skimmer
  • A Biological filter
  • No rocks or gravel in the pond 
  • No planted aquatics 
  • A pump
  • A bottom drain 
  • A bottom drain pre-filter
  • A UV clarifying system
  • Minimum depth of 4’
  • Water circulation & turnover rate 
  • No sharp objects that could harm KOI

Once everything is in place and assembled, we start the process of building our KOI pond. Koi ponds can be constructed partially above and partially underground. The one that we are constructing is the same. Here are the detailed steps of constructing a koi pond from scratch in your very own backyard:

  • Draw a rough sketch using chalk in your backyard where you plan to construct your KOI pond. Make sure that the depth of the pond is planned at a minimum of 4’. Using a professional excavator from a store, you can now start digging the rectangular-shaped Koi pond. 

Use a shovel by hand to finish the outlining with precision. The digging should be at least one foot longer on every side to allow space for the construction.

  • We use “Lumber” wood to create the outlining of the koi pond. This is a solid, non-porous base for the pond and is seamlessly finished. We use dimensions of 4’ x 4’ x 12’ for the same. Stainless steel screws need to be used to put the posts together.

The posts from a wall that is the enclosure for the pond and need to have about a foot of extra space in both directions to allow space for placing the other equipment that needs to be attached. 

  • Level a layer of concrete as a base and let it dry up. Add some soil above it - again, this would be leveled. Let the concrete and soil dry up overnight to assure structure. Place the wooden wall posts of required dimensions (As per your KOI Pond dimensions). Use stainless steel screws to put them together. The lumber wood used is easy to put together, simple, and cost-effective. 
  • Place the Hydroclean pond skimmer on one side of your KOI pond, after digging underground, connect it to the pond using an inlet pipe and by gauging a hole in the post to let the pipe in. Use a hole saw to drill this hole & connect the two. The holes are placed in a manner to ensure the circulation of water in the pond so that it keeps getting refreshed.
  • Install the UV Line close to this hydro clean skimmer(opposite end of the same side), this enables the fish waste to accumulate in the center of the pond and henceforth get cleaned because of the bottom cleaner. Make a UV return water hole in the bottom below where the debris can exit. 
  • In the center of the pond dig a 4’ deep hole to place the Hydrosieve pre-filter, make sure that you also dig out enough soil to place the pipe that connects with this pre-filter. Use a flexible PVC pipe for this. Make provision for an aeration tubing right alongside this pre-filter(underground). 
  • Place the bottom drain and pipe and ensure that it is compacted with a lot of soil above, below and on top, this needs to be airtight.
  • Connect your pond skimmer with a pipe using the hole that you gauged in the beginning. This pipe is approx 6”. Now level the pond skimmer.
  • The next step is to extend the UV pipe in the hole that was gauged next to the pond skimmer pipe hole, in the first step. Attach this pipe to the hydro-UV clarifier on the outside of the pond box. Now that the pipelines are fixed and in place, fill the area around the pond with mud that was dug out in the beginning.
  • Install styrofoam on the inside of the pond box, styrofoam helps to stabilize pond temperature and is helpful for the Koi. Styrofoam cuts through where the pipe outlets are placed. Now your pond installations are complete.
  • One of the last steps is to attach the aeration system and UV clarifiers in a manner that they fit into a rectangular valve box and are compacted. Now connect the skimmer to the inlet of the first UV piper. Attach the first UV to the inlet of the second UV. 
  • Connect the bottom drain 4” pipe to the inlet of the hydroSieve pre-filter. 
  • Grade the bottom of the pool thoroughly so that the soil is set and does not move even after huge pressure from the water. 
  • Add the underlayment to the base and inside of the pond. Cut the underlayment where there are pipe outlets and inlets to avoid any blockages. Now install a fish safe 45 mil rubber liner. This helps in holding the water inside the pond. 
  • Now attach the rubber liner to the pond skimmer. Now attach the bottom drain and air diffuser properly. 
  • The Hydrobead vortex is installed away from the pond but is connected via a pipe. The hydro beads vortex is placed close to a water source and should be on a compacted level/surface as it becomes heavy when filled with water. 
  • The wrinkles on the inside of the rubber liner are manually cleaned outpost which the outside of the pond(that is above the ground level), is outlined with the lumber post boards to finish the look of the pond. 
  • You can now start filling your pond and it will work seamlessly. 

Before starting the process of installation make sure that you have everything that is required to build a KOI pond. Building a DIY KOI POND at home is easy and doable at home. 


*Since the installation required electrical circuiting, wiring, and pipe installation - make sure that you take professional assistance/guidance to complete your KOI Pond.