Koi

When building a Koi pond, it is vital that you allow enough of your budget to buy the items that are essential for your pond to run well. Some of these items can be classed as essential rather than optional and, of course, the cost of each item will vary depending on the size of your pond.
    An average pond size today would be in the region of 4,000 gallons and this would be a gravity-fed pond. With this in mind, the following costs should be budgeted for (these are approximate):

Essential items

Bottom drain: £19.95
4in slide valve: £45
Medium (30in plus) vortex: £225
Filter system: £600–£1,100
Pump: £260
55W UV unit: £130
 

Recommended

Skimmer: £40
Pump for skimmer: £180
Heater, heat exchanger or heat pump: £330–£2,000
50l air pump with airstone: £130
Water purifier: £100–£300

As shown, the items listed as essential will be required whichever way you build your 4,000-gallon pond – this will result in a functioning pond, but it is worth considering some of the recommended items. With those, some can easily be fitted later, like a heater, but if you think you might install a unit at a later date, make sure that you have a utility supply that will handle the loading, such as gas, oil or electric.

Other items like a skimmer are far easier to fit at the time of construction, because fitting it later will involve draining the pond and carrying out a major job! If you are happy to go for just the essential items, you would be looking at spending in the region of £2,024.95 with pipework.

We can use this to create a rough pricing guide – if you’re just going for the basics, allow in the region of 50p to 75p per gallon to cover the equipment costs. Although, this does not cover the costs of construction, lining material, removal of waste soil, or any other jobs involved in the actual construction of the pond!

Written by Keith Holmes

Photo courtesy of Flow Images