Ponds 101
1,000+ ponds constructed and repaired | 5,000+ ponds cleaned | Active in Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia since 2001
Ponds 101: Answering What’s, How’s, & More
You can access our years of knowledge and experience on Ponds 101! People like you are looking for the answers to these questions when deciding if a water feature is right for their home and lifestyle.
For more resources on ponds construction, cleaning, and repair, visit our Education Center.
No time to read the full article? Download your personal PDF copy of, “Ponds 101: The Complete Guide” here.
Components Of A Pond Ecosystem
- Biological Filter (Bio-falls) – Colonizes beneficial bacteria that filters your water to keep it clean and clear.
- Mechanical Filter (skimmer) – Collects and removes debris like leaves and sticks.
- Aquatic Plants – Removes nutrients algae feed on, provides food, shade, and protection for fish, and beautifies your pond.
- Rocks and Gravel – Protects your pond liner from damage and is a home for beneficial bacteria.
- Koi Fish – Eat algae as they add color, beauty, and life to ponds.
View our Pondless Waterfalls and Streams brochure for pictures of projects we’ve done!
Also look at the components of an ecosystem pond.
A basic pond (10’ x 15’, 24″ deep) with necessary parts: $8,000 t0 $10,000.
Basic pond with additions like fish caves: $12,000 t0 $15,000.
Larger ponds with a stream and upgrades: $40,000 t0 $50,000.
Even larger ponds with a patio or walkway: $50,000 t0 $100,000.
What Is The Average Koi Pond Size?
- Most common is about 10′ x 15′ with a waterfall.
- Different shapes change the overall size
- The normal depth of a pond is 24″
No time to read the full article? Download your personal PDF version of our At Home Pond Sizing Guide here.
How Long Does It Take To Build A Pond?
Assuming it’s a brand new 10′ x 15′ pond with a waterfall, normal ground conditions, and a 4-man crew:
- Digging & Filters- 1 day
- Underlayment & Liner Laying- 2 to 3 hours
- Rocking & Waterfall- 1 day
- Additions & Cleaning- 1 day
5 Benefits Of Having A Pond
- Impact: bring excitement and character to your backyard.
- Lifestyle: give your backyard a style that fits you.
- Nature: you’ll see fish, birds, dragonflies, and more come to your pond.
- Exploration: find out what’s new in your pond!
- Aquatic Gardening: try your blue-green thumb and grow some beautiful plants.
All the Water, Minus the Pond
The relaxing sound of water falling. That’s what you’ll get with a pondless water feature!
This water feature is perfect in areas with limited space and where children are. There’s nowhere for a child to fall into, and since the water is recirculated, it doesn’t need much space. You also won’t have aquatic plants or animals that need to be taken care of, so it’s even lower maintenance.
It will also change your yard.
Excitement and character will be brought to the backyard! The waterfall or fountain can be a focal point, drawing in guests and compliments. The sound of the water and nature will drown out undesired background noise, turning your yard into a small oasis.
So, how do these things work?
How a Pondless Water Feature Works!
Pondless water features, like waterfalls and fountains, work much like a pond does.
- An area (reservoir) is dug for the vault and water storage area. This vault houses the recirculation pump. The area is lined with protective fabric and rubber liner, which is then filled with Aqua-blocks.
- These parts are then artfully disguised with rocks and gravel.
- The pump recirculates the reservoir water via hidden plumbing right into the waterfall or stream, which then flows back into the reservoir.
- The reservoir can have a small pool of water, which makes great sounds and can serve as a bird bath! This is optional and can be hidden.
If digging isn’t an option, the pondless reservoir can be constructed on top of the soil inside of a retaining wall. If you want to add some extravagance, try some LED lights!
Learn about making your water feature safe!
Premier Ponds Can Help!
Having installed hundreds and serviced thousands of water features since 2001, Premier Ponds can offer fast and reliable service! If you want a water feature or have one serviced, we’re the ones to call! If you want to know anything or get a water feature, fill out our contact form or call us at (301) 821-7777.
Since 2001, Premier Ponds has been committing ourselves to be our industry’s best educators when it comes to all things water features. Ponds 101 is a great place to start with basic information about installing a backyard pond or water feature.