Award Winning Koi Pond Design & Installation

We design and build beautiful and sustainable koi ponds

We Design & Build Stunning & Sustainable Koi Ponds
Searching For a Koi Pond Builder Near Me?  You've Found Us!

Koi ponds are an increasingly popular landscaping feature that can add beauty, tranquility, and interest to any outdoor space. These stunning water features are designed to house and showcase koi fish, which are known for their vibrant colors and graceful swimming.

Koi ponds are not only attractive but also provide a sense of peace and relaxation, making them a perfect addition to any backyard, garden or landscape. Not only do they provide a habitat for koi fish, but also they can be designed to include other aesthetic elements such as waterfalls, fish caves, rock formations, and many species of aquatic plants, creating a natural and serene setting.

Building a koi pond requires careful planning, design, and construction to ensure that it is both beautiful, sustainable, and easy to maintain.  Every element of a koi pond must be planned for and implemented with purpose for not just the design aesthetics but also to enhance and support the ponds healthy ecosystem.

Oklahoma Ponds is a pond building and maintenance company based out of Oklahoma City and serving the surrounding area.  Beautiful koi ponds is one of our signature services and we've built many stunning ponds throughout Oklahoma City.  Whether you want a small indoor koi pond or a large, sprawling koi ecosystem in your backyard our team can design, build, and even provide on-going maintenance and care.

Learn More About Our Koi Ponds

Oklahoma Ponds
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What Does It Cost To Build A Koi Pond?

Oklahoma Ponds

Although our koi ponds are fully customizable to any shape and size, here are a few examples with pricing to help give you an idea of what is possible with your budget.

The Cost To Build A Small Koi Pond

8'x10' Ecosystem Pond

Starting at $9800

Our 8x10 backyard ponds are popular decisions for people looking to add the sight and sound of water into their landscape.

These ponds come standard with:

  • Bio filtration
  • 3’ waterfall and stream
  • Skimmer
  • 3000 GPH Pond Pump
  • Professional 1.5” Flex PVC
  • Boulders up to 100 lbs
  • River pebbles
  • 2’ perimeter of Grade A mulch

Optional Add-Ons:

  • Small pond lighting package- $950 (5 lights w/ transformer)
  • Auto Fill System- $350
  • Small pond aquatic plant package- $150
  • Stream upgrade- $250 per foot

The Koi Are An Additional Cost

This size of pond is on display at our display yard and retail store.

10 x 15 Koi Pond Construction

10' x 15' Ecosystem Pond

Starting at $16,500

Our 10x15 koi ponds are an excellent choice for a backyard makeover. This size pond is perfect for koi and comes standard with machine placed boulders.

These ponds come standard with:

  • Bio filtration
  • 3’ large boulder waterfall and stream
  • Skimmer
  • 5000 GPH Pond Pump
  • Professional 1.5” Flex PVC
  • Boulders up to 800 lbs
  • River pebbles
  • 2’ perimeter of Grade A Mulch

Optional Add-ons:

  • Medium pond lighting package- $1950 (8 LED lights w/ transformer)
  • Auto Fill System- $350
  • Medium pond aquatic plant package- $250
  • Stream upgrade- $450 per foot

The Koi Are An Additional Cost

This size of pond is on display at our display yard and retail store.

Do You Want A Larger Pond?

We build koi ponds of all sizes!  Here are some larger ponds and their associated cost.  Click to the photo enlarge.

$50,000

$85,000

$115,000

These prices are only ball park figures to give you a rough idea as to what you should expect for the cost of a high-end, properly constructed, koi pond in your backyard.  The price of your particular pond design may vary depending on the site, the specific materials chosen, and the overall scope of work.  If you need a firm price please request a consultation so we can view your potential project, listen to your ideas, and determine the actual scope of work required to complete your pond.  After our on-site consultation we'll be able to provide you with a firm estimate to design and build your new koi pond the right way.

What Makes A Koi Pond Great?

Oklahoma Ponds

Every element we incorporate into one of our koi ponds serves a very specific purpose.

Aquatic Plants For A Koi Pond

Aquatic Plants

Aquatic plants play an important role in your koi pond, as they provide a variety of benefits to both the fish and the ecosystem. Some of the key roles that aquatic plants play in a koi pond include improving oxygenation, supporting filtration, creating fish habitat, and enhancing the appearance.

Fish Caves For Koi Ponds

Fish Caves

Fish caves can serve several important functions in a koi pond. They can provide a sense of security for the fish, which can help to reduce stress and promote healthy growth. They can also help to protect fish from predators and can provide a shaded area where fish can retreat from the sun and heat.

Filtration System

Filtration System

Koi ponds require proper filtration systems to ensure the water remains clean for the fish and plants. Filtration helps remove debris, waste, and excess nutrients, which can lead to poor water quality and the growth of harmful bacteria. There are a few different types of filtration systems including mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration.

Koi Pond Lighting

Pond Lighting

Koi pond lighting can be an important aspect of designing and maintaining a koi pond. Lighting can not only enhance the visual appeal of the pond, but it can also serve practical purposes such as providing light for the fish and allowing for evening viewing.

Water Features For A Koi Pond

Water Features

There are a variety of water features that we can integrate into your new koi pond.  These can include cascading waterfalls, water fountains, bubblers, and more.  These all add ambience, and improve the aesthetics of your koi pond while adding the peaceful sounds of moving water.

Landscaping Surrounding A Koi Pond

Surrounding Landscape

A koi pond on it's own is an exciting landscape feature.  When you surround your pond with complimentary landscaping it takes your natural display to an entirely new level.  The right combination of plants, and natural elements such as rock and driftwood really set the stage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Koi Ponds

Oklahoma Ponds

Our Koi Pond Design Process

The koi pond design process involves several key steps that help us to ensure that the final product we build for you is both beautiful and sustainable.  We're not just building a pond.  We're building an entire ecosystem and that takes knowledge and careful thought. The following is a general overview of our koi pond design process:

#1.  Planning: The first step in designing a koi pond is to plan the overall layout and size of the pond. We need to consider factors such as the size of the available space, the intended use of the pond, how many and how large of koi you'd like to have, and the style of the surrounding landscaping. We'll also want to think about the pond's shape, depth, and location on your property.

Should you wish to proceed after an initial consultation we'll move onto actually creating a design, implementation plan, and providing you with a formal estimate for your new koi pond.

#2.  Site preparation: If you're happy with our design concept and our estimate and you choose to move forward, we'll need to prepare the actual site for the pond and planning for necessary utilities to support your pond such as water and electrical.

#3.  Design: Once the site is prepared, we can begin to actually layout the pond, including the shape, size, location of the various features and the overall aesthetic.  While it's not complete at this stage, we've at least established where everything is going to go and how it's all going to work.

#4.  Construction: Once the design and layout is complete, we can begin the actual construction process, which typically involves digging the pond, installing a liner, and adding any necessary filtration and circulation systems.  We can also rough-in some of the additional features such as fish caves, waterfalls, rock displays, and more.

#5.  Finishing touches: Once the construction is complete, we can add the finishing touches, such as ensuring the water quality is perfect for the new koi, planting the aquatic plants, finalizing the installation of waterfalls or other features, and then the exciting part, stocking the pond with your new koi.

#6.  Maintenance: The final step in the process is to establish a regular maintenance routine to ensure that the pond remains clean and healthy for the fish and plants. Remember, this is an ecosystem.  It needs an appropriate balance to thrive.  This includes cleaning the pond, maintaining proper water chemistry, and monitoring the health of the fish and plants.  This is something we can do for you or we can help support you with the right products and strategies as we do have a retail store as well.

At Oklahoma Ponds we have many years of experience designing and building koi ponds.  Our goal is to ensure that your constructed pond is safe, healthy and sustainable for the fish and the new ecosystem.

We recommend koi ponds are no shallower than 24 inches. This depth is ideal because it allows hardy aquatic plants to thrive without freezing, but also allows enough room to raise koi and goldfish. If your space and budget allow, we like to dig ponds closer to 2.5 or 3 feet deep. This depth gives your fish plenty of room to retreat when threatened and gives the pond a more unique look.

Koi Pond Filtration Systems

Filtration systems are an essential component of a koi pond, as they help to keep the water clean and healthy for the fish. Koi ponds are typically stocked with a high density of fish, and without proper filtration, the water in the pond can become polluted with waste products and other contaminants. This can lead to a buildup of harmful bacteria and other microorganisms, which can make the fish sick and cause the pond to have an unpleasant odor.

There are several types of filtration systems that can be used in koi ponds, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

The two most popular koi pond filtration systems are:

Mechanical filtration: This type of filtration uses a physical barrier, such as a filter pad or screen, to remove debris and other solid particles from the water.

Biological filtration: This type of filtration uses beneficial bacteria to break down harmful waste products, such as ammonia and nitrite, in the water.

Smaller koi ponds can often get away with choosing one or the other but for larger koi ponds the best solution is a combination of these two filtration systems.

 

Biological filtration in a koi pond works by using beneficial bacteria to break down harmful waste products, such as ammonia and nitrite, in the water. These waste products are produced by the fish waste and other organisms in the pond, and can slowly build up over time, leading to poor water quality and making the fish sick.

The process of biological filtration takes place in a bio-filter, which is a specialized filtration system that provides a surface for the bacteria to colonize. Water is pumped into the bio-filter and flows through a medium, such as a filter pad, ceramic rings, bio-balls or bio-brick, which provides a surface for the bacteria to grow on.

The beneficial bacteria that are used in a bio-filter are called Nitrifying bacteria, which are able to convert the harmful waste products in the water into less harmful substances. The first type of bacteria is called Nitrosomonas, which convert ammonia into Nitrite, and the second type of bacteria is called Nitrobacter which convert Nitrite into Nitrate. Nitrate is much less harmful to fish and can be removed through water changes or through the use of plants that are able to absorb it.

It's important to note that the process of biological filtration is a delicate balance and the right conditions must be met for the bacteria to thrive. These conditions include proper temperature, pH, oxygen levels and the presence of a food source (waste products) in order to establish and maintain a healthy population of Nitrifying bacteria.

Biological filtration is an essential component of a koi pond filtration system, as it helps to keep the water clean and healthy for the fish. It is often used in conjunction with other types of filtration, such as mechanical filtration, to provide comprehensive water treatment for a koi pond.

While the two may look similar from a passing glance, koi and goldfish are two very different species. One way to tell them apart is by the “whiskers,” known as barbels. Koi fish have barbels on each side of their mouths. Goldfish, on the other hand, lack these barbels. So, if your fish has “whiskers,” it’s definitely a koi.

You can also tell the two apart by looking at the dorsal fin closest to the tail. If the dorsal fin is attached to the back, it’s a koi. A non-attached dorsal fin means it’s a goldfish.

Koi fish also grow to be much larger than their goldfish cousins in adulthood. But don’t worry: even though they’re different, koi and goldfish typically get along just fine.

If you still have trouble identifying your fish or want advice on which species is best for your pond, we would be happy to answer your questions!

If you are having a problem with predators targeting your pond, you are not alone. This is a question that pops up every season. There are many options you can try to keep large birds and other predators away from your pond. Unfortunately, though, a heron will eventually outsmart most efforts.

The most effective way to protect your finned pets is to install a protective net. While this is very effective, some people find the net too distracting as a permanent solution. You might also consider running fishing line around the perimeter of your pond. The heron will not like having to contend with the line and will eventually find somewhere else to hunt.

Another solution is giving your fish a hiding place. If your pond does not have a good place for your fish to hide, you may want to consider adding one. We suggest two different methods. The first is an easy to install fake stump made by Aquascape. Depending on the size of your pond and fish, this may be a good option. The second option is letting us install a “fish cave.” To create this feature, we use heavy drain pipe and disguise it using matching rocks, boulders, and gravel, ultimately creating a built-in cave that blends beautifully into your pond.

Yes! A properly installed net cover keeps leaves and other winter debris from blowing into your pond and overwhelming your skimmer or pump. More importantly, winter debris can host dangerous parasites that take advantage of your fish while their immune systems are low due to the cold.

We recommend switching to a winter and fall formula fish food starting in September. Stop feeding your fish once the water temps dip below 55 degrees (usually OU vs OSU football game is a good indicator). During the early spring, you will notice your fish grazing around the pond, and maybe even coming up to you, wanting to be fed. However, during these warm streaks, there is actually plenty of organic algae and debris in the pond that the fish will eat. This material is much easier for them to digest during temperature fluctuations.

Once the water is consistently above 55 degrees, you can begin to feed small amounts of spring formula fish food. In May, you can switch to your favorite summer formula.

No! Especially during the warmer months, your fish are more active, meaning they are consuming more oxygen and putting off more waste. Turning off your system means there is less oxygen. Over time, fish waste quickly builds up to unsafe levels. Leaving your pond running year-round is always recommended if you have fish.

This is a common question we hear from new pond owners. During the winter months, your fish become very sluggish and tend to stay near the bottom of the pond, where they find warmer pockets of water. As long as your pond is below the ground and has a pump running, you should have no problems with your fish during the winter.

We also recommend raising any aeration from the bottom of your pond and bringing it closer to the surface. If possible, run your pond year-round. This makes sure that the pond does not freeze over completely and allows the gases to pass from your pond.

Unusually green water could mean several things. It might mean an abundance of nutrients in your pond, but not enough filtration or plants to consume those nutrients. When nitrates and phosphate levels are high, but there aren’t enough plants to feed on them, algae will begin to take over. The greenish color you see is actually single-cell floating algae. Unfortunately, this is very common in ponds that are constructed AWAY from the ecosystem style.

Your best option is to treat the algae as a symptom of a larger problem. First, determine the cause. A lack of plant life is almost always the culprit. New plants in your pond will start competing with the algae for the same nutrients, and eventually, the algae will die out. Shade plants help too. They’ll steal the sunlight away from algae, which causes it to die.

You might also choose to combat green water by installing a UV light, which quickly kills the algae. We do not install many of these devices, but they are very effective at killing green water. However, even with the UV light, you may need to do a few 20% water changes as the algae are dying off to prevent them from building up in the system.

Algae growth can be both alarming and unattractive. But algae isn’t always a major concern. However, sometimes it can be dangerous to your fish and aquatic plants if not controlled properly. Therefore, you should always contact us if you notice algae growth.

First, it’s important to determine what is causing the algae growth. Is it caused by excess debris, fish or plant waste, or improper cleaning? Is poor aeration of filtration causing algae growth? Your best option is to call a Pond Pro from Oklahoma Ponds. We can diagnose the cause of your algae growth and recommend a plan to get your pond healthy again.

Common solutions include introducing additives to your pond, cleaning out your water feature, adding more aquatic plants, or repairing/adding new aeration or filtration systems. Call us today to discuss your options for a cleaner, clearer pond.

That all depends. There are many factors that determine how many fish you can have. Aeration, the effectiveness of your filtration system, and gallons of water all contribute to a healthy ecosystem for your fish.

A good rule of thumb is one adult koi (over 12”) for every 250 gallons of water. So, if you have a 10x14x2 pond (measuring inside the rocks and gravel) then your pond holds 2,100 gallons of water. Assuming your pond was properly constructed, you can have up to eight adult koi.

But here is where it gets interesting; this math is for adult koi, not babies. Adult koi require a far greater amount of dissolved oxygen than smaller fish.Plus, adult koi put off much more ammonia when breathing and pooping! It is not uncommon to stock a new koi pond with baby fish (I am guilty of this myself!). While this is fine for the first few years, your fish and your pond will become unhealthy over time, as the koi grow. Without the proper space, you will have to find new homes for your finned pets…or build another pond!

It is very important to know how many gallons your pond holds. This information allows both you and your pond service team to properly service your pond by:

  • Adding the correct water treatments to the pond
  • Preventing money waste from overdosing with beneficial bacteria
  • Making sure your biological filtration system is adequate based on your water capacity and fish load.

The quickest way to determine how many gallons your pond has is to find your average length, depth, and width of your pond. Then, multiply them all by 7.5 (the space a cubic gallon of water takes up in your pond). For instance, if your pond is 8’ wide, 11’ long, and 2’ deep on average then your formula will look like this:

8 x 11 x 2 x 7.5= 1,320 gallons

However, if your pond has rocks or gravel, including rock shelves, take your measurements on the inside of the rocks. This way, you’re not factoring in water that the rocks and gravel displace.

If Oklahoma Ponds built or regularly services your pond, you can contact us directly and ask about your pond’s size. We keep track of all projects and will be able to give you accurate gallon measurements.

That depends on how your pond was constructed. If your pond is built using the “ecosystem” method (which we use here at Oklahoma Ponds), then yes, it is easy to maintain! The ecosystem pond works with mother nature and not against her. Just like a natural body of water, your pond requires a proper balance of fish, plants, aeration, and bacteria to remain healthy.

The ponds we design and build have a mechanical filter (usually a skimmer or intake bay), areas designed for plants to feed directly from the pond, and waterfall features for aeration. Plus, we add a biological filter that hosts billions of nitrifying bacteria. These bacteria remove toxins put off by the fish and decaying organic matter. It’s the circle of life, contained in your pond!

Here's What Our Customers Say...

Oklahoma Ponds
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Absolutely an A-1, excellent shop and personnel to deal with in all regards. Jay at the front desk has experience and knowledge to answer pond and fish questions and help you in building your own water feature and stocking it with koi and gold fish. Along , with Sandy at the front desk, they've made all my dealings with them a pleasure. As to service calls and personnel Colby has been my primary service contact and is competent and has a background and experience working in all aspects of the pond business from installation and maintenance to necessary chemical knowledge and fish - a pleasure to work with and gain knowledge from him. All the personnel have been a pleasure to work with and if you're looking to build a pond, this is the place to go and these are the people to talk to about any project you might have. I talk from my experience with a 10'X14' koi pond with 6 large (16"+) koi and numerous smaller koi, mosquito and growing babies. One of the pleasures in life is to simply go out and enjoy the pond/ waterfall/ and fish in the peace and quiet of the early morning and meditate - total relaxation that starts the day off right. Thanks to Jay and his staff.

Gordon Batchelor November 10, 2023
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Best place to buy Koi! Great selection and best prices! We love this place!!

Damian Rodriguez September 12, 2023
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If you want a koi pond, these are the guys to use. They did a great job and we love our new pond. The fish seem to love it too.

V Smith August 26, 2023
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Our pond was PITIFUL! I’m old and recovering from a surgery and unable to take care of it any longer, so, it was either get help or have it filled in! Thank Heaven I found Oklahoma Ponds! Their serviceman Colby came out and within about 6-7 hours my Koi think they’ve died and gone to Heaven! What a job he did! I barely recognize the pond… it is BEAUTIFUL again. I can’t say enough about this company, except if you’ve got a pond… you need Oklahoma Ponds.. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!

Arden Dorney August 17, 2023
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I always go here for chemicals and advice on caring for my Koi pond

James Williams August 14, 2023
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Probably like alot of people, we "inherited" a koi pond / waterfall with the house we bought. And like alot of people, we were completely clueless about how to take care of it. Luckily I found Jay and he's been helping me out with every situation imaginable for about the last 5 years. He is quickly responsive and I've always felt like he is just as invested in my pond as I am. His crew is always great, they are personable, have the knowledge they need, and they always go the extra mile and make sure we are happy and that all my questions are answered. If you are in my boat, Jay is a great and very involved educator and truly wants you to understand your pond and your fish if you have them. One thing I appreciate is that he can communicate at whatever level you happen to be at. If you're a newbie, he won't overload you with too much information. He will work with you at your pace and tell you what you need or want to know at any given time.

Christi Jernigan July 18, 2023
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The folks who work at Edmond Ponds are courteous and very knowledgeable. I would hire them again for any pond maintenance and everyone should visit their store. Such beautiful plants and koi!

Vicki Jackson June 12, 2023
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Colby came out and cleaned up our pond that’s about 1000 gallons big! We had just purchased our home and it had been vacant for close to a year. So we have no clue when it was scrubbed and cleaned up last. So as you could imagine a big job to clean! Colby worked hard and got it all cleaned up. We have 15 goldfish that survived the winter! Thank you! Now to do the landscaping, get some koi and lights! 😃

Rachael Vigar April 27, 2023

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