How To Build A Koi Pond You Will Love (With A Waterfall)

Find Out The Steps Good Pond Contractors Follow When Building A Koi Pond In Colorado Springs

Your pond is more likely to leak and have problems unless these 7 steps for how to build a koi pond with a waterfall are used. It’ll look better too. The basic process is to dig it out, line it, install filters, put in rocks, and add additions.

You can find more details on how to construct a great koi pond below.

But What About The Rest Of Our Yard?!

“Won’t it be littered with tools and be torn all to pieces?!”

Building a water feature in Golden Colorado

Michelle looks at the pond contractor sitting across the table with worry. She doesn’t want to hire him to build a koi pond in their backyard only to destroy the rest of it. Then they’d have to pay a landscaper to come in and fix their mess.

“I’ll be honest; it’ll look like we’re tearing apart a good portion of your yard. That’s just how the process is for building a koi pond. The important part is knowing we treat every home we go to like it was our own. This means doing as little damage as possible as well as cleaning up at the end of the day and the project. We’ll make sure your home is left better than we found it.”

Before and after pictures of building a koi pond

Michelle looks doubtfully at her husband, Matt. “I appreciate your honesty, but I still don’t know…”

The contractor looks thoughtful for a few seconds. “Would it make you more comfortable to know the steps we take for how to build a koi pond with a waterfall? It’s perfectly normal to ask after you request a consultation for a pond.”

The couple nods in agreement. Here is the process for building a koi pond the contractor tells them.

How To Build A Koi Pond With A Waterfall

Design and mark out the boundary with spraypaint
Dig out shelves and 2-foot deep pond bottom
Lay down underlayment and liner
Install filters and pumps
Add rocks and gravel
Install any additions
Add fish and plants

Koi pond with waterfall after spring cleaning

“That’s pretty interesting. Could you tell us more about how you build a koi pond?” Matt asks.

The contractor nods and continues.

The Nitty-Gritty Of Koi Pond Building

Always go in with a plan.

Planning out how to build a koi pond and more

Design your pond and mark it out with spraypaint. This way nobody digs outside of where they should. Dig down about a foot, measure 1 foot towards the center of the pond, and then dig down at least another foot.

“Wait, why?” Michelle asks curiously.

This creates a shelf for aquatic plants to sit on. It also makes it easier to get in and out of the pond for cleaning and maintenance.

Then an underlayment and liner are laid down:

Adding liner and rocks to part of a water feature

The liner holds the water in the pond and the underlayment protects it. The filters are installed during this stage. One filter is called a biofall unit that is a filter disguised as a waterfall. The liner is attached to the filters so they don’t become leaky spots.

“And we don’t want your newly built koi pond to turn your yard into a swamp,” the contractor points out.

Beginning to add rocks and gravel to a pond

After this we place rocks and gravel on top of the liner. It looks better, natural, and helps protect the liner even more. They’re also a place for beneficial bacteria to live and filter your pond water.

Ecosystem pond with spillway bowls and plants are a beautiful and natural outdoor living space idea

“Beneficial bacteria? Well, you are the pond expert. If it’s part of owning a pond we’ll trust you on it,” Mike says hesitantly. “Beneficial bacteria is so good they even sell it in pond stores,” the contractor assures them.

Koi fish swimming in a pond at night lit up by LED lights

Then comes any additions you want to install. This can include an auto-fill system, filters like IonGens, and underwater lighting. Additions help with lowering maintenance and/or making the pond look better.

“And the final step is adding fish and plants after the water clears,” Michelle finishes confidently.

“You got it,” the contractor finishes as he leans back in his chair. “How are the two of you feeling about building a koi pond with a waterfall now?

Wow, They Did It

Michelle and Matt look out over their new koi pond with happiness. It was built in a few days and it looks amazing! At first, it was looking like a bomb went off in their yard but now it’s beautiful.

Now they just need to know how to clean a pond so it stays that way.