The decision to install a koi pond should not be taken lightly. Unlike an ordinary pond, a koi pond is a far more substantial investment that will require a significant investment to ensure that the pond remains healthy and comfortably able to house the koi throughout its lifetime.
There are a few costs associated with the construction of a koi pond. Besides building materials, water, and fish, a koi pond also requires filtration systems, pumps, skimmers, and safety features such as nets and hideaways. Hiring architects and other professionals is another factor.
Some of these koi pond costs are more obvious than others, and some are far higher in initial investment. Overall, a koi pond will be a significant investment while building it initially and after the pond has been built. Koi ponds require a substantial amount of ongoing maintenance.
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The Costs Behind Building Small A Koi Pond
Suppose you are considering having a koi pond built at home. In that case, there are several things to consider before embarking on the project. While some obvious costs come to mind when thinking about a koi pond, several important costs are less obvious.
While these are not the first items you might think of when building a koi pond, they are equally important compared to all other expenses associated with this project.
When building a koi pond, some initial costs that might come to mind include labor costs, building materials, excavation, specialty equipment such as concrete mixers, and the water to fill the pond.
Naturally, the actual koi fish cost will come into account, which can be substantial, especially if you purchase adult koi fish.
When it comes to costs that might be a little less obvious, you will need to consider items such as the electricity associated with building the pond and the electricity required to keep the koi pond running at all times.
Koi ponds will require pumps, which can be another significant upfront cost. Another major investment is the installation of filtration systems. The filtration systems for koi ponds are relatively complex. They usually consist of several components and different types of filters.
Firstly, koi fish produce a significant amount of waste. There must be a way for these waste products to be removed from the fish’s environment.
The filtration systems in a koi pond will consist of biological and mechanical filters. Rocks, gravel, aquatic plants, and bacteria must be considered when it comes to the filtration systems for a koi pond. All of these will incur additional costs.
A high cost you may not have considered when it comes to koi ponds is incorporating safety features for the fish. While this is often a design feature that should be considered during the initial design process (hopefully by an architect in collaboration with an experienced builder of koi ponds), it is also an additional cost.
While safety features can be designed into the pond in carefully considered hiding places, they can also be a simple addition, such as a net to protect the fish from potential predators.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A Koi Pond Installed In The UK?
Naturally, when so many factors go into the overall cost of a project, the price can differ drastically depending on the project. Different sizes of ponds, different designs, and different materials are just some of the factors that will influence the project’s price as a whole.
The price of installing a koi pond will also vary depending on the level of the filtration system, the size of the pond, the contractor you decide to use, the landscaping, and of course, the purchase of the fish themselves. Heaters, nets, and additions such as waterfalls will all significantly influence the overall price of your koi pond.
Generally speaking, you can pay anywhere between £2000 and £15000 for a koi pond. It’s important to remember that koi ponds will cost far more than normal garden ponds for various reasons.
A large koi pond on the lower end of the scale with few flourishes and additional features will cost about £6000. An exceptionally high-end koi pond with several added features can cost around £12000. On average, for a well-sized koi pond with most features that one would expect with a koi pond, you can expect to pay around £9000.
As discussed before, this will depend on several factors. It’s highly advisable to do it right the first time when building a koi pond. This includes hiring a reputable koi pond builder as well as an architect.
These two professionals can work together to create a koi pond that will add a great deal of aesthetic value to your property while ensuring that it functions 100%.
Maintenance Costs Of Koi Ponds
Several maintenance costs come with owning a koi pond. These costs must be considered when deciding to build the pond, as it is clear that the initial pond construction will not be the only cost associated with the pond.
Maintaining a koi pond can cost anywhere between £400 and £1500 per year, depending on the size of the pond and the equipment therein.
Some maintenance costs include inspections for damage and leaks, water treatments, cleaning and draining the pond, and replacing landscaping elements. If the pond inspections reveal any damages, these damages will need to be repaired. As opposed to solid ponds, Liner ponds may need to replace the liner every few years.
Certain seasonal maintenance has to occur, including adding a net in the fall for leaves, switching off and removing the pump during winter, and trimming aquatic plants during spring.
Conclusion
Whether you build your koi pond yourself – which is generally not an advisable thing to do – or hire experienced professionals to complete the job, there are countless costs to take into account. The result is an expensive project at the end of the day. However, the joy you receive from your koi pond ought to outweigh the financial outlay by far.
Sources
https://householdquotes.co.uk/pond-installation-costs/
https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/cost-build-pond/
https://www.totallandscapecare.com/design-build/article/15034515/koi-ponds-can-be-very-profitable-if-done-correctly
