Ideal Above Ground Koi Pond Height for DIY

DIY Above Ground Koi Pond Height with seating guide

Unlike a standard natural looking water garden.  A koi pond can be constructed in a formal design and be raised above ground level.

You might be thinking of just putting the entire pond above ground to avoid excavating.  Although, we think this is a bad idea.  Read on to learn about a better option.

What is the Ideal Height for a Koi Pond?

We think the ideal height for a koi pond is a semi-raised pond design where the walls are built 18-24″ above ground and the rest of the depth is below grade. Here is why that is most ideal.

Viewing

In most cases anything 3′ and taller would require you to be standing next to the koi pond to view it optimally.  Unless the view is from a raised deck, or platform. In which case you can adjust the height accordingly.

With all the work and money invested in a pond you want to make sure you get the most enjoyment out of it.

Construction 

Koi ponds are usually 3’ – 6’ deep on average depending on the climate and design.  If you’re serious about koi you will want to be in the 5′ – 6′ range.  As koi can get to be 24″ – 36″ large and need all the room they can get.

Being in-ground will give the pond more temperature stability.  As larger volumes of water store more energy and change less. Acting as a large thermal battery.  The less the water changes the less stress will be on the fish.

A deeper pond also allows fish to protect themselves from predators like heron. Which usually stand on the side of a pond and try to pickoff fish.  If the pond wall is two feet high and goes down four feet the heron will not be able to get to them if they remain near the bottom.  Removing another stressor.

Being a semi-raised design also doesn’t require as much excavation.  Which if you’re digging out the pond by hand this will be a huge benefit. 

With less excavation means less dirt to move and haul offsite. Saving your knees and back.

In some cases digging down to 6′ deep could cause issues with the water table.  So keeping two feet above ground and only excavating down four feet could solve an issue like this.

There are a variety of construction methods you can use for this design.  The cheapest and easiest would be to construct the walls out of lumber.  This is a DIY above ground pond building method that is the least expensive.  You can even use landscape timbers.

The next option which most people choose is to create walls out of concrete block. Then finish the exterior of the block with brick and a top cap (such as the featured picture at the top of the page).  You could also use a stucco or surface cement for an easier and cheaper design. The interior is lined with EPDM pond liner , polyurea, or sprayed with concrete.

If you decide to have the walls and bottom sprayed with polyurea or concrete.  Make sure your design is correct, or you’re working with a pond professional that knows what they are doing.  The last thing you want to do is spend thousands on getting it sprayed and have issues.

Utility

With the pond walls above ground at 18″ to 24″ it provides a great way to include seating.  You can sit back and relax right next to the pond. 

Building an above ground pond that is sem-raised will also provide some easier options for installing and maintaining filtration components. 

For example a pond skimmer is usually used and needs to be emptied often.  Having this at a raised being instead of ground level requires less bending over.  Which if you can make your pond easy to maintain, the healthier the water quality will be and the more you will enjoy it. 

Last Updated on March 9, 2022 by Davin

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