Building your Preformed In-Ground Koi Pond

Using a preformed plastic or fiberglass pond is an easy way to enjoy all the benefits of having a pond without the difficulties of building a pond with a PVC liner.  If you are looking for a way to enjoy the sites and sounds of a pond, but do not have the time or the expertise to build a lined pond, then this is definitely an option to consider!  After building my very first pond this way several years ago, I added two more ponds, each connected by a spillway.  You might be interested to know that when it came to adding the other ponds, I built them above ground!  I even added an area for plants to surround the pond.  Feel free to e-mail me with questions and/or comments regarding your pond.

The following are steps to building a plastic or fiberglass preformed pond in the ground.

1.   Mark your Koi pond's outline.  Unless you are working with a very small pond, you will need some help to build your new preformed Koi Pond, as you will be lifting and moving your it several times.  Find the desired location for your pond and place it upright on the spot.  Using a

plumb bob or a spirit level and stakes, transfer the shape of the Koi pond's rim to the ground.  Next, mark the outline with a rope, non-toxic spray paint, or a garden hose.  Stakes should be used to keep the rope or hose in place,  and set 12 inches apart.

2.   Prepare and Dig the Hole.  When building and digging the hole for your Koi pond, you will need to conform it to the shape of  the preformed pond.  Allow an extra 2 inches around the perimeter  and 2 inches in the bottom of the hole.  You will need to add sand to cushion the bottom of the preformed pond from rocks.  If your pond has shallow- water shelves then only dig the hole to their depth.  Firmly tap the outside bottom edges.  Next, take your preformed pond and put it in the hole.  You can now mark the outline of  your pond's bottom.  Take the rigid or preformed pond liner out of the hole and then dig out this lower portion.  When building, this lower portion should be dug out to the distance between the bottom of the shelves and the bottom of the pond, plus 2 extra inches.  Remove any sharp objects or rocks and then line the bottom of the hole with either finely sifted soil or sand, (2 to 3 inches).  iconicon

 
3.   Set the pond.  As you continue to build your Koi pond, place the rigid or preformed liner into the hole and check the height of the Koi pond's rim.  The rim should be approximately 1 inch above the ground to prevent any runoff from going into the pond.  You can add or remove the soil from the hole's bottom until you achieve the desired height.  The pond kit shown at right has everything you need to build your pond and includes a gift certificate to LiveAquaria.com so that you can not only build your pond but stock it as well!

4.   Level your Koi pond.  When building a Koi pond with a preformed or rigid liner you must make sure it is level.  Place a 2x4 across the pond and use a spirit level to check it.   Continue doing this in several places around your pond until it is level on all sides.  Before adding any water, make sure your Koi pond is level!  With even a  few inches of water in your Koi pond's preformed shell, it will be virtually impossible to move, so level your pond first.  Once it is level you can start slowly filling it with water.  As the water begins to rise, fill the hole around your koi pond with sand or sifted dirt.  You can use the handle of your shovel or the end of a 2x4 to gently tap the soil as you put it in.  Continue building your pond and be sure to fill any gaps or holes, especially around the shelves.  Frequently check the rim of your Koi pond to make sure it is level.  Also, as you build, do not let the water level inside your pond rise above the dirt around the outside of the rim.  This could cause your preformed or rigid pond liner to bulge outward.


5.  Add your edging.  The final step in building your preformed Koi pond is concealing its edges.  Once you have filled your pond with water you can conceal the rim with rocks, or flagstones.  If you do use flagstones, do not allow their full weight to rest on your pond's rim.  The weight may deform or damage your Koi pond's walls.  When I built my first pond I simply laid the rocks on the edges of my pond, but you can embed them in a 3-to-4-inch bed of mortar, if you wish.   Your pond is done and you can add your fish.  LiveAquaria.com has a 14 day arrive alive stay alive guarantee on all their fish.  I have a platinum colored Koi in my pond purchased from them as a baby several years ago.  That baby is now over two feet long and is very similar to the one shown at left.