The Chicagoland area is home to the largest manufacturer of pond kits in the world, Aquascape Designs Inc. The majority of work I do is on these systems. I am a Certified Aquascape Contractor. I use nothing else but genuine Aquascape parts for repairs and replacements on these systems.

Many of my customers have owned their pond for five years or more. During this time their fish have grown but the mechanical and biological filters have not. Overstocked ponds that are under filtered are very common. I have devised a series of inexpensive upgrades and retrofits to increase the amount filtration without changing the overall look of your pond. These upgrades not only handle larger fish loads, but also make the pond easier to maintain. As a result water clarity and quality are no longer a problem. Algae is kept to a minimum and the pond is healthy.

In my experience, the average size Aquascape pond I see is the 11’ x 16’ x 2’. Many of these ponds are home to more than a dozen koi. Considering that koi get 24" long in a short time, these stocking densities are a problem waiting to happen. The addition of a bead filter, bog filter, or a second waterfall biofilter can handle the waste problems from a large fish load. In my opinion, a larger pond or less fish is the best solution.

Getting Started

The most asked question I get is "I want a pond…how do I get started"? I am going to describe the three basic water features you can get, and let you decide from there.

Pondless Waterfall

This is the least amount of money and effort in the water feature family. They consist of a waterfall, stream, and no pond. The return sump is filled with gravel and is well suited for a family with small children. The addition of aquatic plants and lighting make these stand out in your landscape. It is relatively easy to add a pond for fish at a later date when the children are bigger. An excellent starter water feature!

Water Garden

This type of feature will cost a few thousand more than a pondless waterfall. They do best in full sun because they are meant to be part of the garden architecture and fish are not the focus. The addition of goldfish, not koi is recommended. Big koi will tax the filter system of a water garden and may eat all your expensive plants. This type of feature also looks great when it is lit up at night. These are lots of fun because water gardens are very easy to grow; you cannot over water these plants.

Koi Pond

The koi pond is the king of water features and has the highest price tag of them all. The extra money is spent on water filtration equipment, the heart and soul of a good koi pond. Bead filter systems are clean water machines and my preference for koi ponds. The addition of skimmers and biofalls incorporated into the filtering system are a welcome one. There is no such thing as too much filtration for a koi pond, so more is better in this case. The maintenance on a koi pond is important and should not be taken lightly. An educated koi keeper will be the most successful!

If you are not familiar with water features, go on one of the many pond walks that are held every season. Ask questions and take pictures so you can make an educated decision when it comes to your own pond. Most owners are happy to help a beginner. The most important question you can ask is "who built your pond"? This will help you to decide whether you should build it yourself or hire a contractor. Your contractor should be insured and experienced in the type of feature you want. Beware of the lowest bidder!