Want A Koi Fish Pond? 3 Reasons To Consider An Above Ground Pond

I have to admit to being biased. My favourite is the above ground pond. It has several advantages over the conventional in ground pond. My Koi fish pond is actually a hybrid as it is partially raised.

Safety

If you have young children or overly adventurous pets a raised wall acts as a safety barrier. This alone is reason enough to raise your pond up.
The wall of an above ground pond also makes it safer for your fish. Scaling or perching on a wall puts predators in plain sight, something they don't like.

Less Work

An above ground Koi pond requires much less digging. Having spent a lot of time on the business end of shovel, I can definitely say moving around concrete block is way easier.
Less digging means less fill dirt to move and dispose of. You would be amazed at how much dirt you'll have. It actually increases in volume when you dig. Or at least it seems to. Just try to put it all back!

Easier To Set Up

Because of its raised position gravity systems are easier to implement. If you have an in ground Koi pond you will have to dig a hole along side your pond for your filter system.
Your pump will have what's known as flooded suction. This means it wont work as hard, will last longer, wont cost as much to run, and will move more water for you.
In situations of high water table or run off prone areas it is often the best if not the only solution. Especially if your site is on a hill side.

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If you are concerned that your Koi fish pond will stick out like a sore thumb don't be. Put a partially raised deck around it. With proper landscaping and hardscaping you can make it look very natural.

My pond is 2 feet in the ground and then 2 feet above. I banked the fill against the walls for additional support and created a planting area one side almost level with the pond. The other side will have a deck attached.

One advantage of an above ground pond that I discovered quite by accident was that it brings the Koi and the water closer for better viewing.

I hope this has given you some food for thought about above ground ponds and will help you with building your Koi fish pond.

About the Author:

Steven Sherin: I hope this has given you some food for thought about above ground ponds and will help you with building your Koi fish pond. If you are looking for a good beginners book on keeping Koi get it here

I also have additional articles on Koi pond building at: http://www.buildkoipond.com/blog/

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