24 Stunning Koi Pond Ideas

Koi ponds are magical ways to invite tranquility into your landscape. Koi, a breed of Japanese ornamental fish, are typically kept in outdoor ponds for decorative purposes and also for their soothing movements that are calming to watch. Koi fish come in many colors and patterns, including shades and combinations of blues, silvers, oranges, yellows, reds, and whites. Read on to see koi pond ideas that can inspire you to add this tranquil spot to your outdoor space.

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Minimalist Koi Pond

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This minimalist koi pond's cement walls form a simple rectangle shape. Adding koi fish to a garden pond requires strong filtration because the fish's excretions contain ammonia. Koi fish use plants such as these water lilies as protection from prey, relief from the sun, and as places to lay their eggs.

Tip

Start with a few koi fish. They are social fish and prefer to swim in a school but they grow up to 3 feet long so consider the size of the pond. They require a depth of 3 to 4 feet of water—shallower waters invite predators, such as raccoons and blue herons.
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Waterfalls in Koi Pond

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To give your koi pond an even more tranquil feel, add a waterfall or two. The gentle trickling sound of the water feature will add to the relaxing nature of your outdoor space. Plus, the waterfall will naturally aerate the pond water, which the koi fish will greatly appreciate.
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Glass Walkway Over Koi Pond

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Get up close and personal with your koi fish by installing a glass walkway over your koi pond. Be sure it’s secure and understand its weight limit before stepping on top.
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Shady Koi Pond

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Vegetation planted around your koi pond will ensure that the water stays cool. That’s especially important if you live in a warm climate as the shade will provide a refuge for the fish and help keep the water from getting too warm. Cooler water temperatures also increase the dissolved oxygen in the pond to keep your fish happy and healthy.

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Koi Pond With Sitting Area

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Build your koi pond around a sitting area complete with a fire pit and a few chairs and you’ve got a relaxing escape right in your own backyard. Move ashes away from the pond after they cool down so the breeze does not carry them into the pond. Tiny amounts of ash in a pond may not be harmful but the chemical composition of wood ash can be problematic for water and fish.
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Rocky Koi Pond

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Add some decorative rocks to your koi pond to give it a more natural look. Not only will the rocks look beautiful, but they will also add a complex habitat that koi fish enjoy. Natural rocks will also be useful if you add other animals, like non-aggressive turtles, to your koi pond.
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Yard Takeover Koi Pond

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Yards without grass are more eco-friendly because they require fewer resources to care for them. Consider transforming your entire yard into a magnificent koi pond to reduce your carbon footprint and create your personal oasis. If you turn your entire yard into a koi pond, you may even have room to make it intricate and complex, perfect for all kinds of plants and animals.
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Small Oasis

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No massive outdoor space? No problem. Create a small koi pond that's at least 6 feet by 8 feet and 4 feet deep. Anything smaller will not be good for koi fish. Don't overstock the pond for its size. Estimate putting into a pond of this size about four (possibly up to six) koi fish as the rule of thumb is to place no more than four koi per 1,000 gallons of water.

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Diverse Koi Pond

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You don’t need to limit your koi pond to koi fish only. Try adding other animals that do well with koi fish, like your area's native turtle (or one that does not hunt and eat fish) and domestic ducks (wild ducks may be problematic). Do your research and find the best types that can coexist with your koi and then you can teach your kids about animal behavior.
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Hidden Koi Pond

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This large outdoor space includes multiple features such as a koi pond, a sitting area, a space for outdoor games, and more. Tall vegetation protects the koi pond, making it a hidden oasis.
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Extra Features

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Make your koi pond more dynamic with extra features like sculptures, boulders, and waterfalls. Waterfall features make your pond sound soothing and sculptures and boulders add visual interest.
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Koi Pond With Open Feeding Area

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If you have kids, they will most certainly want to play with and feed the koi fish in your pond. It's all part of the fun so make sure to include an open area with level ground so that you or your kids have room to feed and watch the fish. Koi can even be trained to eat out of your hand.

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Water Garden Koi Pond

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Water gardens are outdoor water features incorporating several elements, including waterfalls and beautiful aquatic plants. While plants are the main focus of water gardens, some may also include ornamental fish. Including koi fish in your water garden will make the area more dynamic and interesting. Just be aware that koi will eat some aquatic plants, so they should be put into the pond and protected from the fish.
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Koi Pond With Viewing Trail

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Clearing a trail around all or part of your koi pond allows you to maneuver around the pond to get a close look at the fish. Trails can take you deeper into the pond area and offer more solitude if you wish to find quiet at the koi pond.
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Brick Bottom Koi Pond

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Some koi fish, especially white ones, look stunning against a solid brick bottom. It’s a popular and safe choice for many minimalist koi ponds. Just be sure the brick bottom is sealed to hold water.
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Rounded Koi Pond

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Experiment with different shapes to find the most suitable koi pond for your area. Rounded or bean-shaped ponds are popular choices that offer a soothing and modern look.

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Koi Pond With Viewing Platform

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Viewing platforms allow you to get close to see the beautiful fish as they swim around. You can even put a chair on the platform and enjoy the bliss of the pond.
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Extravagant Koi Pond

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If you follow the mantra “go big or go home," this extravagant koi pond is for you. Here, ornamental plants, stunning sculptures, and water features make this koi pond look bigger and more elaborate.
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Natural Bottom Koi Pond

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Cover a koi pond built with a cement or rubber bottom with rocks, gravel, algae, or clay soil for a natural look. Smooth-edged gravel is a popular choice because it offers beneficial bacteria colonization for the fish and encourages foraging. Some submerged aquatic plants (such as foxwort and eelgrass) coexist better with certain soil types, so do your research before choosing.
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Koi Pond Sculptures

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If you have a favorite sculpture artist, you can put their work on display in or around your backyard koi pond. The sculptures will give your pond a more polished look and keep it aesthetically pleasing. Make sure all cement, sealants, and materials used are safe for the fish.

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Stepping Stones in Koi Pond

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Walkways can look very natural on a pond. These ample, weathered stepping stones built into the middle of this pond provide a wonderful viewing platform to watch the koi fish swim.
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Pond With Fountains

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With the gentle sound and mesmerizing movements of falling water, this water fountain is incredibly soothing. Like waterfalls, water fountains can increase the amount of oxygen in the pond and provide fish with cooler water.
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Lily Pad Koi Pond

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Water lily pads and lotus flowers have a serene look about them. These unique aquatic plants seemingly float atop and slightly above calm water in lakes and ponds. The plants also produce oxygen, which is good for fish and beneficial bacteria. Both lotus flower and water lily plants may need to be secured in pots to prevent the koi from uprooting them. Cover at least half the water with lotus or lily pads if the pond is located in a sunny spot.
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Decorative Koi Pond

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This shady koi pond includes a multitude of sculptures, a brick-edged wooden walkway, and plenty of plants. Note the collection of individual plants, including a bonsai tree, elevated and displayed on tables.

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