Create backyard retreat with a koi pond

Take out the noise from the passing cars, add an oasis for local wildlife and put the worries of the day behind. Installing a garden pond, either large or small, can add depth to your backyard, in many different ways.

“The overall benefit in this desert environment is that we are able to change the atmosphere of our yards,” said Janon Wallace, pond enthusiast and founder of the former Las Vegas Koi Club.

She and her husband, Kent, owner of Living Water Solutions, have had a rather large pond in their backyard for more than a decade. The 8,500-gallon pond is home to a few authenticated koi and is peppered with tropical and drought-friendly plants.

“Our days begin and end pond-side,” she said. “With a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, we’re by the pond. It adds so much to your daily life. The fish we have are like pets; they come up and eat out of your hand.”

The shallow pond adds more than aesthetic appeal to her backyard.

“Our backyard is cooler with the pond,” she said. “And we’re using less water than most yards, overall.”

A small tub pond with a pump to move the water so that it can stay clear can add enormous benefits.

“In a small condominium yard it can block out traffic and other noise from the street and make the yard a place you want to go to,” she said. “It’s there to enjoy; the key is to do it right and then you get the lovely benefits.”

Wallace’s pond attracts toads, dragonflies and small birds that bathe and drink in the pond’s cool waters. It’s also attracted her small grandchildren.

“It is a beautiful space for having kids exposed to what is going on in a pond,” she said. “It really changes your yard. It comes alive.”

Her grandchildren have waded into the pond to play amid the large fish that have made the pond home for more than 10 years.

“We have fish that weigh 30 pounds,” she said. “Fish, like any other pet, you need to take care of them and understand what their needs are.”

Having a water feature in your backyard can be a challenge in Las Vegas, she said, but not for the reasons many may think.

“The average pond uses less water than 500-square-feet of green grass,” Wallace said. “But you have to be aware of how to care for the pond so you aren’t losing water.”

There are certain things that need to be considered before building a hole in the ground and putting fish in it.

“Go to the American Koi Association, check with a reputable (contractor) and avoid the heartache of having your clear pond go green, losing fish,” Wallace said. “If you just put a liner in the ground, it can leak and you are just losing water.”

The pond can feed off water used in your yard to cut down on waste.

“The water issue is something you really need to be aware of,” she said. “Do your homework. They are work, but even in a xeriscape you can have an efficient pond. You use far less water if it’s built properly.”

Shade is imperative for the pond’s health, said Salvodor Martinez, irrigation manager for Star Nursery on West Charleston Boulevard.

“Shading is important for all the ways that the water turns green from the heat and exposure,” he said. “Bacteria can grow fast in our desert environment because we get so much sun.”

The size doesn’t matter, he said, as long as you cater to the pond’s needs with continual care.

“If you are going to have fish, it takes a bit more care, but we have Algae Fix for that, which helps a lot,” Martinez said. “Ask if you are unsure, because it doesn’t take much for a pond to go green if you aren’t paying attention.”

And there are plenty of people to ask, said Holly Stauskas, owner of Tranquility Ponds in Henderson.

“There is so much that has changed in Las Vegas in the last few years,” said Stauskas, who has been in Las Vegas since 1998. “There are a lot of pond enthusiasts in town now.”

It’s better to ask around locally than to go online and be misinformed if you are considering building a backyard pond.

“Our desert climate is really unique so you can get a lot of bad information online,” she said.

But it doesn’t need to be confusing or expensive. The average cost of a large pond, including parts and labor, is approximately $5,000.

“We start at $4,975.00 for a typical 5-foot-by-7-foot pond with a two- to three-tier waterfall,” she said. “That includes all materials, labor and landscape lighting around the exterior.”

But you can start simply, even with a small above-ground tub, and a healthy dose of good information.

“Any average homeowner can do it in three days,” she said.

Hiring laborers from a temp agency for around $15 an hour to dig and haul materials can lessen the amount of physical labor. A good sized in-ground pond is about 300 gallons.

“In half a day, with about three guys, you can have a nice deep pond,” she said. “Don’t overthink it.”

To build an in-ground pond, you’ll need a shovel or jackhammer, underlayment, pond liner, pump and filtration. Then comes the fun stuff.

“Aquatic plants are awesome,” she said. “They are beautiful to look at, provide extra filtration, help balance the eco system and give fish some shade and protection from predators.”

Never cut the liner until the pond is running and completely filled up. That way you can see that it is level and you don’t wind up with a low spot.

Make sure you double the size of your filtration as well as the beneficial bacteria because you are fighting the weather.

“Our heat is something you have to be aware of and work with it,” Stauskas said. “Always go with double the filtration because of the heat and sun in Southern Nevada.”

Also be aware of threats from above.

“Blue herons love to eat the fish in a shallow pond,” she said. “Make sure if you have fish that they have protection.”

That protection, either plants or rocks, can also help keep the pond cool.

And if you decide that the pond is too much with the added upkeep of fish, she urges you to seek foster care for your fish.

“Don’t put them in Lake Mead or Sunset Park, please,” Stauskas said. “Just drop them off to me, I’ll find a home for them.”

She has a large pool of potential homes for unwanted fish, with more than 1,900 clients in the valley.

Her most important advice for potential pond owners?

“Place the pond in the best location of your yard you will see it and enjoy it most,” she said.