Pond contractor in Boise, Idaho

A backyard pond in Boise has a hard job. It bakes in July, loses water to dry wind, and freezes over in January. When a pond turns green every summer or drops a few inches a week, the problem is almost always how it was built. As a pond contractor in Boise, I build ponds that handle these conditions and fix the ones that don't.

I'm Kabe Hockema. I build with Aquascape components and use the ecosystem approach. That means the pond cleans itself the way a natural one does: a skimmer catches debris, a biological filter grows good bacteria, and rocks, gravel, plants and fish each do part of the work. Here's every pond service I offer.

Pond construction

Pond construction is building a pond from the ground up: digging, underlayment, liner, rock, plumbing, filtration and plants. An 8' x 11' Aquascape system pond with a waterfall starts at $15,500. Size, rock and how easy the site is to reach move it from there.

Pond maintenance

Pond maintenance keeps the water clear and the fish healthy. It covers emptying the skimmer, rinsing filter mats, trimming plants, checking the pump and adding beneficial bacteria. An ecosystem pond needs less work than most people expect, but it still needs regular care.

Pond cleaning

Pond cleaning is a full cleanout, usually in spring. The pond is drained, fish wait safely in a holding tank, muck and leaves come out, rocks get rinsed, and the pond is refilled with dechlorinator. It resets the pond before algae season.

Koi pond installation

Koi need more than a garden pond gives them. Koi pond installation means more depth, more filtration and steep sides that make it harder for herons to wade in. Koi grow big, so I size the pond and filter for the fish you'll have years from now.

Waterfall installation

Waterfall installation adds the sound most people want. Falling water also adds oxygen, and the top of the falls is a good place to hide the biological filter. I set the rock so water drops off clean ledges instead of sliding down a ramp.

Pond repair

Pond repair fixes what's broken: a dead pump, a sunken edge, a waterfall that splashes water out, or rocks that slid. Many older ponds built without a skimmer or proper filter can be upgraded during the repair instead of torn out.

Fish pond design

Fish pond design starts with the fish. Goldfish and koi need different depths and filtration, and every fish pond needs shade and places to hide. I plan how many fish the pond can hold so the filter can keep up with their waste.

Backyard pond installation

Backyard pond installation puts a pond close enough to the patio to hear it. I place it where you can see it from inside the house too, and away from trees that would drop heavy leaf litter into the water every fall.

Pond filtration system installation

Pond filtration system installation adds or replaces the parts that keep water clear. A skimmer pulls debris off the surface, and a biological filter at the waterfall holds the bacteria that break down waste. Old ponds with a pump sitting on the bottom often change the most.

Water feature installation

Not every water feature is a pond. Water feature installation covers streams, pondless waterfalls, bubbling rocks and small ponds. I help you pick what fits your space, how much upkeep you want, and whether small kids will be near the water.

Pond liner replacement

When a liner is brittle, torn or covered in patches, pond liner replacement is often smarter than another repair. I pull the rock, remove the old liner, fix the shape, and lay new underlayment and a fish-safe EPDM rubber liner. Then the rock goes back.

Aquatic plant installation

Aquatic plant installation adds plants that pull nutrients from the water, so algae has less to eat. Water lilies shade the surface, marginal plants grow on shallow shelves at the edge, and bog plants filter water as it passes through their roots.

Pond leak repair

Most pond leaks aren't holes in the liner. For pond leak repair I check the edges first, where settled soil or a low spot lets water escape, then the stream and waterfall for splash. If the level still drops, I test the plumbing and the liner.

Pond pump installation

The pump is the heart of the pond. Pond pump installation means picking a pump sized to your waterfall's height and width, not the biggest one on the shelf. A pump sized right costs less to run every month and makes a waterfall that sounds right instead of roaring.

Pond lighting installation

Pond lighting installation lets you enjoy the pond after dark, which is when most summer evenings outside happen. Low-voltage LED lights go under the falls, along the stream and in the plants, on a timer so you don't have to think about them.

Natural pond construction

Natural pond construction builds a pond that looks like it formed on its own. That means uneven edges, gravel on the bottom, boulders that blend into the planting, and a shape that follows the slope of the yard. No bare liner showing anywhere.

Ecosystem pond installation

Ecosystem pond installation is the Aquascape approach in full: skimmer, biological filter, rock and gravel, plants, fish and bacteria working together. Each part handles a piece of keeping the water clean, so you spend less time fighting algae and more time watching the fish.

Pond dredging

Larger ponds collect muck on the bottom over the years. Pond dredging removes that sludge, which feeds algae and uses up oxygen. It's usually needed in bigger or older ponds, especially ones with trees dropping leaves in every autumn and no skimmer to catch them.

Small garden pond installation

Not every yard has room for a big pond. Small garden pond installation fits a compact pond into a corner bed or beside a patio. Small ponds still need real filtration, because a small volume of water swings out of balance fast in Boise heat.

Pond fountain installation

Pond fountain installation adds a spray or bubbler to a pond. Besides the look and sound, it stirs and aerates the water. That helps fish on hot summer nights, when warm water holds less oxygen. It's also a simple way to add movement to a pond that has no waterfall.

Wildlife pond creation

Wildlife pond creation builds a pond for birds, frogs, dragonflies and bees. It has a shallow gravel beach where birds can drink and bathe, native plants around the edge, and usually no fish, so tadpoles and insects have a chance.

Pond relining

Pond relining puts a new flexible liner inside an existing pond shell, with fresh underlayment between them. It's a good option for old concrete or preformed plastic ponds that have cracked after years of freeze-thaw winters, when the shape is fine but the shell won't hold water.

Biofiltered pond installation

A biofiltered pond installation relies on living bacteria to break down fish waste. Water passes through filter media where the bacteria live, then spills out as the waterfall. It's how you get clear water without pouring chemicals into the pond.

Custom pond design

Custom pond design shapes the pond around your yard and how you'll use it. I plan where you'll sit, the view from the kitchen window, the depth, the waterfall height, and where the plumbing and power run. Then I build to that plan.

Pond winterization

Boise winters freeze ponds over. Pond winterization means cutting back plants, clearing leaves, and either keeping the waterfall running or shutting down the pump and adding an aerator or de-icer. Fish need a hole in the ice so gases can escape.

Pond water circulation system

Still water goes stale. A pond water circulation system moves water from the skimmer through the filter and back over the waterfall so no corner sits dead. I lay out the plumbing so the flow sweeps across the whole pond.

Pond excavation

Pond excavation is the digging, done to plan. I cut shelves at different depths for plants, level the edge all the way around, and reuse or haul off the soil. Valley clay holds a shape well. Rocky foothill ground takes more work.

Koi ponds

Koi ponds are a long commitment, since koi can live for decades and keep growing the whole time. My main koi page covers the depth, filtration and care it takes to keep them healthy through hot Boise summers and cold winters.

Pondless waterfall installation

A pondless waterfall installation gives you falling water with no open pond. The water drops into a rock-filled basin underground and gets pumped back up. It's easier around small kids and simple to care for. A pondless waterfall with a small stream starts at $9,500.

How I build and price a pond

I take on a limited number of projects each season, and I'm on every job. You get my direct number. A pond starts with a consultation where I look at the spot, the slope, the sun and where power can run. Then I design it, dig it and build it myself.

Pond prices depend on size, depth, how much rock and stream you want, whether it's built for koi, and how hard the site is to reach with equipment. Hockema Landscape Design & Build holds Idaho contractor license #6871843 and is bonded and insured.

Treasure Valley conditions that affect ponds

• Hot summers. Warm water grows algae fast and holds less oxygen. Shade from plants and steady circulation help.
• Dry wind and evaporation. Ponds here lose more water to the air than people expect. An auto-fill valve keeps the level steady.
• Freeze-thaw winters. Rigid ponds crack. A flexible rubber liner moves with the ground.
• Tap water. City water has chlorine or chloramine, so top-offs need dechlorinator to protect fish and bacteria.

Ponds in Boise and nearby

I build and repair ponds across Boise, from the North End to Harris Ranch, and in Eagle, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Star, Middleton, Kuna, Garden City and Hidden Springs. I also take pond projects in Sun Valley and Ketchum.

A pond usually fits into a bigger yard plan, which is where my landscape designer work comes in. For the planting and stone around it, see my landscaper services. If you want moving water without a pond, see my fountain contractor page.

If you're ready to talk with a pond contractor in Boise about a new pond or one that's giving you trouble, schedule a consultation or call (541) 961-7269, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.