Best Pond Kits | Save Money With These Bundles And Starter Packs

If this is your first time building a pond or you want to save time and money by purchasing a pond kit, you have come to the right place. We can help you find the best pond kits available, so you spend less time planning and more time enjoying your new aquascape.

Best Pond Kit Reviews

We have sorted through dozens of different pond kits and hundreds of customer reviews to build a list of the best pond kits available in 2019. Each of the outdoor pond kits below has been proven to be a good buy and can help you get your pond up and running as quickly as possible.

What Equipment Comes In A Pond Kit?

The most significant upside of buying a premade kit is that you’re getting (nearly) everything you need to get started. Below is some of the equipment you can expect to receive in your kit, as well as how you use them.

1. Pond Liner

   The pond liner is constructed from impermeable material that is designed to both retain water and be flexible enough to mold into place. The liners in pond kits are precut, but you can adjust them based on the shape of the pond you want.
   
   Manufacturers typically list the size of their pond liners compared to the most common types of ponds people create with the liner. This means it’s essential for you to create a plan and measure the depth, width, and length of your pond before you buy.
   
   Pond liners are manufactured using a wide range of materials, each with their own set of pros and cons. We’ll get into the different types of materials in a moment, but knowing your environment and what the pond will face can save you a ton of time.
   
   

2. Pond Filtration Pump

The pump’s job is to move water throughout your closed ecosystem. Your pump will move water through your filtration system, provide aeration functionality and keep your water oxygenated. It is built to keep your water healthy.

Without a pond pump and filtration system, your pond will begin to accumulate harmful bacteria like algae and mosquitoes. Not only is this bacteria harmful to your fish and plants, but it can also create toxic environments for humans, as well.

A high-quality pump is one of the essential pieces of equipment you will install in your pond, so it’s necessary to purchase a quality kit that includes a good pump.

3. Skimmer

   Most kits are going to include a skimmer inside of the box. Skimmers are used to keep floating debris out of the pond. Floating debris can begin decaying and create the harmful toxins we just mentioned.
   
   Installing a skimmer box on your pond also helps reduce the amount of maintenance you will need to perform. If you would rather spend your time enjoying your aquascape instead of continually sifting debris off the surface, a skimmer is a requirement.
   
   

4. Lights & UV Clarifier

   Most pond kits are also going to include lighting kits. These lights will usually use LED bulbs though some do use halogen bulbs. The lighting kits help illuminate your pond and create visual appeal that wouldn’t often be available without them.
   
   When it comes to selecting a kit, you’re going to encounter three different types of lighting kits: floating, submersible, and landscape.
   
   Floating lights are, as the name implies, designed to float on the surface of the water.
   
   Submersible lights, on the other hand, will be anchored to the bottom of your pond and help provide underwater illumination.
   
   Landscape lights are installed outside of the pond and help create accent lighting to illuminate particular features of your pond, such as the waterfall or your plants.
   
   UV clarifiers are equipment that helps prevent algae from building up and removes it whenever algae start to bloom. If you aren’t familiar with algae, they are small bacteria that will turn your water green and create a toxic environment.
   
   A quality UV clarifier helps prevent algae from being able to grow and also helps to reduce viruses brought in by pests, such as mosquitoes.
   
   

5. Treatments

   Because your pond is a closed ecosystem, you are going to be required to use water treatments to keep the water healthy. Most manufacturers will include the necessary water treatments needed to get your pond started.
   
   The most common type of treatments included is de-chlorination tablets and bacterial supplements. Removing chlorine from your water is essential for promoting plant growth and keeping your fish healthy. The helpful bacteria can be supplemented, as well.
   
   The bacterial supplements will provide aerobic strains that help break down the toxic chemicals, such as nitrites, nitrates, and ammonia. De-chlorination tablets help maintain a safe chlorine level to ensure your fish aren’t becoming poisoned.
   
   

What Equipment Doesn’t Come In A Pond Kit?

Even though a kit is a “kit”, there are pieces of equipment that may not necessarily come inside of the box. Depending on your needs, you will have to put together a few extras to get your pond up and running.

Below are just some of the equipment you’ll want to think about purchasing either before you purchase your kit or while your kit is being shipped to you.

1. Electrical Equipment

   Since you are installing electrical components into an aquatic environment, you are going to want to put safeguards in place. A GFCI electrical outlet will help prevent shorts and electrocution. The outlet will trip and cut power if it gets wet.
   
   A high-quality GFCI outlet may require you to hire an electrical contractor to install it into your home, but it is essential to have.
   
   

2. Rocks & Decorative Materials

As much as you would like to have them included, most manufacturers aren’t going to ship your kit with decorative items, such as rocks and plants. These items would make the kit far more expensive and too heavy to ship using standard shipping methods.

But, all is not lost. Since your kit doesn’t include these items, it means you get to decorate your pond how you see fit. Visiting your local hardware store is easy enough and will let you pick the perfect aquascape for your pond.

When you are thinking about rocks and plants, you want to make sure you are purchasing items that would naturally appear in your local area. This will help ensure you can get replacements and your plants are already accustomed to your local weather patterns.

3. Plants

   Surrounding your pond with live plants is a great way to create visual appeal and enjoy the environment you’re building. However, you’re not going to find any kits that will ship live plants to your door.
   
   While you may find kits that include fake plants, we highly recommend visiting your local florist or hardware store to purchase plants from your local area. These decorations are easy to add to your aquascape, and the landscaping you choose sets the mood for the design.
   
   Plants also play a vital role in your pond’s closed ecosystem. If you install aquatic plants, the plants will work to remove harmful bacteria, keep your water warmer, and provide oxygen to your fish, if you stock them.

Factors To Consider Before Purchasing A Pond Kit

Now that you know what will come in your kit (and what won’t), the next step is looking at the different factors that will affect your pond and its installation. Each of the following factors will affect the kit that you end up buying, so we recommend going through each of them.

1. Style

   There are a handful of different styles you can select from. You can choose from an Ecosystem Pond, a Waterfall Pond, a Formal Pond, and a Bottom-Drain Pond. Each of these kits can be used with or without fish, but Bottom-Drain ponds are the most common types used for fish ponds.
   
   Looking at the name, Bottom-Drain ponds are ponds that will allow you to drain the excess waste produced by your fish from the bottom of the pond. This is an area where most of the debris will settle so you can keep your water’s quality high.
   
   One of the biggest causes of sickness (and death) in fish is the buildup of ammonia. Ammonia is formed by nitrites and nitrates being produced from fish waste and decaying plant matter. A bottom-drain kit lets you easily remove debris and decaying plant matter.
   
   If you choose a different style pond, you will need to capture your fish, separate them, and then use a vacuum or other type of filtration system to remove the waste. This ends up creating more work than what is necessary and can be avoided.
   
   If you are not planning on stocking fish, you can use any kit you want.
   
   

2. Liner

The type of liner you choose will affect the price of the kit. The liner is one of the most expensive parts of the kit (outside of your pump and filter). We recommend buying the best liner you can because it is the base of your pond and a cheap liner will crack and leak.

3. PVC Liners

   A PVC liner is the most common type of liner you’re going to find. It’s affordable and easy to install. PVC liners can be stretched, bent, and molded to your perfect landscape. However, PVC liners can be torn if you do not take care of them.
   
   

4. LDPE Liners

   LPDE liners are low-density polyethene and are a material that provides more flex at a lower price than a PVC liner. They are also more durable than a PVC liner. These can be a great choice if you find a kit that includes an LDPE liner inside of it.
   
   

5. Rubber Liners

   Rubber pond liners are widely considered as the best type of liner you can get. There are two main types of rubber liners: EPDM and butyl. Butyl liners are incredibly durable, but that durability comes with a higher price tag. EPDM is more affordable and nearly as good.
   
   

6. Preformed Liners

   Preformed liners and plastic liners are, as the name implies, formed before you receive them. A preformed liner is typically the best choice if you want a smaller pond.
   
   

7. Filter

   The type of filter you use is determined by what you include in your pond. If you are planning on stocking fish in a koi pond kit, you will need a filter that is capable of providing circulation, aeration, and filtration.
   
   Something to consider is the volume of your pond and how much water you are going to need to run through your filtration system. To determine the amount of water in your pond, take the length x width x depth. This will give you a general guideline to follow.
   
   If you are planning on stocking fish, especially Koi, you will need a filtration system that is capable of handling around four times the amount of water in the pond.
   
   

8. Preformed Liners

   The flow rate of your pump is one of the factors you need to consider. As a general rule of thumb, you want to move the amount of water you have in the pond. For a 1,000 gallon pond, you will want a pump that is capable of moving 1,000 gallons-per-hour.
   
   The amount of “lift” on your pump will determine how high you can move water for your fountain if you choose to install one. If you are installing the pump into a deep pond, you will want to ensure that the lift height is larger than the depth of the water.
   
   You will also need to consider how much the pump costs to operate throughout a month. Larger ponds with larger pumps are more expensive to operate than smaller ponds with smaller pumps. Keeping an eye on your electric bill is critical with larger ponds.

What Is The Best Pond Kit In 2019?

After thorough research, we have found one of the best pond kits you can get in 2019 is the Koolscapes 270-Gallon Outdoor Pond Kit w/ Lighting. It is an excellent balance of value and high-quality equipment that you will enjoy for years to come.