Monthly Electrical Costs to Run a Backyard (Koi/Ecosystem) Pond: What Should You Expect?

Potential backyard pond owners often wonder how much they'll spend on a monthly basis for electrical/power consumption with their new pond.  A question such as this makes a lot of sense.  Long-term costs on a Koi pond should always be considered in the purchasing decision.

Unfortunately, the monthly cost to run an ecosystem pond can vary depending on what options or accessories are chosen.  With that said, please keep in mind that these are general guidelines.

What Uses Power in or Around a Backyard Pond?

To calculate and understand the monthly cost to run a Koi pond, we first need to look at what is using power.  Here are some things in or around the pond that use electricity:

• Main Filtration/Circulating Pump
• Decorative Element Pump
• Aeration System
• Automatic Dosing System
• Electronic Water Clarifying System (Ion Gen™)
• Pond and Garden Lights (Transformer Included)
• UV Clarifying System
• Well Pump (Filling the Pond)
• Pond De-Icer (Seasonally)

What Should You Expect to be Billed Monthly to Run Your Backyard (Koi/Ecosystem) Pond?

Pumps:

Motor Driven- Motor driven water pumps provide consumers with a high torque, high head height pump option.  Motor driven pumps are generally easier to maintain because of their solids-handling ability.  It is important to note that motor driven pumps have to be operated within a specific performance curve to optimize lifespan.  

Typical Monthly Costs on an Electric Bill: $34-$149 *one pump application

Asynchronous- Asynchronous water pumps are a hybrid between a motor driven and magnet driven pump.  They have only one moving part, making it less expensive and easy to maintain.  This type of pump is extremely energy efficient, and choosing this pump over a traditional motor driven pump often pays for itself quickly in power consumption savings.

Typical Monthly Costs on an Electric Bill: $19-$80 *one pump application

Magnetic Drive (Decorative)- Magnetic drive water pumps are simple and easy-to-use solution for small water features including small waterfalls.  These pumps are easier to retrofit into existing water features and simple to maintain.  Magnetic drive pumps have only one moving part, making them inexpensive and easy to repair. These pumps are also extremely quiet and energy efficient.

Typical Monthly Costs on an Electric Bill: $3-$30 *one pump application

Water Clarity and Quality:

Electric Water Clarifying System (Ion Gen™)- The IonGen™ effectively removes algae without the use of traditional liquid chemicals and is designed with a microprocessor that sends a signal to its ion producing probe, helping to control algae throughout the entire water feature.

Average Monthly Cost: Less than $1

Automatic Dosing System- The Aquascape Automatic Dosing System accurately and consistently applies your choice of specially-formulated water treatments, eliminating the guesswork and routine of adding water treatments to your water feature.

Average Monthly Cost: Less than $1

Aeration System- Every biological process that occurs in ponds is dependent on oxygen.  This is especially important in warmer temperatures or at night when plants are not converting sunlight into oxygen.  Pond aerators directly supply dissolved oxygen to ponds and other water features, helping all biological processes and resulting in healthier fish and plants.

Average Monthly Cost: $1-$6

Ultra Violet Clarifier- In a pond, green water can be treated safely and effectively.  UV clarifiers use a technologically-advanced high-output UVC bulb to eliminate 'green water'.

Average Monthly Cost: $2-$7

Other Potential Pond Cost:

Pond and Garden Lights- Adding a completely different dimension to any water feature, pond and garden lights use LED lights to light up the nighttime scene.  With the use of low-voltage transformers the LED light are extremely energy efficient and the LED's average a 40,000 hour lifespan.  

Typical Monthly Cost on an Electric Bill: $1-$18

Pond Heater- During the winter months, especially here in Michigan, some pond owners who have fish choose to install a pond heater to help keep a hole in the ice.  Keeping a hole in the ice allows potentially toxic gases to escape the pond environment.  Pond heaters are typically used from December to March in Michigan

Typical Monthly Cost on Electric Bill: $12-$300

Submersible Well Pump- Many water features have an automatic fill valve installed to make up any water loss from evaporation.  While the fill valve itself does not use electricity, if a home has a submersible well pump, it will need to refill the water storage tank with each use of the fill valve.  While we do not have a direct cost from the fill valve, we do have a nation wide average for the submersible well pump for a family of 4 each using 120 gallons a day.

Typical Monthly Cost on an Electric Bill: $3-$5

How Does The Monthly Cost of a Backyard (Koi/Ecosystem) Pond Compare to Other Water Features?

Generally, other water features like a waterfall or a decorative fountain have a lower monthly cost for electricity due to the simple fact that they are smaller and require smaller pumps. 
Aside from their smaller stature, pondless waterfalls and fountainscapes will have the same costs listed above, as they use the same pumps, water quality and clarification products, and other accessories.

Is There Other Alternative Power Sources For Ponds?

As the world continues to go green, many of our clients will ask us if there are alternative power sources to reduce the monthly electric cost associated with ponds.  While we have seen some options on the market like solar powered decorative pumps, wind driven aerators, and solar powered aerators, they really haven't been flying off the shelves.  The pumps do not have a strong output and have a very low water volume output and since they don't have a back up battery supply they can't keep a constant circulation of the water.  The wind and solar aeration systems have a much higher initial cost and with the already low energy efficient air pumps, many consumers don't see the benefit of that route.  In the last 10 years, the pond industry has made some major improvements and strides towards reducing the carbon footprint. With companies like Aquascape, Inc. leading the way, we look forward to seeing what comes next.

My three part series of cost associated with a backyard pond is now complete and I hope that you now have a good idea of what to expect.  I want to make sure your questions are answered so please feel free to send your questions to my e-mail: poseidonpondscory@gmail.com  If this is the first of the three blogs you have read, be sure to click the links below and catch up.  

How Much Does A Backyard (Koi/Ecosystem) Pond Cost?

How Does The Cost Of A Backyard (Koi/Ecosystem Pond Compare To Other Water Feature Types?  

Owning a pond, waterfall or fountain certainly doesn't need to be difficult, so be sure to contact us to see what we can do to educate you and set your mind at ease.  For more educational information be sure to visit www.poseidonponds.com or for more inspiration visit our Facebook page and start following us!

Appreciatively Yours,

Cory Mann
"Poseidon Pond Mann"