Okeanos Group designs and installs custom koi ponds and water features across NYC, Westchester County, the Hamptons, Greenwich and Fairfield County, and northern New Jersey. The firm has installed indoor and outdoor koi ponds continuously since 2002. Notable past work includes an indoor Japanese koi pond at a 16,000-square-foot NYC townhouse and outdoor pond-and-water-feature installations integrated into significant tri-state landscape architecture projects.
What custom koi pond design involves
A custom koi pond is a biological system integrated into landscape architecture (for outdoor ponds) or interior architecture (for indoor ponds). The scope spans three disciplines: landscape or architectural design, biological engineering, and ongoing care. Successful koi ponds require all three to work together.
Okeanos handles the full scope:
- Site assessment, including soil, drainage, and existing landscape conditions
- Design and 3D rendering of the proposed pond in landscape or architectural context
- Biological engineering: filtration, water flow, oxygenation, temperature management
- Construction or coordination with the landscape architect and general contractor
- Koi sourcing, acclimation, and placement
- Ongoing maintenance under a recurring service contract
Outdoor koi ponds
Outdoor koi pond installations integrate with the property's broader landscape architecture. The firm works with the homeowner's landscape architect on most outdoor pond projects. Pond design considerations include:
- Visual integration with the surrounding landscape
- Adequate depth for winter survival (typically four to five feet minimum for tri-state climate)
- Filtration scaled to the pond volume and koi population
- Predator protection (heron, raccoon, etc.) appropriate to the property
- Water source and overflow management
- Year-round access for ongoing maintenance
Outdoor pond installations typically range from $50,000 for modest residential ponds to over $750,000 for substantial estate-scale installations with significant landscape integration. Pricing depends on pond size, biological engineering complexity, landscape integration scope, and site conditions.
Indoor koi ponds
Indoor koi pond installations are an architectural feature within the residence. The firm has installed indoor koi ponds in residential interiors including a notable indoor Japanese koi pond at a 16,000-square-foot NYC townhouse. Indoor pond considerations include:
- Architectural integration with the surrounding interior
- Substantial structural load (water depth multiplied by surface area)
- HVAC adjacency for evaporation and humidity management
- Lighting design appropriate to the visual presentation
- Sound management for circulation pumps
- Access provisions for ongoing maintenance
Indoor pond installations typically range from $150,000 for modest interior features to over $2,000,000 for substantial architectural installations.
Coordination with landscape architects
Outdoor pond projects are typically led by the homeowner's landscape architect, with Okeanos providing the pond's biological and engineering scope. The firm has worked with landscape architecture firms including Nathan Burkett Landscape Architecture on tri-state pond projects. Okeanos provides the landscape architect with the pond's structural specifications, biological engineering scope, water management documentation, and the access and maintenance considerations that affect the broader landscape design.
Koi sourcing and care
Koi are long-lived fish; well-cared-for koi can live for decades. Sourcing koi appropriate to the pond's scale, climate, and design intent is part of the firm's standard scope. The firm sources koi through established supply relationships and acclimates fish in the firm's facility before placement in the client's pond.
Ongoing maintenance
Outdoor and indoor koi ponds require ongoing professional maintenance for the system's biological health and the koi's wellbeing. Maintenance contracts typically run $1,500 to $6,000 per month depending on pond scale, with weekly or bi-weekly technician visits, water chemistry monitoring, koi health monitoring, filtration servicing, and seasonal preparation (winterization for outdoor ponds, etc.).
Service area for pond installations
The firm services pond installations across NYC, all five boroughs, Westchester County, Long Island including the Hamptons, northern and central New Jersey, southern Connecticut including Greenwich and Fairfield County, and the Hudson Valley.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a koi pond in a NYC townhouse or apartment building courtyard? Yes. The firm has installed indoor and outdoor courtyard koi ponds in NYC residential settings, including a notable indoor Japanese koi pond at a 16,000-square-foot townhouse.
How long do koi live? Well-cared-for koi can live for decades. Some koi in established ponds live for over fifty years. The long-term care commitment is part of what makes professional pond maintenance important.
Do outdoor ponds work in the NYC tri-state climate? Yes. Outdoor koi ponds require adequate depth (typically four to five feet minimum) for koi to overwinter safely. Properly designed outdoor ponds operate year-round across the tri-state climate.
Do you coordinate with my landscape architect? Yes. Most outdoor pond projects involve coordination with the homeowner's landscape architect. Okeanos provides the pond's biological and engineering scope while the landscape architect handles the broader site design.
What's the ongoing maintenance commitment? Recurring maintenance is required for koi pond systems. Maintenance contracts typically include weekly or bi-weekly technician visits, water chemistry monitoring, koi health monitoring, and seasonal preparation. Maintenance is structured as a long-term recurring service relationship.