Can you use a timer on a koi pond to save on energy costs?
Well, it depends.
If you have a larger koi pond with multiple streams or pumps, then yes, you could shut them all down except one pump that meets the minimum required circulation.
If you only have one pump on your pond, then no, do not use a timer. Your pond and fish and plants need to breath. Your pump is the source of that oxygenated water.
Now pondless waterfalls and fountains are not necessarily maintaining a living ecosystem, so you can put those on a timer as much as you wish.
Keep in mind, your pond is a living, breathing ecosystem that needs constant oxygen, just like the human race. If you shut your system down at night, then you can never have sufficient growth of beneficial bacteria to fight algae blooms, and your finned friends will have a hard time breathing.
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Founder & Master Pond Builder
Jaak Harju is the founder and master pond builder of Atlantis Water Gardens, a family-owned design and build firm specializing in natural-looking ponds, waterfalls, and ecosystem water features. Since 2000, Jaak has dedicated his career to creating outdoor environments that inspire connection with nature.
With a background in landscape design and construction, Jaak brings artistry and precision to every project. He’s known nationally for his creative stonework, ecological pond design, and educational outreach within the pond-building community. Through his work, videos, and collaborations with other Aquascape-certified contractors, Jaak has helped redefine backyard water features as sustainable, living ecosystems.