Watch fish glide beneath the surface. Discover a new water lily bloom. Let the sound of a waterfall draw you outside. Your pond should feel like it has always belonged here.
Custom design and installation · Southern Maine & Seacoast New Hampshire
Natural character, thoughtfully designed.Real Timeless Waterscapes projects, shaped around the landscape.
More than a view
A pond that becomes part of your day.
Every pond we build is custom. Natural boulders, planted edges, waterfalls, and open water come together around your property and how you want to spend time outdoors. Your vision might be a planted garden pond or a pond designed to support fish.
Behind the stone, circulation, filtration, and surface skimming work together. We plan those systems alongside the appearance of the pond, including access for ongoing care.
The ecosystem approach
Beautiful above the surface. Considered below it.
Plants, beneficial bacteria, fish where desired, rock and gravel, and moving water all play a part. Equipment supports that living system, and regular care keeps it on track.
A typical ecosystem pond with a skimmer and waterfall filter. Intake bays, negative edges, and wetland filters offer other configurations for a custom design.
Tap the diagrams to view them larger.
01 / Filtration
The right filter for the living system.
Filtration supports water quality. We size it around the pond’s volume, biological load, circulation, and maintenance needs, including the demands placed on the system by fish and organic material.
Illustrative BioFalls cutaway. Filter media provide surfaces for beneficial bacteria, with water returning to the pond over the waterfall. Image is not labeled as a specific model.
Waterfall filtration
BioFalls 2500
A compact waterfall filter option. It combines filter media with a waterfall starting point that can be concealed within the stonework.
Waterfall filtration
BioFalls 6000
A larger BioFalls option with additional filtration capacity for designs that call for it. The filter and waterfall are incorporated into the landscape together.
Model selection involves more than the pond’s length and width. We match filtration and pump flow to the complete design and expected biological load, including the planned fish population and organic material entering the pond.
A custom planted filtration area
Upflow wetland filtration
A planted filter bed becomes part of the landscape while water moves upward through the system before returning to the pond.
Water enters a distribution area beneath the filter bed. Solids can settle below, while the media above provide space for beneficial bacteria. Plants form the visible surface of the wetland.
Modular components let us design the footprint around the pond’s size and filtration needs. The layout includes access for periodic cleaning; a wetland filter still requires maintenance.
The example shown includes a Snorkel access vault, Centipede distribution module, AquaBlox settlement area, and FilterBlox media. The components used in your pond depend on its design.
Upflow wetland system and component guide. Tap to enlarge.
Leaves and floating debris need a place to collect. The approach can be compact and concealed, blend into the pond, or create a disappearing edge.
Skimmer cutaway showing accessible debris collection and the pump compartment.
Option 1
Skimmer box
A contained collection point at the pond’s edge.
Surface water draws leaves and floating debris into a basket or net that can be emptied. Filter mats provide additional mechanical filtration, and the housing provides access to the pump.
A good fit when the design calls for a defined, accessible skimming point. Routine basket and mat cleaning remains part of pond care.
Option 2
Intake bay
A natural-looking extension of the pond, with the collection system hidden beneath the stone.
Water is drawn into a dedicated bay. AquaBlox create open space beneath the decorative surface, and a pump vault provides access to the pump. The stone-lined opening can read as a shallow cove within the pond.
Below the surface: an intake bay with concealed modules and a pump vault. Concept illustration, not a site-specific construction plan.At the surface: stone and water make the bay look like an extension of the pond. Reference image illustrating the finished appearance.
Collected debris still needs removal. We plan the bay’s size, flow, stone layout, and service access as part of the complete pond.
Option 3
Negative edge
Similar in effect to an infinity pool, surface water spills over a designed edge and into a concealed underground reservoir. A pump recirculates the collected water through the system.
This offers another way to combine surface collection with the appearance and sound of an overflow.
Designed for when the pump stops, too.
The reservoir must have enough available capacity for water that drains back from the pond, stream, filters, and plumbing when circulation stops, including during a power outage.
We size it for the expected drain-back volume with generous additional reserve. Reservoir dimensions and operating water levels are planned together for each project.
From the overall layout to the experience after sunset, every detail contributes to the way your pond feels.
Pond, stream & landscape
Give the water a natural path.
A stream connects the pond with the surrounding planting, grade, and outdoor spaces.
An evening by the pond
Enjoy it beyond daylight.
Thoughtfully placed lighting reveals moving water, stone, and aquatic plants after dark.
A living feature needs care
Plan for the seasons.
We’ll explain your system and the routine attention it needs, with seasonal service options to support you.
Spring cleanouts and system startup
Debris removal and equipment checks
Aquatic plant care and checks suited to the pond’s use
Fall preparation and winter operating plans
Maintenance services are quoted separately from installation.
A representative project investment
Custom ponds. Clear expectations.
An approximately 11′ × 17′ pond with a skimmer and BioFalls 6000 would be approximately $30,000 to build today.
This is a representative project, not a minimum price. Your investment may be lower or higher depending on the components selected, pond size and depth, waterfall design, boulder sizes, site access, equipment and build logistics, excavation and preparation, and removal of an existing feature. Your custom proposal will define the scope and price for your property.
Intake bays, negative edges, and wetland filtration are custom options. They are not included automatically in this garden pond example.
Approximately 11′ × 17′ custom pond
Around $30,000Representative example, not a starting or minimum price
Skimmer box
BioFalls 6000 filtration
Pond designed to support fish
Fish are not included in the installation price. Final scope and pricing are provided in your custom proposal.
We consider pond volume and depth, expected biological load, water flow, the surrounding landscape, and maintenance access. A BioFalls filter or custom wetland is selected as part of the overall system.
Is an intake bay the same as a wetland filter?
No. An intake bay collects surface water and debris at the pump intake. An upflow wetland is a biological filtration area through which water is pumped. They serve different roles and can be designed to work together.
Will a pond take care of itself?
A well-designed, established ecosystem pond can take less routine work than maintaining a garden of the same size, with its weeding, watering, pruning, and seasonal tending. It still needs care: removing debris, tending aquatic plants, checking equipment, and seasonal maintenance. The time involved depends on the design, surrounding trees, and biological load.
Are fish included?
No. The representative installation is designed to support fish, but fish are not included in its price. We can discuss an appropriate stocking plan for your completed pond.
Bring the sound of water home
Let’s picture your pond.
Tell us about your landscape, your ideas, and the way you want to enjoy the water. We’ll help shape the design and the system behind it.
Approximately 11′ × 17′ custom pond