Customer Corner: Joe & Kelly Ostrowski’s Pond Journey in New York

Origin Story: From Waterfall to Koi Haven

For Joe and his wife Kelly Ostrowski, the pond journey began with curiosity and a simple waterfall. What started as a small feature soon grew into something much larger — and much more meaningful. Inspired by YouTube videos and friends who kept koi, Joe first built a tiny pond, but he quickly realized he wanted more. Each year, he expanded, refining the design until it became the thriving ecosystem they now enjoy.

They didn’t just buy rocks — they hunted for them. Driving around their New York community, they collected truckloads of stones from neighbors discarding retaining walls, carefully shaping them into the pond’s borders and waterfall.

From the beginning, it was koi, not goldfish. In fact, Joe’s very first koi came from Kodama Koi Farm, a trusted name among serious koi keepers. Later, when a neighbor passed away, Joe and Kelly inherited eight beautiful koi, further deepening their passion and commitment to the hobby.

The Pond Builder’s Journey

Building by hand wasn’t easy. Digging through limestone soil without machinery tested Joe’s perseverance. But despite the backbreaking work, he takes pride in knowing every detail was built by his own effort.

His favorite part? The rocks and plants. “The way the rocks came together, the plants growing — it just gets more beautiful,” he shared.

Filtration was also a DIY adventure. Joe repurposed 55-gallon drums with buffer pads, built a bog filter for natural purification, and added plants for nutrient absorption. Over time, he added mechanical filtration and is now planning a new filtration shed with UV sterilization.

Lessons, Losses, and Learning

Like many pond keepers, Joe and Kelly learned some lessons the hard way. A misstep in treating for parasites led to the devastating loss of their original koi collection — an experience that left Joe heartbroken. He buried each fish by hand, a testament to the deep connection they felt.

But they didn’t give up. With guidance, better treatments, and improved filtration, they’ve built a healthier environment. Today their koi are thriving, their colors vibrant, and their personalities shining through.

Living With the Pond

The pond has become central to their lifestyle. Every day, Joe cleans filters and tends the system with meticulous care. Evenings are spent on the back deck, watching their koi swim up to greet them like dogs waiting at the door.

Their fish aren’t just livestock — they’re family. Each koi has its own personality. Some follow them around the pond edge, others wait to be fed, and the “adopted” koi from their late neighbor seem especially attentive, as if saying thank you.

Wildlife has also found its place in their backyard haven. Frogs, turtles, and even visiting ducks add to the sense of being surrounded by nature.

Tips & Tricks for New Pond Owners

• Ask Questions: “If you don’t know, ask,” says Krlly. Their relationship with fellow koi keepers and responsive support from Play It Koi helped them through tough moments.

• Be Dedicated: A pond isn’t just decoration, it requires real commitment, like caring for a pet.

• DIY Filtration Works: From bog filters to buffer pads, creativity and persistence go a long way.

• Be Patient: Trial and error is part of the journey, but each mistake can lead to stronger knowledge.

Reflection: More Than a Pond

For Joe and Kelly, their pond is more than water, rocks, and fish — it’s a sanctuary. It’s where they relax, recharge, and connect with nature. It’s a place that makes friends, neighbors, and even coworkers pause in admiration.

When asked what the pond means to them now Kelly  put it best: “They’re our pets. They look at us like a dog would. This is our life. I don’t know if we could ever move and give this up.” 

Inside Joe & Kelly’s Pond Setup

Pond Dimensions: The pond is 36 long x 24 wide. Deeper point 53 inches deep. 
Pond Volume: 14,300 Gallons
Koi: +25 Larger koi, from 18" to 28".

Drums / Filtration Units (2) 55-gallon drums (used as filter barrels with floor buffer pads for waste filtration) 
Pressurized Filtration system  GCTek  AlphaONE 6.0 WattMizer PLUS System 

Pumps - (1) 10,000 GPH (dedicated to waterfall) and (1) 4,500 GPH (secondary circulation/filtration)

Anjon Super Nova UV Clarifier - 55-watt UV 

Aeration - Air bubbler (operated year-round) 

Plumbing / Piping - Flexible PVC piping (for waterfall connection)

Pond Liner System - 45 mil EPDM pond liner. He also included a protective underlayment (for liner protection against rocks).

Rock / Stone - Natural stone (sourced locally from dismantled retaining walls; used for pond edging and landscape)

Construction - Excavated pond base (manual dig)