Aquascape Recreation Pond Kit, 7m x 5m
Owners wanting swimmable water without chemicals
Projects with a landscape architect already involved
Rural blocks with space for a wetland
Aquascape · Recreation Ponds
The owner's insights on the Recreation Pond Kit
This is a considered, expensive decision and it should be. At $20,900 to $26,950 for the kit alone, plus excavation on a 7 by 5 metre pond at 1.7 metres deep, the finished project sits in the same bracket as a conventional pool.
The wetland percentage is the decision that matters and it is not a luxury tier. A larger wetland filters harder and holds clarity through a hot summer. The 15% will work; the 25% works with more margin when the weather turns. The FilterBlox option filters hardest of the three.
You are trading chemicals for biology, which means trading one kind of work for another. There is nothing to test or balance. There is planting to establish, a season to wait, and a wetland to keep from silting up.
Do not order this without talking to us. It needs a builder who has done one before. The difference between a recreation pond that works and one that does not is almost entirely in the build rather than the kit.
How a swimmable pond works without chemicals
The pond is split in two. One part you swim in. The other is a planted gravel bed doing the work a pool filter would otherwise do with chlorine.
- 1The pond is dividedA swimming zone and a wetland zone, connected so water moves continuously between them.
- 2Water is drawn through gravelSlowly and evenly, so every litre passes through the root zone rather than channelling down one easy path.
- 3Plants strip the nutrientsThey take up exactly what algae needs to bloom. Remove the food supply and you remove the algae.
- 4Clear water, nothing to doseNo chlorine to test or balance, no smell on your skin. The trade is that it is a living system, so it needs planting and a season to settle.
Why you'll love the Recreation Pond Kit
Swimmable without chlorine
Nothing to test, nothing to balance, no smell on your skin or in your eyes.
The filtration is alive
A planted wetland removes the nutrients algae needs. It gets better as it establishes, not worse.
It reads as landscape
A recreation pond looks like it belongs to the property. A pool always looks installed.
Three filtration grades
Choose the wetland percentage against your climate rather than accepting one specification.
Genuinely low running cost
One pump. No heater, no chlorinator, no chemical bill.
We can organise the builder
This needs someone who has built one before. We will find them.
Why you should consider an Aquascape water feature
Aquascape originated the pondless format and holds the Pondless® trademark. The Australian arm operates from Queensland with a certified installer network behind it. Order through My Acre and we will beat any genuine like-for-like price you find elsewhere. If a warranty question ever comes up, you are calling us directly, not an overseas call centre.
Tell us the space before you order
Send us the dimensions and a photo. We will size it properly, tell you what the rock and excavation will really cost, and say so if a different kit suits you better.
Call todayRecreation Pond Kit specifications
| Type | Swimmable recreation pond with wetland filtration |
|---|---|
| Size | 7m x 5m x 1.7m deep |
| Wetland options | 15%, 25%, or 20% with FilterBlox |
| Wetland filter (15% option) | Approximately 2.8m x 2.5m |
| Filtration | Planted gravel wetland, no chemical dosing |
| Chemicals | None required |
| Excavation | Machine excavation, substantial |
| Establishment | One growing season to settle |
| Installation | Certified builder strongly recommended |
| Supply note | Flagged as a special-order line, so lead time should be confirmed before you order |
| SKU | Recpondkit, Recpondkit25, RecpondkitBlox |
What is included and what you supply
The complete pond and wetland system. Excavation, rock, gravel, plants and labour are separate and substantial.
In the box:
- Pond and wetland liner
- Wetland filtration components sized to the grade selected
- Circulation pump
- Plumbing and fittings
- Snorkel Vault and Centipede modules
- Installation documentation
You supply:
- Machine excavation to 1.7 metres
- Rock, gravel and the graded media for the wetland bed
- Wetland planting
- A weatherproof power supply
- A builder who has constructed one before
Frequently asked questions
Is the water really safe to swim in?
Yes. Wetland filtration is how natural swimming ponds have been built in Europe for decades. Plants and the bacteria in the gravel bed remove the nutrients algae feeds on, so the water stays clear without chlorine.
Which wetland percentage should I choose?
The larger the wetland, the more filtration margin you have when the weather turns. The 15% works. The 25% works with more headroom through a hot summer. FilterBlox filters hardest of the three. Climate should drive this, not budget.
How does it compare to a pool on cost?
The finished project sits in similar territory to a conventional pool. Running cost is lower because there is one pump and no chemicals. Build cost is comparable, though the excavation is deeper than most pools.
How much maintenance is there?
Different rather than less. Nothing to test or dose. You do need to keep the wetland from silting, manage the planting, and skim debris as with any body of water.
Can I build it myself?
We would strongly advise against it. The difference between a recreation pond that stays clear and one that does not is almost entirely in the build. We can organise a certified builder.
How long before it is clear?
A full growing season for the wetland to establish properly. It will be usable sooner, though it improves markedly as the planting takes hold.
Can I heat it?
It is possible, though it works against the biology and adds significant running cost. Most owners accept a shorter season instead.
What is the lead time?
This is a special-order line, so confirm it with us before you plan a build date.
Compare with similar
Aquascape Recreation Pond Kit, 7m x 5m
A swimmable pond filtered by a planted wetland, in three wetland grades.
Best for large properties where a chlorinated pool would feel wrong
From $20,900
Aquascape Wetland Filter Kit, 2.5m x 3m
A retrofit planted gravel filter for an existing pond or dam up to 60 square metres.
Best for water that will not stay clear despite a working pump and filter
From $5,786
Get the Recreation Pond Kit right first time
Your price is beaten against any genuine like-for-like offer. We can organise a certified builder, work with your own landscaper, or set you up to do it yourself.
Speak to the team