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Jackass:
If space is what is dictating your dimensions, then you have to work with what you have. My main concern is the width of 4.5'. That does not give much space for a 24" koi to turn around ... and you can easily grow 24" koi in two years in a warm climate. I'd really like to see it at least 6'wide. The deeper the better, but for a beginning pond I think a depth of 4' is fine. If you stay in the hobby, you will join the chorus of people who say that the cheapest koi pond is the one built right the first time. But, not many begin by spending that much money. If you are not focused on showing koi, a smaller pond may be just what will make you happy. I do think you need to try to reach at least 2,500 gallons, and the 3,000 mentioned above is even better. If you know that this will be a temporary pond ... one you keep for only a few years, then I'd suggest you look at getting EPDM liner. Much easier to tear out when you are ready to go bigger. If using liner, keep the pond rectangular ... no curves. It makes it much easier to avoid flaps of liner on the bottom where debris will be trapped. For filtration, make sure you install 4" bottom drain(s). [I've made the mistake of not having bottom drains. They are more important than whether you use one type of filter or another.]
At the beginning you will end up with too many koi, they will get sick, you will have all but the ugliest die, and in the process you will either learn a lot and come back determined to do it right, or you will become frustrated and never buy a koi again. With a lot of work several days per week, you can keep good sized koi at a rate of one per 300 gallons; but for all but a few crazies, it is much better to think of one koi per 500 gallons. [And, when you are ready to get very high quality koi, you will want to think in terms of 1,000 gallons per koi.] I know, the little ones are so small and so pretty, that you think that there has to be room for just a couple more. Like I said, you'll end up with too many, they will get sick and most will die. So, do not spend more on koi the first year than you can afford to throw away. If you get them through an entire year, you will have learned a lot. Then you can give them away to new homes and buy what you like, confident that you know something about keeping them.
There are several books in English covering the whole subject of koikeeping. Buy one or two, or get them from a library. I guess "Koi Kichi" is more than 8 years old now, but it is still worthwhile. Except for it, be sure the books are ones published in the past 8 years. Do not begin your pond until you have read two books cover to cover. You will find things they disagree about. Then you will have questions. That's a good time to come back to this board and ask.
BTW, you must have a curious sense of humor to call yourself a jackass.
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