As the hobby of Koi-keeping becomes more popular, so the building of Koi fish ponds in people’s backyards has seen a rise in numbers over recent years. The chance to own and care for these beautiful sociable creatures entices many to start, what often turns out to be, a life-long hobby. In this article, as a beginner Koi enthusiast, you will learn a few what-not-to-dos when it comes to Koi pond building.

Remember, first of all, that once Koi fish ponds are built, they are permanent structures so careful thought and planning beforehand are crucial to the success of constructing Koi ponds. Do not, for example, choose a location where the entire Koi fish pond will be exposed to direct sunlight all the time. Koi fish ponds need to be shady but not completely in the dark so don’t build them next to large trees either.

Keep in mind that Koi fish are capable of growing to enormous sizes. A mature Koi has a length of about 36 inches but some have been known to grow even bigger than this. Whatever you do, avoid building a small pond or you will live to regret it! The size of your Koi fish pond needs to take into account the length these fish will grow as well as the number of Koi you intend to keep.

In addition, do not build a shallow Koi pond and think that this will be adequate. Shallow waters make Koi easy prey to predators like the blue heron but also it can cause large sudden changes in water temperature. The latter is harmful to Koi as it will cause the fish undue stress which will reduce their immune system and in turn make them vulnerable to viruses and infections. Therefore, for the purpose of Koi protection from predators as well as to keep pond water temperature stable, the recommended depth of a Koi fish pond is a minimum of 4 feet.

Speaking of predators, help to protect your beloved Koi by also making sure that the sides of the pond are built vertically steep and smooth. Avoid opting for ledges around the sides of the pond as raccoons have been known to use ledges to help them wade into the water and steal dinner for themselves.

Do not build a Koi fish pond without also building a quarantine tank where you can monitor new Koi fish for signs of illness prior to introducing them to the actual pond. A separate tank can also act as a hospital area for treating Koi when they are sick or injured.

Keep the shape of Koi fish ponds simple – either round, square or rectangle. These shapes are easiest to clean via a filter. Do not think about building a Koi pond without installing a (preferably large) filtration system. Koi produces a lot of metabolic waste on a day-to-day basis which must be removed efficiently to keep the pond water as clean and clear as possible. This is vital to maintaining the health of these fish.

Koi fish ponds will also need a pump to move the water through the filters, an ultraviolet steriliser to stop algae from turning the water green, a pond water aerator and a pond heater. Without the latter, you may well end up losing a few Koi fish at the end of every cold winter.

Happy Koi-keeping!

keeping koi

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Is there something I can use to scare them away without resorting to a net to cover pond
I have no intention of harming egrets. I just need an article, i.e. a scaregrow for fields, to keep these birds from killing my koi and my pets
I have no intention of harming egrets. I just need an article, i.e. a scaregrow for fields, to keep these birds from killing my koi and my pets

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Koi fish, are also known as ‘dragon fish’ by some enthusiasts. Personally they remind me of the catfish and carp I have seen over the years. I used to catch catfish and put them in the cow’s watering trough. That was the extent of my koi pond but then again that was 40 years ago and I was only about 10 at the time.

Koi fish were originally bred in Japan. Today koi are bred and kept by hobbyists and professional fish farmers all over the world. The number of Koi lovers would blow your mind.

Koi are most often kept in natural or man-made koi ponds.

NOTE: It is most important to know how to keep your Koi fish so they remain healthy but once you know how you can keep them thriving for many years to come. Well maintained koi ponds have a subtle beauty that is a perfect compliment to the noble and enigmatic “dragon-fish”.

Learn How To Manage Your Koi Ponds…

Like most things in life Koi Ponds take a bit of care and has a learning curve. So don’t give up if you find you mess a few things up at the beginning. You can however learn a lot from the available books so be sure to read up before you take on this great hobby.

Koi, like all other living things can become diseased. Because your koi ponds are outdoors it normal for organic matter to fall into your koi pond and change the chemical balance. Another thing that might happen may involve your filter getting blocked or breaking.

But that’s not all, you also have predator because you pond is outdoors. Look out for cats who love fish and big birds. Note: I said ‘big birds’ not ‘Bigbird’.

It’s a learning curves so instead of getting depressed when something goes wrong just fix it and learn from the experience, you will be an expert at koi ponds in no time at all.

Because Koi fish can be pricey it’s best to start with plain ole goldfish to test your koi pond so that if you don’t have things right you won’t go broke getting things right.

A word of warning to those who decide to go the koi ponds way before they have ever taken care of fish. Using my son as an example, it would be a disaster. Start with an aquarium first and learn how to spot problems with the tank and of course your fish. You need to know how to detect if a fish is ill and that can be harder to do in a pond.

Check out your local pet shops and local breeders and learn what you can there. Also pickup a good koi ponds starter book and learn all you can. Doing this first will make for less problems later.

keeping koi

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Koi ponds are more than just a hole with water. Koi breeders should bear in mind that Koi, like any other pets need to have an environment that is safe and healthy for them to live. Breeders should learn the basic essential tools they need for making the koi pond conducive for living. The secrets to a successful way of keeping koi fish are proper ventilation, water ponds and the fish itself.

Primarily you need to determine the requirements for building the koi pond. Each pond needs planning for the specification of its features. How big should it be? The pond where koi will live must be big because Koi gets large.

A standard pond for this kind of fish should hold not less than 1000 gallons of water and must be at least 3-5 feet deep. Your decision on the shape and the size of ponds for the koi will basically depend on your preference.

The pond should be built in an ideal location. You may want to have a pond in an area where you could see the fish as often as you want. You should also consider the accessibility of the pond as you will be spending frequent visits on the area to feed the fish. You can also consider building a small pond indoor or outdoor whatever gives you the convenience.

You should however consider that Koi need to be exposed to sunlight for few hours everyday. The best times will be in the morning and in the afternoon. Koi skin can be burnt by direct sunlight at noon so they must be provided with safety abode.

Your outdoor pond should be away from trees to prevent the pond from being damaged by the growing roots as the trees grow. Placing a net above the pond can also provide protection against the falling debris from the trees.

You may find delight of giving your koi both an indoor and outdoor pond but creating one should be properly conceptualized in terms of safety, accessibility and ideal environment.

When building the pond you will be needing pond liners. You can use PVC but a butyl rubber liner is recommended because of its strength. Concrete has the lowest or the cheapest building cost while fiberglass is recommended when you want to have a pond for an indistinct lifetime.

You have to make sure that it would be better to construct a pond with vertical walls for smaller ponds to boost balanced arrangement of water temperature. You should also consider providing protection of your koi from outside predators by creating a higher wall on the pond.

In addition to the mentioned requisites other koi pond equipment that you will need include biological filters, aeration, circulation pump and space wide enough to keep koi from being crowded. These are the things that you have to consider when preparing and designing a pond for koi.

The filter will be the one to purify the water. It will be responsible for cleaning the water from waste products, microorganisms and other poisonous substance that can produce water contamination.

The aerator will supply air to the water and will keep the stagnant water continuously moving. The aerator will be providing the fish with oxygen. The pump on the other hand moves the water through the filter and the aerator. These are basic preparation when conceptualizing the ideal koi pond for your favorite fish.

keeping koi

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A great way to begin planning for Koi carp ponds is to view how others of have successfully designed and built their ponds. Searching online is the fastest and easiest way to get started, as there is an endless resource of photos and information to be found there. Seeing how others have done things can spark wide imagination and creative ideas into how you would like your Koi pond to look, and the potential of how it could enhance the overall impression of your garden landscape. Decorations of plans, stones, statues, wooden ornaments and fixtures can have a dramatic and pleasant impact on the dynamics of your Koi garden. However, in regard to including any plants in your pond, be sure to take into consideration that Koi will eat certain plants as well as dig into the soil, which could lead to a potential messing of the pond water thus leading to more frequent cleaning and maintenance. There are plants that are suited well for Koi carp ponds, and covering the plant soil with stones or large gravel can alleviate much of this potential problem. Another great way to include plants in your pond development and keep them safe from your Koi is to put them in a floating island pond planter. Floating islands are great for decorating your Koi pond with beautiful plant life while at the same time providing needed shade and protection from predators for your Koi fish. Again, professional advice is golden.

When seeking the help of an expert, it is wise to do your research first. Get an understanding of the specific questions you should be asking as well as a general sense of the answers you should be getting. Talk to several specialists as apposed to only one or two. Visit your local pet stores to gain knowledge on Koi keeping, Koi supplies and pond equipment, along with construction and maintenance of Koi carp ponds. Get yourself familiar with why you need a Koi pond filter, a Koi pond pump and maybe an aerating device, and how these vital necessities work together to provide a natural, stable Koi fish environment while supplying healthy clean water for your Koi to live and thrive. Develop an awareness of the consistent routine work of Koi keeping and pond maintenance, including water pH level testing, pond and filter cleaning, Koi feeding and inspection of any parasites or diseases, along with any general garden maintenance such as weeding and algae removal.

Protection from predators is a factor to take into consideration at the planning stage of Koi carp ponds. Koi supplies such as overhangs or pond net covers could prove invaluable in keeping your Koi fish safe from other hungry animals. Also, ensuring that the pond water has enough depth for the Koi to submerge out of sight from predators, as well as shading themselves from direct sunlight when needed, is a necessary element in the planning of your Koi pond.

Budgeting for the costs of running and maintaining your pond should be well thought out before hand. Shop around by researching online, as well as visiting your local pet stores, for prices on all things necessary and get a clear idea of what Koi carp ponds entail in regards to buying Koi fish, Koi food, pond cleaning supplies, water testing and treatment supplies, pond filter media, the potential energy costs of running pond filters, pond pumps, fountains and waterfalls, along with the construction materials and tools required to do the job properly. Making a concise list sorted into categories with sub totals of each will allow you to develop a clearer idea of potential monthly and yearly running costs.

keeping koi

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