A well-made and well-maintained koi pond is truly a sight to behold in any home. Building a koi pond might look complicated, but it is actually a lot easier than you think. Sure, there are some guidelines you have to follow to make sure that what you are making is a safe and habitable place for your koi, but otherwise even a beginner can build a koi pond.
Here are some important considerations when building a koi pond:
Size and Shape of the Pond
When building a koi pond, your primary consideration should be the size and shape of your pond.
Since koi ponds usually serve an ornamental purpose, its appearance should be well-planned.
This is especially the case if the building or residence where the koi pond will be built has a very distinct look.
Do you want a traditional minimalist Japanese pond?
Or do you want something more modern?
This is something that will greatly depend on your preference.
While the shape of the pond is often a purely aesthetic consideration, the size serves a more practical purpose.
Note that koi can grow up to two to three feet, depending on the variety, so make sure that you have enough space for the koi you want to take care of.
An overcrowded pond can stifle the growth of your koi and can make them especially prone to diseases.
If you plan on taking care of multiple koi, make sure that you have enough space for them to grow, as well as extra space for the filtration system.
Location of the Pond
The location of the pond is mostly aesthetic and will for the most part depend on the layout of your yard.
Keep in mind, however, that a koi pond should not be placed under direct sunlight, so as to avoid rapid changes in the water temperature.
That said, building a koi pond in a well-shaded area will be ideal for your koi.
If you happen to not have trees in your yard, you should consider adding water lilies or other floating plants to provide your koi with some shade.
Equipment for building a Koi Pond
Of course, no koi pond is complete without the proper equipment.
Since water in artificial ponds are pretty stagnant, you need to install equipment that will cycle the water, provide the koi with enough oxygen, as well as keep the water clean.
A durable and high-quality bottom drain, water pump, and filtration system with ultraviolet sterilizer can be quite costly, but they are essential equipment in building a koi pond.
Also, investing in these will help you save money in the long run, as well as keep your koi healthy.
Maintenance
Man-made fish habitats such as a koi pond require constant upkeep and maintenance, so be sure that you are ready for this commitment before building a koi pond.
To ensure the health of your koi, you need to constantly monitor the pH and oxygen levels.
You will also have to replace the water at least weekly to keep the pond water clean.
During winter, you will have to replace 5 to 10% of the water every week, while you will have to replace 25% of the water in the summer.
You will also have to regularly clean the surface of the pond and clean the filters.
Having your own koi pond requires significant time and effort on your part, but the results will be extremely satisfying.
Consider it as having a small patch of nature in your very own yard.
Now that you have a pond built time for the addition of some koi check out our article Buying Koi Online.
