Koi Pond: Learn Before You Buy

Did you know that Koi fish are also called dragon fish by many people? Originally, Japan was the main place where the Koi fish was bred. Today, you will find that these fish are kept by hobbyists and bred by professional fish farmers across the globe. There are so many Koi fish lovers that it would blow your mind. Often times, they are kept in man-made or natural Koi ponds. If you have gained an interest in creating a Koi pond in your own yard, then you have made a great decision. However, you cannot just jump into it, create the pond and put fish in it, without doing some research of your own. Below, we are going to get deeper into this subject.

It is important that you know how to keep those fish in order for them to remain healthy. Once you know how to keep them, you will have them for many years to come. Ponds that are well maintained will offer a lot of beauty and they are a perfect complement to your garden.

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Like most things, the ponds are going to take a bit of Care. You should not give up if you find that you mess some things up in the beginning. You can learn a lot from books and other enthusiasts. Like all other things that are living, your Koi could get an illness. Your pond will be outdoors, so it is normal for organic matter to fall into the bond and cause the chemical balance to change. The filter could also break or get blocked, which will cause the fish problems.

That's not all that could happen to the fish. You see, there are a lot of predators outdoors. Watch out for those cats, big birds, snakes and other predators that have a desire to taste some of your fish. Many individuals put nets on top of their pond, which will serve as a number of purposes. For starters, it will help keep the predators out from getting your fish.

It will also help keep your fish in their water. Yes, just as a dog likes to escape out of a fence, the fish have a tendency to flop around and flop out onto the ground.

By reading and studying information, you will be an expert in no time. These type of fish can have a big price tag on them, so many individuals start out with goldfish to test their pond and see if they have everything right in it.

You may want to start with an aquarium first, this way, you will have some lessons in taking care of fish. The pond is just like a giant aquarium. You will need to know how to determine if a fish is sick, which can be more difficult for you to learn when the fish is swimming around in a pond.

We recommend you checking with local breeders and pet shops to see what you could learn. There are also starter books that will help you learn. Doing this will prevent problems in the future.

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• What You Need To Consider Before Building A Koi Pond
• Ponder Before You Build Koi Pond

10 Critical Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Build a Koi Fish Pond

Before approaching the task of constructing a Koi Pond, ask yourself the following questions:

Are you prepared to build the Koi Pond yourself or get an expert to build it for you?

There is no substitute for getting quality advice from a professional pond builder. After you have done your preliminary research and have started to gain some idea of what you want, you can really benefit from consulting with a professional. They can discuss your ideas with you and help spell out what is doable and what is not; what is realistic and what is not; and finally, what is affordable and what is not! Following such a discussion, you will be in a far better position to decide whether you want to build yourself or hire a professional builder do the work for you.

Just how much can you afford to spend?

This is the easiest but most critical question of all. Take a guess at what it "might" cost to build the Koi Pond you have in mind and then double it! Is this amount out of your reach? Well, guess what! This is exactly the "scary" question you ought to ask yourself! Now, get yourself an expenses book and list out all predicted itemized expenses as you do your research. You will need to determine a budget for absolutely EVERYTHING before you even think about grabbing that spade! As you finalize your preliminary budget, ask yourself once more if this is affordable or way beyond your means. If it is within range of what you expected, then you can look for ways to reduce spending if needed, along the way. For example, when it comes to stocking your completed pond, you may want to cut back by purchasing smaller or less mature Koi specimens as these are often less expensive. Likewise, you may be able to cut back on pond plant expenditure or ornamentation if necessary.

How much room do you have for a Koi Pond?

Now this is almost as important as the "Money" question! You really need to consider not only the size of the pond that you "want" but what your backyard can "accommodate". Think in terms of what percentage of the yard would be needed for your ultimate pond - this can help put things in perspective. If your yard is big, then this normally won't be an issue, but, you do still need to think about the "location" within your yard. When considering how much space, think along the lines of "bigger is better" - meaning Koi can grow quite big and realistically require a lot of room to grow. You may also be tempted to buy "one of every color" when it comes to stocking your pond, so there is a risk of over-crowding! Set yourself a limit on the quantity of Koi you will have long-term (either by purchasing more Koi later on or from breeding) and ensure that your pond size will be sufficient to accommodate them.

How many Koi fish do you want to have? It's fairly well known that fish will only grow to a size that their environment can sustain. They will also grow faster where there is a smaller population of fish as a result of less competition for food and better water quality resulting from less waste.  It is less well known however, that the growth of Koi can be promoted better by an increase in water surface area. In other words, if you think about 2  ponds of equivalent volume, let's say 10,000 gallons (just about 38,000 litres) but different depths, the deeper pond will not promote growth as well as the other as a consequence of a smaller water surface area. Consider also, that a pond can support a corresponding total weight or "biomass" of fish. For example, in a small pond, the biomass may support either 2 large fish or 20 smaller fish provided that the total weight is the same in either situation, and provided that it does not exceed the final biomass for that pond. A general guideline  when determining how many fish your pond will take is, about 50 to 100 gallons per small koi (under 12"), and 500 to 1000 gallons per large koi (over 24") in a properly filtered pond. Some experts say that those new to the Koi hobby are advised to build a pond between 1,000 and 5,000 gallons, however, others advise that the ideal pond is more around the 10,000 gallon mark. Ultimately, your pond size will be influenced by cost, location and space, but aim for the biggest you can manage - it's very difficult to go back and make your pond larger afterward!

How much time are you happy to spend maintaining your Koi Pond?

This question needs to be answered with the same level of honesty and practicality that the question of "Money" was! Think about how much time you "think" you may have to spend upkeeping your Koi Pond and then double it! Is this more time than you're happy to put in or not? This is another area that should be discussed with your professional koi pond consultant.

Do you have the right location for a Koi Pond?

Just like Real Estate, it's all about Location! Location! Location! Your Koi Pond needs to be where it can be admired and enjoyed BUT it also wants to be located with the following considerations in mind. To begin with, your pond needs indirect sunlight where possible so that the water temperature doesn't undergo huge daily variations. Also try not to place it under a tree where it will collect a lot of leaves and other debris - you don't want to spend any more time than necessary scooping out leaves. Finally, don't forget to consider building restrictions from your local council or authority and check for underground pipes and cables before you commence.

Are you prepared to learn about Koi and their needs?

Take the time to do your homework. This will minimize the mistakes that are easily made from guesswork, and could save you a great deal of time, money and effort. There are lots of resources available for you to take advantage of. Try talking to Koi enthusiasts or visit Koi fish club meetings.

Can you dig deep enough for a Koi Pond?

Depth is critical to the success of your Koi Pond. Too deep and it becomes impractical to clean, to catch Koi if necessary, and let's face it, it becomes too costly to build. Too shallow and your Koi might not have enough shelter from would be predators like cats and birds or shelter from the heat of a summer's day. If you are excited about the prospect of hand feeding your new pets, then think about having a shallow area that you can stand in while feeding them. You will still need to have the remainder of the pond at a minimum depth of at least 3 or 4 feet, but ideally, if you can manage it, 5 or 6 feet is better. If creating a multi-level pond, be careful not to create static areas where the water does not circulate sufficiently, as this provides places for serious diseases to breed and for debris to collect. This can cause major problems with water quality.

What "Extras" do you want with your Koi Pond?

Would you like "Fries" with that? I mean, would you like Fry in your pond? If you're thinking about breeding Koi somewhere in the future, you will have to ask about this at the same time you are consulting with the professional pond builder. There are various "extras" that may need to be factored in for the purposes of spawning. Likewise, if you are looking at the aesthetics of the pond itself, you may want to investigate the cost of adding a "Waterfall" which can greatly aid in the oxygenation of the water and consequently affect the size of any filtration unit required. Pond plants can also add to the expense - be sure you do your research here as you can't put in any plants you like - that's an entire other subject. There are many other materials that need to be factored into the cost of your pond that come under the heading of "necessities" rather than "extras". These may include but are not limited to such things as a biological filter, pipes, settlement chambers, a de-chlorinator, bird netting, drains, pumps, skimmers, heating, plus more. Again, these should all be discussed with your consultant at the planning stage.

Are you really, really enthusiastic about having your own Koi Pond?

The answer to this one, even after all of the above, should be a resounding "YES", otherwise, go and buy yourself a goldfish bowl - it will be a lot less expensive with a lot less work, but ultimately, will be a lot less rewarding (no disrespect to goldfish intended!). If the answer is in fact "YES" then great! You have many years ahead to look forward to as your pets grow in size, personality and beauty!

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• Ponder Before You Build Koi Pond
• How to Build a Koi Fish Pond

Things You Need to Know Before Building Your Koi Ponds

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.

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• What You Need To Consider Before Building A Koi Pond
• What You Need to Know about Koi

What You Need To Consider Before Building A Koi Pond

When one is seriously considering having Koi fish, the first question that inevitably comes to mind is: "How do you build a Koi pond?" Koi fish, due to their size, require relatively large ponds. The smallest size that should be considered as ponds for Koi is 500 gallons, but there are house ponds that are as large as 50,000 gallons. If you are new to building ponds for Koi, a good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that you will require at minimum 100 gallons of water capacity per individual Koi fish that is to be kept in the pond.

As with any large building project, planning is central to building a Koi pond. Key points to include in your planning phase are size, building material, location and how the pond will make use of ancillary support systems, such as filtration systems, heaters, protein skimmers, covers, etc.

Size of the pond

As was mentioned above, you should plan on a 100 gallon water capacity as a minimum requirement per Koi fish in your pond. Of course, how this water is distributed is also very important. The depth of ponds for Koi should be at a minimum 4 ½ feet. If a 6 foot depth could be accommodated, that would be even better. Also, if you live in colder climates, the deeper the pond, the greater the consistency that can be achieved with regards to water temperature.

Further dimensions to keep in mind are minimum width and length measurements for building a Koi pond. These should be four and twelve feet respectively.

Building material

Ponds for Koi can be built with simple concrete sides and bottoms. Other styles incorporate the use of a cinder block structure that acts as a retaining mechanism for the dirt on the sides of the hole. These blocks are then covered with a waterproof coating of fiberglass.

Similar to swimming pools, pre-molded fiberglass structures can also be used in building ponds for Koi. These require preliminary digging and other site preparations to be made prior to scheduling the formal placement of the fiberglass structure by a professional.

Location

In building a Koi pond, location is also very important. Areas that expose the pond to constant or direct sunlight should be avoided. An area that allows for passive shading, such as that from a tree or perimeter wall, is best. Remember, Koi fish need both sunlight and shade, but direct sunlight can literally burn the skin of the Koi fish. As such, if passive shading cannot be obtained, artificial covers, foliage and water lilies should be incorporated into your design in order to provide your Koi with areas which they can use to shade themselves when needed.

In determining the location for your Koi pond, also take into account how glare and shadow will affect how you will be able to visualize your Koi. After all, one of the primary reasons for building a Koi pond is to enjoy the beauty of the Koi fish. Unwanted glare and shadows can hamper this.

Lastly, remember that the fact that your Koi pond will be exposed to the elements creates a series of concerns that otherwise do not exist when compared to an aquarium, which is indoors. When building a Koi pond take into account water runoff from your surrounding gardens which could carry unwanted fertilizer and insecticide residue into your Koi pond, contaminating the water. Other concerns would also include exposure to predators. Large birds, raccoons and other creatures native to your area can be attracted to your Koi pond. Netting, perimeter fences and other countermeasures should be employed if your surrounding environment hosts such creatures.

You should not view building a Koi pond as an overwhelming task. In reality, the construction of one can be quite enjoyable and make you more in tune with the needs of your fish. Plus, the added pride that you get in being able to tell all of those that admire your pond that you built it yourself can be a great motivator. All that is needed is careful and comprehensive planning prior to engaging in the undertaking of building ponds for Koi.

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• Things You Need to Know Before Building Your Koi Ponds
• Why Would You Need a Koi Pond Kit?

Ponder Before You Build Koi Pond

Every living being needs its own space… its own hearth on this earth. And so do your Koi. You can enjoy Koi at its best only if you provide it with an ecosystem it wants and it deserves. If you truly want a Koi, you will need to want a pond as well. And by pond I mean a proper, big, well maintained pond with all the required maintenance systems in place.

Once you have decided that you want to build Koi pond, prepare yourself for some real hard work. If you choose to hire some professionals to build your pond, be ready for sparing a few extra hundreds in addition to the considerable investments that Koi keeping requires. Another option is you can build Koi pond for your loved Koi with your own hands. It's by no means simple or easy. But it is sure to be great fun and you will get the satisfaction that no cost can buy.

Here is some basic step by step information that would help you to build your Koi pond:

?  Do thorough research and planning. Use the internet and explore the sites dedicated to Koi and gather whatever information you can about Koi pond building. Talk to those who already have a Koi pond. The more informed you are the better the chances of getting the ‘right' pond at the very first attempt. Do not only search for the pond building guidelines, but also look for better options for getting required Koi pond equipment. Plan every detail carefully so that you can proceed without any hassles or hesitation.

?  Choose a spot in your garden that receives ample light but is not under direct sunlight at any hour of the day. Choose cautiously. You will never be able to move your pond.

?  Do you want your pond to be raised above the ground level or in the ground? Consider both the options. Choose what is best for you.

?  Decide upon an appropriate size. The larger and deeper the pond the better for your Koi. Koi are big fish and they thrive well in a large pond that gives them enough space to swim around. But your budget will also have to increase with the pond size, so make a practical decision.

?  Get manual now. Start digging. If you want to have shelves for holding aquatic plants, dig accordingly. Once the hole is ready, it's time to put in the base for your pond. There are many options available. You can choose from PVC, fibreglass, concrete, etc. Fibreglass is the most durable but also the most expensive of options. Concrete has perhaps the lowest construction cost but maintenance costs are high and durability can be an issue as concrete is prone to cracks. Choose as per your budget and preference.

?  Ensure that your pond has a proper drain system in place before it goes live.

?  Install all the required equipment. Choose the equipment based on the size of your pond and the number of Koi you plan to have. Select quality products even if it means a few extra bucks. Install the filtration system, UV lights for clearing of water, aeration system, pumps, etc. properly in place.

?  Fill your pond. Implant all the vegetation that you wish to have in there. Let your pond come to terms with nature. Test all the systems and ensure they are working properly.

?  Add beautiful and healthy Koi to your pond.

So ponder, pond in and pond… this is the way to a happy and healthy Koi pond experience.

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• Koi Pond: Fish or No Fish?
• Koi Pond Supplies

Before You Make Any Serious Mistakes With Your Fish Koi Pond

When you're new to Koi, it's easy to get over-enthusiastic about getting started with building the fish Koi pond. That is, until you find out how much money it's going to cost you.

Yes, Koi keeping is a hobby that could raise cause for alarm in your pocket book. It's not something you want to jump into without making sure you can afford it first.

That said; keeping Koi is not completely unaffordable. There are money-saving opportunities in building the pond. One of these options is by buying a pond liner instead of building a block and concrete pond.

Now, I'm not against pond liners. I'm sure that there are some brands available that have proven to be very effective liners. It's just that unless you know pond liners like the back of your hand, my advice is you're probably better off not buying one.

Pond liners generally cost less up front than a concrete fish Koi pond, but when you take into account the near-impossibility of laying the liner in the hole and ironing out all the creases, while taking care not to puncture any part of it ... the effort is simply not worth it.

Another way you might be able to save money is by building your own Koi pond. After all, how hard can it be to dig a hole, cement it in, fill it with water and throw a couple of fish in, right? That's what I told myself before I practically pulled all my hair out with frustration and rage over all the mistakes I made.

Take it from me. If you're going to be spending the money anyway, spend it wisely. If you don't have any experience in Koi pond building, or any skill with concrete, don't start by building your own Koi pond. At least don't do it without expert help.

If there's anything you get out of reading this, I hope it's: Always Ask for Professional Advice. Because with keeping a fish Koi pond, when something goes wrong, it REALLY goes kaput. Leaks are your worst possible enemy. Believe me when I say this: Pay the pros. It is money well spent.

I'm not saying that you can't get involved in the process. On the contrary - you need to be very involved. You can share your pond visions with your professional builder - where you want it, how big you want the pond, the shape of the pond and so forth. The more specific you are, the easier it will be for them to do their job, and the happier you will be with the end result.

The next lesson I hope you get out of reading this is: Beware of Cheap Quotes. That sends the red flag up in my book. If a pond builder quote is too good to be true, it probably is. Don't go with cheap - it'll come back to bite you in the pocket.

A fish Koi pond is very complex and when built the right way, will cost more than having a swimming pool built. Don't laugh. I'm not making this up.

Another lesson to learn from embarking on this great adventure called Koi keeping is this: Koi Ponds are Permanent. I know that sounds obvious, but it still needs to be said. Because they are permanent, you need to plan ahead and keep a couple of thoughts in mind while having the pond built:

1. If you plan on using a liner, have a plan ready for when the liner expires (yes, they have expected expiration dates). Having a liner pond may cost you less in the short run, but you'll make it up when it expires. I advise having a concrete pond built by an experienced professional. You pay more up front, but you save money (not to mention your sanity) in the long run.

2. Hire an architect who has experience in designing fish Koi pond structures to design yours. Ask for references you can contact. This is important. I have seen many strikingly designed Koi ponds that can't keep a Koi alive in it. (Sorry, architects.)

Make sure the architect and pond builder can work together - you want all the features to be functional too, otherwise you'll be spending a ton of money and time correcting mistakes that could have been avoided in the first place. A properly designed and planned Koi pond might take some time and a little bit of money, but you won't regret the expense when enjoying the longevity of rewards in the long run.

3. Bottom drains are KEY. Get one built in.

4.Join your local Koi Society. See what others have done. Ask questions. Any fish Koi pond owner will be more than happy to give you as much information about Koi keeping as your ears can handle! It's always best to see and experience Koi in person.

Points to ponder when designing your Koi pond:

1. Building a Koi pond is like building a house. It's about Location, Location, Location. Do you have building restrictions? Do you want the pond in the sun or in the shade or a little of both? Put the pond somewhere you go to every day.

2. Architecture. Make sure the theme of the pond matches the rest of your living space. Your architect can help you with this.

3. Size. In this case, bigger is better.

4. Depth. Minimum 1.5 meters. The deeper the better.

5. Level. Do you want it at ground level or raised?

6. Fiberglass or not?

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