Koi are the beautiful Japanese fish that have been around for centuries. They are graceful creatures that live in ponds and other water formations and are highly prized for their size and colors. There are any varieties of Koi and many of these grow up to more than a meter long and live up to several decades.
Some people build their own koi ponds and fountains to suit their preferences while others employ the help of experts in making their koi ponds and fountains. The best thing to do is to study the fish first and their habitats and preferences before embarking on a do it yourself dilemma that can be left hanging or could cost you some money just because of your spur of the moment decision. Koi are sensitive fish that need care and attention so make sure you have the time to do this. Koi ponds and fountains will also need care and attention.
Building Koi Ponds and Fountains
The first thing to do when thinking of building koi ponds and fountains is to look for the right location. You must remember that koi do not like direct sunlight and ponds under direct sunlight also gather more moss. This competes with the koi for oxygen in the water so it is better to have a shady area for the pond or to put water lilies with big leaves floating on the water to ensure shade.
You must also consider a water filter unit and a good aeration unit for the pond. Man made ponds and pools need to be aerated artificially to sustain the fish. Koi ponds and fountains need a good water pump to keep the water moving sufficiently enough to have no stagnant water.
One thing to keep in mind when building Koi ponds and fountains is that Koi can grow rather large and you must give a great margin for their growth especially if you intend to keep them for a long time. Each Koi can grow up to a meter long and live up to more than 50 years.
Regularly check the chlorine of the water in the pond since this is dangerous to fish and so are other chemicals and elements in the water. Koi ponds and fountains are very attractive to fishing birds so it is best to make the pond a little deeper than what wading birds can stand up in. Herons and egrets can eat a lot of koi in one sitting so it is best to safeguard from them.
Filed under Koi Backyard Pond, Koi Farm Pond, Koi Fish, Koi Garden Pond, Koi Goldfish Pond, Koi Indoor Pond, Koi Natural Pond, Koi Pond Accessories, Koi Pond Bookmarks, Koi Pond Building, Koi Pond Do It Yourself, Koi Pond Maintenance, Koi Ponds, Koi Water Pond, Koi Yards Pond by on Feb 2nd, 2008. 3 Comments. 
Discuss – There are also bubbling devices that can be placed in koi ponds to provide aeration if installing a waterfall is not practical. Especially in the bottom of the pool, koi pond aeration is a necessity, since this area is farthest from the surface.
Plants can add interest and beauty to your fish pond but did you know that they also are vital for maintaining healthy water quality which will help keep your pond clear and your fish healthy?
There are five different types of plants that you want to think about planting in and around your pond – floating plants, oxygenating plants, marginal plants, bog plants and deep water plants. These plants not only give your pond and authentic look but can also help keep the water oxygenated, cut down on algae growth, give your fish a place to hide as well as a place to spawn and can also provide food.
Discuss – Pick a design for the fish pond. First individuals would have to decide on the size of the pond they want to build.
When adding plants to your fish pond you want to think about how large they will get and how fast they will grow. You don’t want to add plants that will totally overwhelm your pond or that will make a full-time job of cutting back their growth. You also want to be sure that the plant can survive winters in your area. Plants don’t have to be planted directly in the soil of your pond, you can set them in mesh pots or fabric pond pots which will allow the air to pass through but will also prohibit the soil from getting into your pond and turning it muddy.
To make your pond look its best and be it’s healthiest you need to select plants for each pond layer. These different plants perform different functions as described below.
Discuss – Another way to obtain Koi pond aeration is to have different kinds of under water pond plants such as Anacharis and Hornwort. These plants will grow and spread out very well under water.
Deep water plants like Lotus, Water Lilies and Water Hawthorne grow in the deep waters of the pond. These plants will help remove the waste from the pond and act as sort of a natural filtration. They need oxygen and sunlight to grow their best. You might consider using an aquatic fertilizer that is safe for ponds. The Lotus and Water Lilies prefer water that is 2 feet deep but the Hawthorne can grow in as little as three to 24 Inches.
Oxygenating plants provide important oxygen to the pond as well as help to control the growth of algae by eating the same nutrients and carbon dioxide that algae needs to grow. Oxygenating plants also can provide food for your fish and act as shelters and spawning areas. Some good oxygenating plants include Hornwort, Water Violet, Water Buttercup and Water Milfoil.
Discuss – Individuals should make sure that they do not make their fish pond too small. This is a mistake that a lot of beginners make.
Floating plants look great in the pond and they also provide shade and shelter for the fish and other creatures that live there. Be warned, however, that many of the floating plants will grow quickly and soon take over your pond. This can not only be an eyesore but can also be bad for the pond itself as it prevents photosynthesis which will decrease the waters oxygen level. Floating plants like Duckweed grow very quickly so you probably want to avoid that and stick to plants like Water Lettuce, Bladder Wart, Water Soldier, Water Hyacinths and Water Chestnut
Marginal plants like Sweet Flag, Golden Buttons, Marsh Marigolds, Japanese Arrowhead, and Lobelia grow in the shallows around the edge of your pond and depths of 2 inches to 1 foot. Cattails are also a marginal plant but they can be very invasive so you probably want to avoid those unless you plan to spend a lot of time weeding your pond.
Discuss – When used to reduce stress in separate treatment tanks or during fish transportation, use 4 tablespoons full (95.2g) of Pond Salt for each 10 gallons (37.
Bog plants like Astilbe, Primula and Lysimachia grow at the very edge of the pond in the wet soil. they are important as they help siphon off surplus nutrients which allows control of algae growth thus keeping your pond clear.
|
Lee Dobbins writes for http://www.backyard-garden-and-patio.com where you can learn more about gardening and creating the perfect fish pond. |
Filed under Koi Pond Do It Yourself by on May 6th, 2009. Comment.
Discuss – Including an assortment of plants inside the fish pond, and planting it around the edges will help manage and absorb the nutrients in the fish pond. Some water plants will also help to control the presence of algae.
Koi ponds require a lot of time and maintenance. If you are not ready to invest time into your koi pond, then you should most definitely not invest the money into one. Koi do function as beautiful garden “decorations,” in a sense, but they are really much more like pets than simple garden décor.
This is because you are going to need to take the time to care for koi much like you need to take the time to care for pets. You want to be sure that your koi pond is a very healthy environment so that your Japanese carp will flourish. Also, you want to make sure that your water remain clear so that you can enjoy your koi.
Here are things to consider before building your koi pond:
· The bigger the better. It is best to build a koi pond that is larger than 500 gallons.
· The deeper the better. Make sure that it is at least 2 feet deep, but preferably much deeper (a 6 foot deep koi pond takes up no more room in your yard than a 2 foot deep one!)
· Include at least one bottom drain.
· Be sure that the bottom slopes toward the drain and away from any incoming water (like waterfalls, etc.)
· Make a good shape. To be a proper Japanese koi pond, shape and style of the pond itself is everything. For your own pond, you can simply choose a shape that is most aesthetically pleasing to your own eye (and a shape that fits well in your yard!).
Discuss – However, if you still do want to keep potted plants in your KOI pond, we recommend wrapping netting over the tops of the pots, to keep the fish from digging in the pots. Another thing you can do is to top the pots with 1′ of pea gravel, and then larger river stones or similar over that.
· Vertical walls will increase your pond volume and help protect your koi from predators.
· Have a pond skimmer system. Look for one with a “weir.”
· Use a specialized biological filtration system instead of a mechanical or chemical filtration system.
· Heat it during the winter.
· Keep a good feeding regime.
· Keep a good cleaning regime.
These are just a few things that you must do or must be aware of before creating your own koi pond. If you are still interested in doing so, then go for it!
|
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on koi ponds, please visit Pond Depot. |
Filed under Koi Pond Do It Yourself, Koi Pond Maintenance by on Apr 15th, 2009. Comment.