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 – 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.
INTRODUCTION
Water in the garden. It brings us refreshing coolness on the hottest summer day. It satisfies our senses with sounds that only water can make. It delights our eyes with the unsurpassed beauty of colorful water lilies, the glimmering iridescence of fish and reflections from the sky.
Water has immense attraction to all people. For centuries Europeans have enjoyed the beauty of fountains and water gardens in their public squares and private estates. Water gardens create “natural” focal points, whether located in the home garden, shopping mall, or office building.
This book is written to fill a void in today’s selection of gardening books. A few books are sprinkled here and there, covering specific areas of water gardening such as plants and Koi, but this book is written to cover all facets of decorative water gardening for homeowners as well as professional landscapers and architects.
Discuss – Also, digging a fish pond on the lowest ground level in the backyard is not the best idea. This is because it will tend to get flooded when you water your lawn.
The word “pond” conjures up different images for different people. Some envision a farm pond with a dirt bottom, fed by a creek bed and alive with ducks and frogs. Others see a mossy-covered goldfish pool in the corner of a yard. For our purposes, the word “pond” will be used in the Webster’s Dictionary sense: “artificially enclosed body of water; a body of standing water smaller than a lake, often artificially formed.” In this book you’ll also find some of the newer terms – aquasphere, aquatic habitat, aquatic environment, or waterscape.
The reasons for considering a water garden are varied. Commercial landscape architects use water in their designs for effect and uniqueness. Homeowners want to exchange their rakes, lawn mowers and weedeaters for a work free garden. Others desire a pond “just like grandpa always had,” yet most of us are simply looking for a garden to enjoy, a haven for relaxation.
Water does have a relaxing affect, whether it be the rhythmic waves of the ocean, a gently running brook, or the quiet beauty of a pond. While we may be unable to recreate nature with oceans and brooks, we can find pleasure in designing and building ponds.
Discuss – The poor Koi keeper is left wondering what happened. He then proceeds the way of many before him, with a shovel, lots of sand and a determination to fill in what was once a treasured feature of his garden, his Koi pond.
MOTIVES
Before deciding on a water garden, consider your motives. Ask yourself the following questions:
* Why do I want a pond?
* Am I trying to save work for myself?
* Do I want a part of nature in my own backyard?
* Am I looking for a fishpond? Or a plant pond? A fountain or waterfall?
* Do I want to cool off in the pond?
* Do I want to convert a swimming pool?
Am I looking for a focal point in the yard or simply a subtle blend of plants and fish?
Many people think water gardening means digging a hole, filling it in with water, plants and fish, and that’s all there is to it. While it’s true that established ponds require minimal work, prospective water gardeners should realize that a certain amount of responsibility goes with a pond garden.
When you build a pond, you’re putting in a natural habitat, something that is “alive” and “breathing” with plants and animals. Plants live and grow in this natural habitat; natural gas exchanges are going on; birds, bugs, fish, frogs and animals come to visit and drink from you pond. In other words, you’re doing more than just cementing an area in the yard and filling it with water. You are bringing nature into your surroundings.
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.
EXPECTATIONS
Prospective water gardeners should also examine their expectations. What do you want from your pond?
Before starting construction, you should decide if you want a fishpond, a fish and plant pond, a fountain, or a waterfall. For example, a Koi pond without plants will be constructed differently than ponds containing both fish and plants.
Do you want you pond to be a focal point – something that stands out dramatically with waterfalls or spraying fountains? Or is your life hectic and frenzied, so you’re looking for a quiet haven for meditation and relaxation?
Discuss – Location is everything. First individuals must decide where they want to dig their fish pond.
If you expect a low maintenance, relaxing environment, you’ll find it in water gardening. You may wonder how water gardening can be effortless. The answer is nature. Properly planned water gardens achieve an ecological balance of water, plants, fish, and snails.
Water ponds answer a multitude of expectations, but the final decision on what you want from your water garden must come from you.
2005 Brett Fogle
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary ‘New Pond Owners Guide’ for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens at our website.
Filed under Koi Yards Pond by on Dec 1st, 2008. Comment.
Discuss – Location is everything. First individuals must decide where they want to dig their fish pond.
So you’ve got your summer vacation plans all made. You’ve got a checklist to remind you to stop the newspaper delivery, hold your mail, drop the dog off at the kennels, and something else. Something that you’re forgetting. Oh yeah, the pond. What are you going to do about the pond?
If you’re going away for a long weekend then your pond won’t even miss you. Check your water levels and make all of other normal tests, feed your fish, and hit the road.
However, if you’re going away for a longer period, say a week or two, then you’ll need to take some extra measures to ensure that your pond stays safe and happy and that it doesn’t miss you while you’re gone. Here’s a few more items to add to your vacation checklist:
1. Filter
About a week before you pack the kids into the SUV clean all of the mechanical parts of your filter and pumps. This includes brushes and settlement chambers and all of the pre-filter parts. You want to do this a week in advance so you can keep an eye on the resulting water quality, after the cleaning, to make sure that everything is in balance.
2. Change your water
Dump about 20-30% of the existing pond water and replace it with clean and chlorine-free water. This helps to dilute any build up of nitrates or ammonia. Fill the pond to the top to compensate for evaporation while you are gone. This is a good time to check your oxygen levels as well as perform all of your other water balancing tests.
Discuss – Another consideration is that fact that you will really want to keep your Koi pond close to your home in order to protect it from predatory animals and children that may inadvertently bring harm to your pond, equipment, or fish. This is after all a rather sizeable investment you will want to protect it.
3. Place a moratorium on new fish
This is not the time to add new fish to your pond. You won’t be there to monitor their progress and there’s no telling what kind of problems you will face when you return.
4. Predator Protection
Figure that your heron, raccoon, and other neighborhood predators are going to rush to your pond the moment that your taillights disappear and plan accordingly. If you do not already have natural hiding spots in your pond then cover it with a secure pond net that is made especially for this purpose.
5. Feeding
If you’ll be gone for two weeks or less, feed your fish their normal amount just prior to leaving and don’t worry about it again until you get back.
Your average koi can get along just fine without being fed for two weeks or less. They’ll find plenty of algae and the occasional wayward bug to snack on and their metabolism will adjust quickly to a reduced diet for a short period of time.
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.
If you plan to be gone for a longer time then your only alternatives are either having someone come and feed for you, or getting an automatic fish feeder. Fish feeders can be expensive, they can break down and stop feeding, and they are also subject to malfunctioning and overfeeding. Your best bet is a friend or neighbor.
If you are going to depend on human help make sure that you leave very explicit feeding instructions and tell them not to deviate even a tiny bit. Make sure that they know that overfeeding fish is not a “treat” and that they could end up killing the fish while trying to do a good deed. Also let them know that if they miss a feeding day not to feed twice as much the next time to make up for it.
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.
Now here are some tips for when you return:
1. Check to make sure that all of your fish are present and accounted for and that they all appear healthy.
2. Perform all of the usual water tests and adjust anything that is out of balance.
3. Clean your filter and pumps just like you did before you left for vacation.
4. Resume your normal feeding schedule.
Owning a pond doesn’t mean that you have to give up your well-deserved vacation. A little planning and common sense goes a long way.
About the Author:
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several other pond-related websites including www.MacArthurWatergardens.com and www.Pond-Filters-Online.com He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive our FREE ‘New Pond Owners Guide’ visit MacArthur Water Gardens today.
Filed under Koi Pond Maintenance, Koi Yards Pond by on Jul 25th, 2008. Comment.