Building a Garden Pond for Koi Fish
Did you concider installing a water pond for koi fish? Keeping these beautiful fish in home pond is an interesting hobby and it is not as complicated as you might think. If you do the right things decorative koi fish can live for decades and get very big in size. Follow these tips to plan your fish pond properly so your koi fish will live long and happy life.
Depth is important
Depth of your garden koi pond is crucial. You pond should be at least 4 feet deep, however it is recommended to give your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your fish are safe from raccoons, pet kitties and other animals who can empty your pond. Deeper fish pond also helps to keep water cool in hot summer days
Make your pond as large as you can
Small ponds are not suitable for koi. Remember, with time your fish will multiply and grow and they will need a lot of room. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that as time goes you will probably want to add more fish to your pond. So it is better to create a big koi pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is suitable for a koi fish pond , bigger would be even better.
Provide some heating in winter
Unlike tropical fish, koi don’t suffer much from cold; however you should never let your pond freeze all the way. Installing a proper garden pond heater will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that koi fish only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster
Plan some shade for your koi
When selecting where to place your pond, make sure it is out of direct sun. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond are a good idea - not only they add beauty to the overall look of your pond, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond under trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is a nightmare.
Keep the birds away
There are many birds of prey that will enjoy eating your koi. Don’t give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to protect it with a bird net.
Keep insecticides away from your pond
When planning your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides so they can get into the wate. Even a small amount of common garden poison can kill your beautiful fish.
Koi fish pond acsessories that you might need
Several accessories are requared for good health of your fish. Ideally you must buy a water pump, filtration system, pond water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is not moving, your koi might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filtration systems are not cheap, so if money is an issue you can make your own homemade filters.
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