backyard ponds

Backyard Ponds > Building Koi Ponds

Building Koi Ponds: A
Simple Three-Step Guide

Key Facts About Pond Building and Maintenance

A koi pond is the perfect stress reliever to come home to after a tough day at the office. Watching the koi swimming about your pond can't help but relax you. Especially if they are tamed and have the right temperament to take to hand feeding and all.

Still if you're thinking of creating your own koi filled ecosystem at home be sure you're ready for it. That's because building koi ponds requires sufficient time and investment. Koi ponds designs are not something you can dream up and put in over a weekend. You need to build it right. Otherwise, you will end up wasting time and money and possbily set yourself up for endless headaches.

Yet if well-built, the koi may live happily for 30 years or more. Which is why you might want to learn more about how to build a koi pond right - step by step. To that end here are a few pointers.

Step #1: Find the proper location
Location is essential when building koi ponds. You need to keep the koi away from too much direct sunlight so find a spot that is somewhat shaded. Also, the pond must be situated in an area where you can easily see it to better appreciate it. For inside if at all possible too.

Step #2: Determine the size and depth of your koi pond
Big is the keyword! The bigger your koi pond is, the better it is for them to live and grow and be healthy. Pond depths of three feet or deeper deserves serious consideration. Which is why telling someone they can set up a small pond and keep koi happy and healthy is like the stupidest idea about koi ponds you'll ever hear.

Here's How to Have the Fish Pond or Water Garden You've Always Dreamed of!

As you know koi are typically larger fish. Like fish that are measured in feet long not inches. So think about it. If they can grow to as much as 3 feet long how well are they going to do in some tiny water garden? Which is why you have to make sure they have ample space to swim around. Moreover, your pond must be at least 4-5 feet deep. This will also allow them to protect themselves from sneaky predators.

Koi Pond Tip: How big your pond is determines how many fish you can keep. It also influences how fast the koi will develop and grow. Not only that but a shallow and width pond will turn out fish that are different from a pond that is deep but with less surface area. When in doubt it's probably better to go with fewer smaller fish initially that you can watch go up over time.

Step #3: Gather and install the right supplies
Now, that you've got the dimensions covered, the next thing to do is to install the right materials. Here are the following supplies you may need to build a proper koi pond.

• Pond liner - can be preformed or rubber liner. You might also consider building a concrete pond. But most budding koi pond masters will be better off if they use a long lasting EPDM liner of some sort.

• Bottom drains - for optimum circulation and elimination of the need to empty to pond to clean out the accumulated debris twice a year. Such emptying disrupts the ecosystem that takes time to redevelop. Putting your fish at risk.

• Settlement chambers

• UV light sterilizers - necessary to keep water clean and free from any free floating algae.

• Filtration and aeration systems that are sized right. So they will not only handle the waste load today but are big enough to be up to the challenge a year or two from now when the fish are (hopefully) much bigger.

Koi Pond Tip: Keep in mind there is maintenance involved with the filtration system. You want to be honest about how much time you want to spend cleaning the filter. If it's less, which is likely to be the case, then simply get fewer but better grade koi.

Once you've got everything you need, you may now build your own koi pond and style it the way you like it. Confident that you have what you need to successfully keep koi.