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Balanced Koi Ponds Designs

Baffled by all the koi ponds designs to choose from? Let's see if we can't simplify things just a bit. Here are four critical things you need to consider in designing your koi pond.

Pond location: Make sure your pond is in a shaded area. However, be sure to keep it from being to near the trees. Otherwise, there will be fallen leaves and other debris making cleaning a little bit hard on you.

Pond size: The problem with the koi ponds designs of some people is their failure to properly decipher the right pond size. They thought the size was already right enough, but it ended up appearing smaller. Therefore, be sure to build your pond large enough for koi to swim around in freely. A koi pond that can accommodate 2,000 gallons of water should be good enough. And then again, it would be a different story if you intend to stock it with more than a few koi.

Pond depth: On average, a koi pond must be at least 3-5 feet deep to allow for the size these fish naturally attain. It's also best if no part of the pond is shallower than two feet. Otherwise, your prized koi might end up as easy pickings for predators.

Pond type, shape, and material: Koi ponds designs come in different shapes as well. What to choose for basically depends on your taste and preference. Some prefer it above ground while others prefer to build it in-ground. The shape also depends on what you want. You can buy pre-formed liners so you just have to choose whichever is to your liking. If you already have a shape in mind, then you use a rubber pond liner instead. For better results, you may also choose to design a concrete pond since it is more permanent compared to other pond types. Other materials used for building ponds include fiber glass, plastic, and natural clay.

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

Now your standard issue small koi pond equipped with a simple filtration system might run you about $400 to set up. Which makes them quite affordable. Yet choosing a particular koi pond design requires careful planning. Be sure to plan out the construction phase well to ensure favorable results.

Koi Pond Secrets - Beyond Design to Balanced

For many first time ponders, having a koi pond of their own is dream come true. But like anything you do for the first time you may have unrealistic expectations as to what can be created or what it takes to create it. Know what I mean?

The crucial element of any backyard pond that contains fish is balance. Achieve that and you may not need any kind of mechanical filtration and the upkeep that entails.

So the first thing you want to plan for is an array of aquatic plants that can help you attain that sought after balance.

First on the list should be oxygenating plants. The role such pond plants play is vital. They keep water gardens clear by out-competing algae for any nutrients dissolved in the water. The plants to look for would include parrot's feather, foxtail and anacharis.

Koi Pond Tip: You want nearly two thirds of the surface of your pond covered with pond plants. Cuts down on evaporation, adds oxygen, filters the water, and shades the bottom keeping the algae in check.

Now that you've got plants at work to keep the water clear of algae you'll need to attend to the inevitable mosquito larvae. And there are fish that can help eliminate those larvae which are aptly named mosquito fish. You can buy the tiny mosquito fish for about a buck each. They're prolific breeders so a few should be all you need to get started.

Then when it comes to the show fish, or your koi, less is more. That's right you don't want to over stock. Better to have some a few top notch fish than a school of lesser lights.

Some consider these relatives of carp to be dirty fish in that they produce a lot of waste that is crammed with nitrogen. Which makes for ideal conditions for algae development but not so ideal for a balanced pond. So at the most keep your fish population to an inch of koi for every three gallons of water. And remember they'll grow. So you want to allow for that.

Don't over feed. Even though it's fun to watch the water churn as the fish commence their frenzied feeding when you throw the floating food their way, you're better off to feed better quality food less often.

And do include scavengers. There are so called algae eaters, be it snails or fish, that will cut down on that annoyance as well as scarf down any leftover fish food.

Koi Pond Tip: Life in your pond is in a constant state of flux. Fish will continue to grow. Plants will too. Some may die. You can expect such changes to impact the pond's overall balance.

Which is to say you have to be somewhat vigilant to maintain the natural harmony you've worked so hard to establish. Because sometimes despite your best efforts things will get out of whack and the algae will take over.

If that happens despite your diligence in following these rules and you have water quality issues then you'll need to add a filter to your ecosystem.

Anyway if you've been dreaming of your own backyard koi pond, you are no longer clueless as to the key element. Balance. If you want the scales on your prized koi to continue to sparkle like sequins when struck by sunlight you must strive for balance. Since maintaining proper balance will allow you to insure those not so inexpensive fish will stay healthy, and put their vibrant colors on display for years to come.

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