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!).
- 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!