Things You Should Know About When Building Your Koi Pond Water Garden

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Things You Should Know About When Building Your Koi Pond Water Garden

If you really want to keep koi, you will have to make them their habitat. It will be unkind to keep your koi fish in an aquarium since they can grow large and need enough space and depth to swim about. You need to build a koi pond water garden. With a well-planned and properly designed koi pond water garden, you will be providing your fish a healthy environment where they can flourish and grow more beautiful as they mature.

Designing Your Koi Pond

You will need to properly plan the specific features of your koi pond water garden. The most common mistake of newbie koi keepers is building their pond way too small. If you do so, you will be restricting the amount of fish and plants that you can add into the water garden. According to professionals, the minimum volume capacity of a koi pond water garden should be at the very least a thousand gallons. The depth has to be at least 3 feet although 4 to 5 feet depth are more desirable.

More than the volume capacity and depth, however, you will also need to be worried about the surface area when determining the stocking density of your pond. Koi are large and need a lot of dissolved oxygen in the water. And, dissolved oxygen is found directly from the atmosphere at the pond's surface. Insufficient supply of oxygen will stress the fish and increase their chances of being sick.

If you cannot provide the required surface area, or if you intend to increase your koi population in the exact same pond, you can use a biofiltration system. Using waterfalls with small steps can also boost the oxygen levels in your koi pond water garden. More than being functional, your waterfalls can also add aesthetic and audible appeal to your pond.

If you want to see more of your fish, keep away from a circular design with a deep center. The koi will tend to stay near the center and often at the bottom so you will can't observe them closely. A unique pond shape is better; keep the deepest areas of the pond within just a few feet of the edge so you can see more of your koi.

Where to Set Your Koi Pond Water Garden

You can enjoy your pond more if it is built close to your home. Choose a spot where you can view the pond all year round. The pond should not be on the receiving end of runoff rain to avoid getting fertilizers, chemicals as well as organic debris straight into your pond water. See how you will have to alter the topography to isolate the pond.

Outdoor ponds usually draw in wildlife including predators such as herons, kingfishers, cats, raccoons, foxes and also badgers. They can quickly eat your fish and empty your pond. You will need to provide for overhangs over the water to prevent mammals from getting in. The depth of your pond will stop herons from standing in your pool. Your shade trees can shield your koi from the aerial view of predatory birds. If required, you may have to place string nets or wires above the outside of your koi pond water garden.