Koi Fish Ponds

Outdoor fish ponds have become very popular among homeowners who use them to create wonderful outdoor living areas and fabulous gardens to create a relaxing and enjoyble atmosphere around their homes. Koi Fish, because of the longevity of their lives, gorgeous colors and the gracefulness of their movements have become the fish of choice for the ponds. They are relatively easy to care for as well and this makes them the perfect candidate for an outdoor pond.

It will take a pond of 500 gallons or more to accomodate the Koi Fish comfortably as they can grow to be very large. The health of the Koi fish depends a great deal on the amount of space and the quality of the water. Temperatures of 60 to 67 degrees Fehrenheit are best for the Koi as they are a cold water fish. Those people living in a cool weather climate will be happy to know they will also be able to keep Koi during the winter months. The Koi will hybernate in the winter when ice forms over the surface of the water. No need to feed them in the winter as their digestive systems slow down almost to a halt allowing them to easily make it through the winter.

The Koi are not the only thing that make the pond and yard into an enjoyalbe and relaxing place to be. Koi love to have live plants and lilies in and around their pond. The lilies can cover up to 70 percent of the ponds surface. Not only do they give cover and shade to the Koi, but they also cut down on the algae growth in the pond. Five or six hours a day is about the maximum amount of direct sunlight the Koi can tolerate and the lilies give the perfect shade to protect them from the sunlight. The lilies and other plant life also provied the omnivorous Koi with insects and larva to eat.

Building your Koi Pond under a tree is another good way to provide the Koi with extra shade. But you may want to consider the fact that being under a tree will also attract a good deal of debris from the tree and will create a good deal more work to keep the pond clear.

When planning the pond some thought needs to go toward the depth of the pond. Outside predators can be a problem with your outdoor Koi Pond and the depth of the water can provide some needed protection. Raccoons are always looking for a free meal and Koi Fish would be an ideal meal. About four feet of water will give the Koi good protection from raccoons and other ground predators. In some parts of the country you will also need to worry about birds like the Great Blue Heron who like a good meal of Koi as well. A Blue Heron can eat as much as 100 six inch Koi. To foil the Great Blue Heron you will need a water depth of about eight feet. Covering the pond with netting is another way to protect them from Heron and other birds.

Building your own Koi Pond gives you the freedom to use your imagination to build your Koi Pond and outdoor living area as lavishly and spectacular as you wish.

Raising Koi Fish-Getting Started Info You'll Need!

What exactly are Koi Fish? With all of their glorious colors you would expect them to be some exotic breed of fish, when in fact they come from the carp family! Around 1820 the Japanese began breeding Koi, and as the variety and colors expanded their popularity exploded. Today Koi Fish come in a large variety of colors and patterns. The colors range from patterns of Black, red, orange, yedllow, silver green and blue.

There just isn't anything more relaxing than sitting around a Koi Pond and listening to the sounds of rippling waters and the occasional splash of a jumping fish. Turning a Koi Pond into a living garden as well can enhance the experience even more.

Mixing living plants into your pond will replicate a natural environment even more. Its necessary to employ some special tactics to your plants because sometimes plants and Koi don't exist well. Koi sometimes will knock over potted plants placed within the pond and even sometimes try diggin the plants up. But with a little effort you can avoid many of the problems and still have plants within your pond. Nettting can be wrapped over the pots to prevent digging and pea gravel placed on top. Also, river rocks placed around the pots can keep the larger Koi from tipping them over and making a mess of your pond.

Lilies are the number one choice to grow in your pond. They come in a large number of varieties that grow well in different depths of water. Lilies also provide shade for your Koi. Koi don't tolerate a great deal of sun so the lilies the shade and shelter that your Koi need. They also provide an environment for insects. As Koi are omnivores they will seek out the insects and larva as a food source.

As omnivores Koi require a variety of foods in order to stay healthy. Insects are only one source of food for your Koi. Koi have the ability to recognize the people who feed them and will approach them for feeding. you can purchase ready made Koi food from your local pet store and as its a good balanced diet for the Koi, you probably should, however Koi also enjoy a wide variety of people foods as well. Things like peas, lettuce and even Watermelon. With a little experimenatation you will be able to find a wide variety of food your Koi will enjoy, and the variety will help maintain the health of your Koi.

Having your own Koi Pond is truly a relaxing and enjoyable experience. They are able to add a great deal to the lives of their owners, and they are rewarded by the generocity and good care of their owners As well.

Mark Justice is a koi fish enthusiast. For more great information on koi fish, visit http://www.raisingkoifish.com

Koi Ponds Can Require A Lot Of Work

Most of us have seen the beautiful water gardens in front of amusement parks, zoos and even some private residences. When we see these wonderful water gardens, usually in the form of koi ponds, we think we just have to have one. Good thinking! However, before you go investing that kind of money in something such as this, you should really learn about how much time and effort goes into keeping those koi ponds nice.

When it comes to a koi pond, you have to realize you will be setting aside quite a lot of time each week for care and maintenance. The fish, normally koi (hence the name koi pond), will actually be pets. They will be decorative, that is for sure, but they cannot be simply left alone as you would decorative items. If you are looking to put in something like a koi pond just as garden décor, you should really think again.

The fish in your koi pond will take a lot of love and care. You need to plan on time for feeding, cleaning, and overall maintenance of your water garden to keep the fish within alive and healthy. If you keep the environment of your koi pond healthy, you will keep the koi within healthy, too.
Other items that will require attention when you have a koi pond are water quality, debris removal, cleaning of filter media when necessary, and other general beautification efforts. Add all of that up and you certainly are looking at some labor! However, most that have koi ponds consider this a labor of love.

So, if you have read all of this and are still prepared to install a koi pond, congratulations! The beauty and tranquility associated with koi ponds will benefit you and your home for a lifetime.

Water Gardens Versus Koi Ponds

Although oftentimes these terms are used interchangeably, there may be a big difference between the two. Even though you may call your Koi Pond a water garden, you certainly cannot consider a water garden to be a koi pond. Here are some reasons why:

A water garden is simply put “a pond”. You can dig a hole in the ground, line the area, add water, add some filtration to keep the water from becoming stagnant, and then add some plants around the edges to make it look pretty (optional). That is all there is! There is very little you need to do with a water garden other than sit next to it and enjoy. Sometimes people will add a water feature, like a waterfall or fountain, which just creates a fancier pond.

However, koi ponds are so much more! The fish that live within the pond are linked to the environment you provide, as this is their home. With a koi pond, filtration and aeration of the water becomes a priority, as the fish will need these things to remain healthy and alive.

The pump your install in your Koi Pond will be a critical item. All the water within the pond should be circulated at least once in an hour timeframe. This means – for a 300 gallon pond, you should have a pump that circulates 300 gallons in an hour. For 500 gallon ponds, the pump should circulate 500 gallons in an hour.

A koi pond really should have a water feature, like a waterfall or fountain. Where in a water garden this would just be for decoration, in a koi pond it will be used for aeration. The koi in the pond need the bubbles to breathe.

Filtration will be a necessary thing in a koi pond, as well. All the large debris and trash can settle to the bottom of your pond, creating chemicals that are detrimental to your new pets. You need to maintain the filtration to keep the water clean and safe for the fish.

So, although often called a water garden, don’t be fooled into thinking your koi pond can maintain itself. It will take a lot of time and effort on your part when you add fish into the mix, but having these pets can make the effort worth the time.

What About a Koi Pond Kit?

Pros and Cons of Installing Koi Ponds With A Kit


If you have decided to install a Koi Pond on your property, you may be considering the use of a pond kit. As with all projects that you try to do yourself, there are advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) to doing the work yourself. Create a list for your particular project and see if do-it-yourself is really right for your situation.

The biggest advantage to the use of a pond kit for creating your koi pond is the financial savings. When you hire the "professionals", they certainly charge a premium for their work. Using a pond kit yourself and creating your own koi pond environment can really keep the cost of the entire job down. However, if you do something which damages the materials required, or install improperly, you will certainly turn around and turn this advantage into a disadvantage!

Other advantages to creating your own koi pond are items like enjoyment of a job done with your own hands, bragging rights, getting your family involved in the project, doing the job exactly how you want it done, and the fact that the work will be great exercise!

The disadvantages of using pond kits to create your koi pond are numerous, as well. It can take a bit more time to install a koi pond yourself. Simple designs can take only a day, but the greater detail of your design, the longer your installation will take. If you have difficulty finding time to finish projects, something like a koi pond could take months!

Other disadvantages are that installation is a lot of work, you will have to buy or rent tools, you aren't a pro (so your work may take longer and not look as "clean"), all the materials are heavy and lifting will be your job, and you won't have any kind of "satisfaction guarantee" on the work.

It would be beneficial to you to create your own "Install My Own Koi Pond" pros and cons list before you start anything. This will give you an idea if it is a project you truly want to do personally.

Koi Ponds and Safety

It is important to build your Koi pond keeping safety in mind. You want your Koi pond and the space you’ve created on your property to be one of peace and tranquility. You don’t want your Koi pond to become the scene of a tragedy that could drastically alter your life, that of a loved one, or that of an innocent child’s. By adhering to simple yet important rules when it comes to safety around Koi ponds, you can avoid a tragedy altogether.

The safety of children is mor important than anything else. Your Koi pond shouldn’t be accessible by children when you aren’t around your Koi pond or are away from home. Unfortunately young children have been known to drown in pools, spas, and even Koi ponds when they encountered these things and no adult supervision or precautions were in place, remember children are curious by nature. You should put a fence around your Koi pond to prevent children from getting close to the pond when you’re not around and is an important consideration for maintaining safety so you can enjoy your Koi pond with peace of mind. Then teach your children that they should never go near the Koi pond without an adult with them. Fencing will also keep your puppy or that of neighbors from getting too close to your Koi pond.

If you use motorized, electrical appliances in your Koi pond such as submersible lighting, waterfalls, or a pond pump there are a few rules you need to follow to be safe. Only use sytems and products made for outdoor use. If you do use such items as a radio or CD player when relaxing around your Koi pond, make sure to keep them far enough away so they don’t come into contact with the water which could result in you being electrocuted, or ruin your music player. Routinely check the cords attached to these appliances, checking for frayed, damaged, or worn areas. Immediately discontinue using any appliance with a damaged or worn electrical cord as using them could cause electrical shock or catch nearby items and shrubbery on fire.

Your Koi pond can be a source of great enjoyment for you and your entire family and an escape from the hectic lives most of us lead today by simply following these rules for safety around your Koi pond.

Koi Ponds-Time to Think Spring!

As I sit looking out my office window watching th snow melt, I can't help but think of all the spring chores just around the corner. Of course, this time of year I look forward to getting out and working in the yard. And of course that brings me to my Koi Pond. I really haven't done any planning yet on what I want to do this year so I won't go into it now.

For now I'll just start planning what I want to do with it this year. It's just fun to think about on these last days of winter. It won't be long, I really look forward to my Koi Pond. Technorati Profile