Build Your Own Koi Pond

Image by Darkbast via FlickrJapanese koi-keeping may perhaps be one of the most interesting hobbies there is. It takes a lot patience, effort, money and time to maintain this hobby. Even if this hobby is very difficult especially for beginners, the rewards of seeing your fish vibrantly revealing its beautiful colors and patterns is priceless. In addition to that, if you are planning to breed your koi and then sell them, it is really profitable. Essentially the most difficult part in taking good care of Japanese koi fish is how to build koi pond of your family. Not only it will take tedious work, what's more, it requires the right knowledge on the way to do it the accurate way to avoid spending more money, time and effort.

Here are some tips on how to build koi ponds:

 Location- find very good location for your pond. Try avoiding burning from the sun exposure to prevent excessive heat in the water temperature. If at all possible, try to place the pond within the tree. This is to help keep a good temperature on your fish and to prevent predatory birds from seeing your koi from above causing the crooks to attack and eat them. Although, putting the pond under a tree uses a lot of cleaning, try putting up a net under the tree to trap the falling leaves.
 Size- koi fish can definitely grow big. They are expected to grow up to four feet, so build your pond big and at least 4 feet deep. In this way, your koi fish can freely swim around. Also, building a small pond would only give you problems in the foreseeable future since koi fish may also reproduce plenty of eggs and making an extension cord for your pond isn't a good idea in any way because it is more costly.
 Design- design is essentially one of the essentials in creating a koi pond. Consult a professional to make a style of your own choice. Since koi pond is permanent. Make everything the method that you want it. Wherever possible, have the design that you just think that you'd appreciate everyday. In case you desire for a garden pond, get water plants which can be taken cared of easily for example water lilies.
 Pond accessories and supplies- these accessories can help you maintain a good living condition in your case pond. Try getting the most durable accessories that best fit your pond. A number of the accessories you'd probably need are filtration, water pumps, nets, and even more.

These are some of the basic what you require to know in building your personal koi pond. Remember, building a perfect pond isn't impossible and more importantly, seeing your koi fish healthy is all the more satisfying and rewarding.

Koi Pond Decorations

Image by cookipediachef via FlickrThe use of wooden bridges is one of the most popular garden decorations. An outdoor with a mini-waterfall or pool won't be complete without a garden bridge. There's a wide variety of various garden bridges in terms of designs, styles, kind of wood use, sizes, and steel braces however the most attractive garden bridges are the types with hand rails and poles which might be carefully handcrafted.

You can have your foot bridges tailor made for your garden or fish pond or should you not find any style or design that you simply prefer for your garden. This technique is more expensive than ready-made ones that can be purchased readily from home and garden shops because it requires a special kind of treatment you will specify. Landscaping professionals work most effectively people who will help you in customizing your individual garden bridge. A grass or stone garden will be lovely with a wooden bridge. However, if you find landscaping professionals expensive, then you can certainly resort to ready-made ones that are reasonably priced with regards to the design and style. You can even go for DIY wooden bridge kits which might be being sold in leading DIY shops. It isn't just fun nonetheless it will save you a lot of money in the process.

Gardens have been used like a place for reflection, meditation and relaxation and foot bridges simply give this peaceful atmosphere in gardens. It possesses a very calming effect why these garden decorations give and it's really what makes them more inviting. Outdoor gardens simply become more beautiful, whether it's a floral garden, rock, grass, wooden bridges simply enhances its beauty that is certainly almost considered mysterious. Maybe for the reason that use of garden bridges were incredibly popular in ancient China where Feng Shui was used to ward off bad luck and evil spirits.

It's simple to find a large amount of modern designs and there are a few designs that have no safety and hand rails. Bamboo can also be used as materials for most foot bridges but wood remains to be preferred by most homeowners specifically Rosewood. Redwood bridges are perfect for oriental and miniature gardens which can be why it's being used in lots of hotels and resorts as decorations for mini-parks. Arched garden bridges will be more preferred than flat or straight bridges and there are also foot bridges with small steps. Redwood bridges can highlight any part of your garden effectively.

A lot of people will confirm that a arched bridge is crucial for garden decorations. Besides, your garden can become your personal very little sanctuary when you wish to relax and contemplate. Should you be too busy or otherwise not artistically inclined, you may get the service of your professional landscape artist and you may easily find one on the net.

Fish Pond Liners

Image via Wikipedia
Most Popular Fish-Safe Pond Liner for Small Koi Ponds and Water Gardens
The very first thing you want to do is ensure the pond liner is fish-safe. This is vital. Fish-safe liners appear in a variety of thicknesses that are made out of different material. The most famous for a koi pond or water garden are 45 mil EPDM rubber pond liners. These liners are quite thick - about 1/8" and are very pliable and 'rubbery'. They remind you of a bicycle inner tube, but thicker. They come in a variety of sizes with dimensions which might be divisible by 5'. For instance, a 10' x 10' pond liner belly pre-boxed and ready to ship. Pond liners up to 400 sq ft (for instance a 20' x 20' liner) might be shipped via UPS. Larger, 45 mil EPDM liners which can be heavier and packaged differently, require shipment via motor freight are available in rolls while using largest size being 50' x 100', in one piece. These rolls are normally transported towards the pond site using a front end loader having a fork that suits into the opening from the roll how the liner is rolled on. These liners can weigh 1,500 pounds or maybe more and once at the website, are rolled out near the pond's edge and strategically thrown into the excavated area.

Most favored Fish-Safe Pond Liner for Large Fish Ponds
There are a couple of options for those who are looking to build a large fish pond or water garden where they will require a liner bigger 50' x 100'. In cases like this, the 2 most popular options are to buy 2 or more rolls with the 50' x 100' 45 mil EPDM pond liner (or whatever size you'll need) and splice them together (see below for splice information) or get a different kind of liner which comes in a larger size which is made everything in one piece! I'll explain the two options further so you can decide which sounds one of the most appealing to you.

How you can Splice Two 45 mil EPDM Pond Liners Together

Although there are step-by-step procedures that particular must follow to splice 2 bits of 45 mil EPDM liner together, in a 'nutshell' what you need to do is lay both pieces on a very flat work surface such as plywood or for larger applications, a flat parking lot or driveway. You unroll each liner and carefully overlap one fringe of the liner within the edge of one other liner. Ideally, this overlapped area ought to be about 6" wide for the length of both liners. A two-sided, sticky, EPDM pond liner tape (referred to as a splice tape) will be rolled out on top of the edge of the bottom liner which has already been carefully cleaned and primed. The extra edge of the top liner, containing also been cleaned and primed is carefully laid on top of the bottom liner. The spliced area (ie; overlapped area) will be rolled having a roller to make a tighter seal. Furthermore, an EPDM pond liner cover strip that's approx. 6" wide and possesses one side that's sticky, will then be adhered within the seam joint from your 2 spliced liners. Next, a bead of rubber caulking made specifically through the manufacturer who come up with 45 mil EPDM liner, is ran along both edges with the cover strip. After Twenty four hours of drying, the liner will then be moved into place. You can splice as many pondliners as you desire together in order to create the correct height and width of liner you will need for your application.

The advantages of having a large, 45 mil EPDM pond liner is always that it's a heavy-duty liner and is 'rubbery' which gives it greater flexibility and 'forgiveness' with any protruding rocks that will surface from your already prepared and raked out area for that pond. The death of using a 45 mil EPDM pond liner for larger applications is the fact that it's heavy which requires higher shipping costs plus much more manpower to advance it into place.

24 Mil Woven, Polyethylene Pond Liners

24 mil woven, polyethylene pond liners are fantastic liners for substantial ponds whether they're for big koi ponds, water gardens, large fish ponds or for aquaculture uses. They provide great strength and are light weight. Unlike other polyethylene liners that stack layers after layers along with each other inside manufacturing process, this polyethylene liner is woven together which provides it more strength. Another huge advantage of this liner is that it is custom made to size which enable it to come in one piece around 65,000 sq . ft .! Pretty sweet to get a large pond application!

Unlike PVC pondliners which can be on the market for giant fish ponds, the 24 mil woven, polyethylene liner doesn't require 12" of soil on top of it to protect it from UV rays. This particular liner is UV stabilized in order that it can last for years! Because they're lighter weight, they are cheaper to ship and require less man capability to maneuver. They are only offered in larger sizes and do not come pre-boxed much like the 45 mil EPDM liners do. Each 24 mil woven, polyethylene liner is customized to size in increments of 5'.

Backyard Garden Ponds

Image via WikipediaI would like to expose you to a wonderful hobby that's fun and rewarding, the field of garden ponds. If you'd like to build a pond then allow me to give you many ways that I learned through the years. Whether you are considering fish ponds or garden ponds, these few tips will help you get started.

-My first tip is usually to plan your pond carefully. You need to locate your pond away from trees or large plants because when fall comes the leaves fall, and guess where they go, right in your pond. They cause decay and waste and make more work for you. It is good on your pond to stay in about 60% sun although not more than that. Too much sun and you will promote algae growth, which could quickly over chance a pond.

-My next tip would be to decide if you're going to have merely a garden pond or fish pond? This is important because congratulations, you must decide on a pond liner. You'll find basically two methods to go here; you are a rubber liner or possibly a molded liner, it will make a difference about the type of pond you're going to have. If you are planning to add fish then I would choose the rubber liner that's flexible, strong, and allow you to design your pond in different shape you ultimately choose. If you decide to add Koi, you then must have a pond for at least 3 feet deep at one end, but if you happen to be just going to have a water garden pond then a molded liner could be fine.

-My third tip is about filtration and keeping your pond clean. How embarrassing it may be to have a few friends over and you show them your pond, however they are unable to view your fish as the water is simply too dingy. We are going to prevent that from happening utilizing the proper pond filter and pump. To produce this a fun and rewarding hobby you must install the proper filtration system to your pond. You have to calculate how many gallons of water your pond holds, so that you can size your filter and pump. I will give you my suggestion here from many years of experience with 3 different ponds with trying many types of pond filtration systems. To maintain really clear water inside my pond I personally use what is called a staged filter system using a submersible pump towards the bottom of my pond. The kind I use can be a Laguna© high efficiency waterfall filter. The key reason why I use a waterfall is usually to help oxidize water, and besides it appears good.

-My final tip is to add water plants so your fish will surely have cover on those bright sunny days. For instance, We've water lilies covering about have of my pond that produce beautiful flowers yet still give shade to my fish. Be careful what types of plants that you simply add, specifically if you have Koi inside your pond because they love to munch on vegetation. I make use of floating planters that keep my Koi from eating the plants.

How To Build a Koi Pond

I just love looking at Koi fish particularly if they glide from the water. This also is the major reason why I had created to learn how to construct a Koi pond. I am aware though will be able to just check out a koi garden to take pleasure from this wonderful sight, there is however something within me that wanted to keep these jewels in the home. I guess so that I can just put on a relaxed mode whenever I have a look at them. It is also a popular belief that breed of fish brings best of luck, so why not keep them.

But creating a koi pond requires some budget. Obviously, it will require some figure to build the pond of your dreams. So, just be sure you plan your pond construction project very well in order to maximize every penny you will spend. In about to build your own there are certain elements that should be considered.

I recall the time when I had to build my own pond, I had to consult a professional builder rather than just a landscape artist. I learned that this type of fish pond provides extensive to consider. First in my list is I have to build a long-lasting pond. I found out that koi fish can meet 30 years; i really thought, why make a fish pond that won't last as long as my fish. The standards that I took into account in ensuring its longevity would be the correct size, depth and placement. Obviously, I cannot be moving my pond from time to time. It has to stay where Let me initially build it. And then for the size consideration, the contractor advised me to construct the maximum size will afford. I had created to ask him why. And that he gave me a straight and practical answer. He explained that determined by his experience, those clients that built a tiny millpond ended up spending more given that they asked him to accomplish some expansion.

Remember some tips i mentioned earlier about budget. Well, this is where your good judgment comes in. The size of the millpond is proportionate on the cost of construction. And a lot of the enthusiasts I know built the biggest that they can afford. Through the the simple reason that we cannot manage to over-crowd them because it will cause much stress and may produce some imbalance within their ecosystem. The size is in accordance with the number of koi fish that you will keep. They grow big and so they easily propagate, so to build a not so big pond are only harmful to their over-all health.

After i built my koi pond, I needed to choose the best location. I made certain that I will elevate it by about 2 feet from your ground in order that they will not be a fairly easy prey for a lot of predators. Also i chose a spot that will not be directly hit with the sunlight nor is within tree. This type of fish cannot withstand high hot and cold levels and the final thing I want to do is clean my pond from time to time because of falling leaves.

The worst thing that I made certain is present during my millpond is filtration. Keeping a cleaner and healthier habitat is vital to the lifespan of my collection. I cannot afford to be buying new batches each time just because I did not incorporate proper filtration and cleaning system within my pond.

They are only couple of the basic elements you will want to keep in mind in how to construct a koi pond. Anyone of these that will be overlooked will surely get a new over-all health condition of one's precious jewels. So, have you been happy to understand these facts? Do you think you're now willing to build your own pond? Do check out the internet for further interesting facts so that you are sure to build essentially the most cost-effective pond there is.

Koi Fish Feeding

Image by camknows via Flickr
Koi Fish are beautiful and they are unique in it's their particular ways, from personality to coloring. Another great aspect about Koi is they can be conditioned to eat right through your hand. They are going to recognize the individual feeding them and can quickly gather around them when it is time to feed. This can make for a very enjoyable moment by looking at your very own Koi pond to offer them their food.

Koi fish will eat both meat matter and plant matter, which makes them omnivorous. Their appetites are maximized when their hot and cold levels is ranging from 61 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They're lively eaters, and also have been seen to eat most anything they can fit in their mouths, including acorns, worms, snails, and in many cases grass around the edge of ponds. They are going to eat insects which might be within their range also.

You'll find specialized blends of Koi pellet food which is available from well stocked pet supply stores. But a Koi owner can also feed them lettuce, peas, and bits of watermelon. A high quality and well rounded diet will offer Koi fish vibrant colors and plenty of energy.

Once the temperature cools, such as fall and cold months of winter, the Koi fish's digestive system will slow and they'll not need to become fed as often. In fact, if the temperature dips below 50 degrees, you need to stop feeding your Koi fish, because any leftover food within their stomach can be rancid and cause certain illness to them.

Feeding your Koi fish can be an enjoyable time and energy to share with them. It may be relaxing and fulfilling, seeing your fish wanting to interact with you. Remembering these key principles will make sure your fish are satisfied and healthy, and they around for years so you can enjoy them.

Koi Food Bulk

Keep Your Koi Fit With Quality Food

If you are an animal lover, like myself, there might be nothing more attractive compared to a pond brimming with brightly colored Koi. They are relaxing to think about, wherever they are kept, of course, if you have room for the pond it's wonderful by sitting there and look at the fish. Obviously, these kinds of fish become very friendly. Whether for pleasure or show, they deserve the very best Koi food, and quality ingredients are necessary.

Koi breeding started in Japan, and many first and second generation people of Japanese descent have got up breeding, keeping and originating special recipes of fish food, with this beloved fish. A blend of high protein that will not contain dies or unnatural color, but which does contain a mix of high growth, energy, fruits, greens, krill, kelp and also other crustacean treats, is most effective to keep Koi healthy and happy. A lot of Koi food may be sold in bulk, of course, if you can buy about forty pounds approximately you may stretch your budget, without sacrificing any quality obviously.

Several Koi raising and breeding farms exist, spread across the nation. These prized fish tend to be raised with all the Japanese approach. Close ties are usually maintained with Japan so U.S. Breeders will keep up with any new technology or facts or new bloodlines for that fish. They generally spawn in the Spring and it's also the start of the wholesale and retail season for breeders and providers of the quality Koi Fish Food. They're returned on their warm weather mud ponds for growth. Summer brings some heavy feeding on the pond and also a bit of weeding out of Koi in order that size and quality are maintained. Summer is also a high season for sellers in the fish. Besides Summer as being a peak season, with all the bright sunshine and warm weather, the Koi have been in prime condition to be purchased by way of a lucky owner, and maintained at a new house.

Autumn, not unlike vegetables, is harvest time and the mud ponds are seined. The top Koi are taken into heated greenhouse, also not unlike plants. After harvest and installation to the greenhouses, buyers who are looking for new Koi usually can visit the greenhouses and appearance the fish over. Winter is used on preparing the Koi for sale and grading the young ones that will be returned to the mud ponds for additional growth. Should you visit a Koi breeder, find out about the best food to keep your own, or any new Koi that you just purchase, healthy, colorful and happy.