Would you like to have a koi pond in your garden? Having these beautiful koi in a home pond is very rewarding and it is not as difficult as you might think. If you take proper care for them decorative koi fish can live for decades and some can become almost a meter long. Follow these simple rules to make your fish pond properly so your koi fish will live and multiply.
Make your pond deep
Depth of your fish pond is important for the health of your fish. The minimum recommended depth is 4 feet, however it is much better to provide for your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your koi are safe from raccoons, cats and other animals who can empty your pond. Deeper fish pond also helps to maintain water temperature in the middle of summer
Give them sapce
Small ponds are not appropriate for koi. Remember, with time koi can grow quite large and they will need a big space. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that with time you will probably want to buy additional fish. So it is better to create a big backyard pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is a good size for a backyard pond with fish , bigger would be even better.
Use fish pond heater in colder months
Unlike tropical fish, koi are adapted to cold; however you should never let your pond freeze to the bottom. Installing a proper heater for backyard ponds will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that koi only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster
Give some shade for your koi
When selecting where to place your pond, make sure it is out of direct sunlight. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond are a good idea - not only they add beauty to the overall look of your pond, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond in aria with many trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is no fun.
Plan to install a bird net
There are many birds of prey that will enjoy eating your koi. Don’t give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to protect it with a net for garden ponds.
Insectocides can kill your beautiful fish
When planning your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides so they can get into the wate. Even a small amount of common garden poison can kill your beautiful fish.
Koi fish pond accessories that you might need
Several accessories are absolutely essential for good health of your fish. Ideally you must buy a water pump, filtration system, water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is not moving, your koi might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filtration systems are expensive, so to save you can make your own homemade filters.
