Designing a Koi Pond: The Do’s &
Don’ts
Koi
ponds are a thing of beauty. They are elegant and breath taking.
There is nothing better than watching a swarm of koi in a feeding
frenzy, or watching a large fish maneuver its way slowly through
sparkling pond water. Many people get caught up in the idea of
creating a koi pond, but never really spend the time finding out
what it takes to make their pond successful. The result: a huge
gaping hole in their backyard, and a maxed out credit card.
Below you will
find the Do’s and Don’ts of designing a koi pond.
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Don’t
let anyone tell you that any old pond design will do! Koi require
specialized equipment and design features. If you try to raise koi
in a standard garden pond, they will likely fail to thrive and
result in a huge, stinky, mess.
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Do
take into account size matters. If you make your pond too small,
you can actually stunt the growth of your koi. When designing your
pond, you want to make it at least 6 feet deep at its deepest, with
various slopes and shelves. Also think about the shape of your pond
- you want something that is pleasing to the eye and functional for
your fish.
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Don’t
overextend yourself. The bigger the pond, the more money that it
will cost to
create and
maintain.
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Do
choose a spot in your backyard that is both close to the house but
away from any
trees or other
hazards.
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Don’t
assume that all pond plants are alike! Some of the most common
plants are very
poisonous to koi
fish! Others may throw the ecosystem of your pond off balance, and
cause an overgrowth
of algae.
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Do
think about safety first. When designing your koi pond, you want to
think first about
the safety of your
fish. Choosing building materials that will keep them safe is of
utmost
importance.
Second, think about your own family. Small children are drawn to
water,
and you want to
make sure that they are protected from the water's edge. If your
children are grown,
think of grandchildren and the neighbor’s children when designing
your pond.
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Don’t
pick just
any old lining. There are several different ways to line a koi
pond, and it
is important that
you understand the differences between them. Some will extend the
life of your pond,
while others will cause you nothing but heartache.
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Do
buy your koi
and pond supplies from a reputable dealer. Find out where others
are
shopping, and go
with someone you trust.
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Don’t
skimp on a
good filtration system. You will want to have both a mechanical and
a
biological filter
in place, and your pond design will need to center around your
filtration
choices. Do your
homework beforehand, and weigh the pros and cons of the different
types out there.
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Do
enjoy your
beautiful koi pond when it is finished!
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