Would you like to have a koi pond in your garden? Keeping these beautiful koi in your garden is an interesting hobby and it is not as complicated as you might think. With the proper pond maintanance koi fish have a long life span sometimes getting up to a metre long. Follow these suggestions to build your fish pond properly so your decorative koi fish will live and make you happy for a long time.
Koi don't like shallow ponds
Depth of your garden koi pond is important for the health of your koi. The minimum recommended depth is 4 feet, however it is much better to give your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your koi are protected from raccoons, household cats and other animals who love a fish dinner. Deeper fish pond also helps to maintain water temperature in hottest days
Make your pond as large as you can
Small ponds are not appropriate for koi. Remember, with time your fish will multiply and grow and they will need some space. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that with time you will probably want to add more fish to your pond. So it is better to create a large garden pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is considered decent space for a koi backyard pond , bigger would be even better.
Use fish pond heater in colder months
Unlike tropical fish, koi don't suffer much from cold; however you should never let your pond freeze all the way. Installing a proper pond heater will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that koi fish only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster
Give some shade for your koi
When selecting a spot for 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 design, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond under trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is can become a hard work.
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 bird net.
Insectocides can kill your koi
When landscaping your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides near the water. Even a small amount of common garden poison can kill your beautiful fish.
Get proper equipment for your pond
Several accessories are absolutely essential for good health of your fish. Ideally you will have to invest into a water pump, filtration system, water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is not moving, your fish might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filtration systems are expensive, so to save you can make your own homemade filters.
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