1. Budget your costs
For most people, costs will directly impact the size of pond you can build. As you might imagine, the bigger the pond, the bigger the budget you’ll need.
Another factor that will determine the size Koi pond is the number of fish you want. Plan for 250 gallons of well maintained and filtered water per Koi.
So for example, if you want 3 Koi fish, you’ll want a pond that has a minimum of 750 gallons.
2. Don’t skimp on the essentials
To avoid creating a high maintenance nightmare, don’t go cheap for features that can make owning Koi fish a true pleasure.
At a minimum you need the following:
- ⬥ Pond filter
- ⬥ Ultraviolet (UV) light
- ⬥ Drain
- ⬥ Pump
The aim of creating a Koi pond is to design an ecosystem for your fish. If you set it up properly this will mean fewer maintenance tasks – and costs – for you.
Pond Filter
Install a mechanical filter to take care of larger debris and a biological filter to get rid of excess nutrients that can cause your water to turn green and murky.
Pump
Still water quickly becomes stagnant water. A pump will recirculate water in the fish pond which adds oxygen for your fish. This is why many Koi ponds include a waterfall as part of their design.
Underlayment and liner
Without question, you will want to choose quality materials for your liner and underlayment. Pumps and filters can be replaced without causing a lot of disruption, however you’ll greatly shorten the life of your fish pond if you use a poor quality underlayment and/or liner.
Ecosystem essentials
As noted earlier, the idea is to create an ecosystem within your fish pond.
Plants nourish themselves from nutrients found in the water. Your Koi will eat insects and their waste fertilizes the plants. And bacteria within the pond disposes of those nutrients that can cause water to turn green and murky.
Therefore, you need each of these elements to create a beautiful fish pond with healthy fish and clear water.
Also, install UV lights to help with water clarity by clearing out algae and bacteria.
3. Don’t add rocks
Do not put rocks on the bottom of your Koi pond as fish waste and leaves will accumulate between them and upset your pond’s ecosystem.
The rotting leaves will add toxins to the water that can cause it to turn an ugly dark brown color. The only solution at this point is to remove your fish, drain the pond and clean it.
Obviously then, you can avoid this by installing skimmer(s) to help remove debris and you’ll prevent the problem before it starts.
4. Pay attention to design
Up to 85% of Koi ponds are abandoned by their owners within 2 years as a result of poor design, so it’s important to get your design right from the start.
Your pond needs to be constructed so that all contaminants are moved toward the water outlets and away from the pond. This is done with the use of one or more bottom drains (depending on the size of your pond) and skimmers.
Your Koi pond should be at least 4 feet deep, and the shallower areas should be no less than 3 feet in depth – any less and predators can easily catch your beloved fish.
Pay attention to the floor of your pond; it needs to slope towards the drain(s) to help with waste removal.
5. Be careful adding new Koi
Finally, before adding any fish do the following:
- ⬥ If you already have Koi, quarantine any new fish before adding them to your existing population.
- ⬥ Equalize the water in your pond with the water your new Koi are placed in before releasing them.
- ⬥ Use a thermometer and add pond salt to help create the natural slime that helps protect your fish from parasites.
A fish pond requires an investment of both time and money, but many Koi owners consider this a small price to pay in comparison to the enjoyment of watching their beautiful fish swim and play.
