Are you thinking of building a water pond for koi fish? A beautiful fish pond with a couple of wooden benches to sit on a lazy summer afternoon is something you can add to your backyard if you know how. Keeping these gorgeous koi in your garden can be great fun and it is not as complicated as it seems and is one of those backyard landscaping ideas you might consider. If you take proper care for them, koi have a long life span sometimes getting up to a metre long. Follow these simple rules to build your garden pond for fish properly so your koi fish will live long and happy life.
Depth is important
Depth of your pond is crucial. You pond should be at least 4 feet deep, however it is much better to give 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 prevent pond from overheating in the middle of summer. With this landscaping ideas, you need to make sure you have enough room to make it safe for the Koi and to make the pond look right too.
Koi really love a lot of room to swim
Small ponds are no good for koi. Remember, with time koi can grow quite large and they will need some space. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that as time goes you will probably want to get other varieties. So it is better to create a big backyard pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is considered decent space for a koi pond , bigger would be even better.
Heat the water in colder months
Unlike tropical fish, koi are resistant 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 your fish shade
When selecting where to place your pond, make sure it is out of direct sun. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond makes sense - not only they add beauty to the overall landscape, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond in an area with many trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is a nightmare so you will need to take this into consideration for the backyard landscaping.
Keep the birds away
There are many birds of prey that would love to steal your koi. Don't give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to cover it with a net.
Keep insecticides away from your pond
When landscaping your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides so they can get into the water. Even a small amount of common garden poison can kill your beautiful fish.
Pumps, filtration systems and other fish pond accessories
Several accessories are necessary for a healthy koi fish pond. Ideally you should get a water pump, filtration system, pond water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is still, your koi might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filters are expensive, so to save you can make your own homemade filters.
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