If you love the idea of adding a water feature to your back yard, you may want to consider a pond that holds fish. Koi pond construction can be either simple and small or elaborate and massive. It all depends on your budget, the amount of space you have to work with, and how creative you want to be. If you are seriously thinking about adding fish to your outdoor living space, here are a few things you need to know.
If you think koi are just glorified gold fish you are wrong. While both are types of carp, they do come from different species. A goldfish lacks the characteristic barbels that a koi has. These fish tend to be brightly colored and many are specially bred for their markings. If a particular fish has some of the more desirable markings they can fetch hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
The climate that you live in will have a significant influence on the kind of pond you build. Specifically, it will influence how deep you will need to dig an in ground pond, unless you are willing to take your fish out during cold weather. If there is not enough room for the fish to live below the ice, they will die unless you run a bubbler during very cold weather.
While there are many choices that you will need to make, the first and most important one is whether you will dig down or build up. There are benefits to both options and only you will know which is the right choice for you.
Making a pond that is set into the ground is fairly easy. You can find kits that offer liners in pre-formed shapes. You simply dig a hole that will accommodate the liner and set it into the hole. You do need to make sure that the liner can handle the swelling and shifting that most ground experiences during cold weather. A liner made from soft rubber is durable and can handle changing ground conditions although you can also build a pond out of concrete. You dig a hole and use forms to keep the concrete in place while it dries and cures.
There are many reasons why someone would want to build a raised version instead. Some areas cannot be excavated due to pipes or lines. Often, raised sides will make it easier to sit with your fish while feeding or interacting with them. You simply use stones or bricks to build up the side and use a liner to waterproof the structure.
Once you have the basic structure, you will need to add a filter system that helps keep the water clean. You need to make sure that the system you choose will promote a healthy environment for your koi. There are many options available and you will need to pick the model that will work with the size of your pond.
Once the structure is complete and your filter has been running to condition the water, you can then add fish. You may want to consult with an expert in order to determine the optimal number of koi and the right plants to use in order to truly make your home comfortable and safe for your new pets.
If you think koi are just glorified gold fish you are wrong. While both are types of carp, they do come from different species. A goldfish lacks the characteristic barbels that a koi has. These fish tend to be brightly colored and many are specially bred for their markings. If a particular fish has some of the more desirable markings they can fetch hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
The climate that you live in will have a significant influence on the kind of pond you build. Specifically, it will influence how deep you will need to dig an in ground pond, unless you are willing to take your fish out during cold weather. If there is not enough room for the fish to live below the ice, they will die unless you run a bubbler during very cold weather.
While there are many choices that you will need to make, the first and most important one is whether you will dig down or build up. There are benefits to both options and only you will know which is the right choice for you.
Making a pond that is set into the ground is fairly easy. You can find kits that offer liners in pre-formed shapes. You simply dig a hole that will accommodate the liner and set it into the hole. You do need to make sure that the liner can handle the swelling and shifting that most ground experiences during cold weather. A liner made from soft rubber is durable and can handle changing ground conditions although you can also build a pond out of concrete. You dig a hole and use forms to keep the concrete in place while it dries and cures.
There are many reasons why someone would want to build a raised version instead. Some areas cannot be excavated due to pipes or lines. Often, raised sides will make it easier to sit with your fish while feeding or interacting with them. You simply use stones or bricks to build up the side and use a liner to waterproof the structure.
Once you have the basic structure, you will need to add a filter system that helps keep the water clean. You need to make sure that the system you choose will promote a healthy environment for your koi. There are many options available and you will need to pick the model that will work with the size of your pond.
Once the structure is complete and your filter has been running to condition the water, you can then add fish. You may want to consult with an expert in order to determine the optimal number of koi and the right plants to use in order to truly make your home comfortable and safe for your new pets.
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