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.
One thing that you need to consider is the climate where you live when deciding on how you will build your pond. If you live in an area where the temperature gets quite cold you will need to take this into account. You will either need to make sure that your pond is deep enough that the fish can live below the ice or you will need to find alternate living arrangements for the koi while the water is frozen. A third alternative is to purchase a bubbler that keeps the water from freezing.
There are many different ways that you can build a koi pond. Figuring out whether you want one that is set into the ground or which is built up from the surrounding landscape is important as this will help you narrow down your construction methods and materials.
Setting your construction into the ground means more digging but it can be easier in the long run. You simply mark out the area and shape that you want to achieve and begin digging. It will need to be lined to prevent the water from escaping. A flexible rubber liner or rigid plastic version can be set up quickly and easily once your hole has been completed. Cement can also be used although you will need forms that will keep the cement in place long enough to dry and cure.
Of course, it is not always possible to dig down to build ponds. In some cases, if there are buried wires or pipes or if there is not enough soil depth you may want to think about building up. You can build up the walls using bricks, cultured stone or rocks and use a flexible rubber liner in order to make it waterproof.
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.
One thing that you need to consider is the climate where you live when deciding on how you will build your pond. If you live in an area where the temperature gets quite cold you will need to take this into account. You will either need to make sure that your pond is deep enough that the fish can live below the ice or you will need to find alternate living arrangements for the koi while the water is frozen. A third alternative is to purchase a bubbler that keeps the water from freezing.
There are many different ways that you can build a koi pond. Figuring out whether you want one that is set into the ground or which is built up from the surrounding landscape is important as this will help you narrow down your construction methods and materials.
Setting your construction into the ground means more digging but it can be easier in the long run. You simply mark out the area and shape that you want to achieve and begin digging. It will need to be lined to prevent the water from escaping. A flexible rubber liner or rigid plastic version can be set up quickly and easily once your hole has been completed. Cement can also be used although you will need forms that will keep the cement in place long enough to dry and cure.
Of course, it is not always possible to dig down to build ponds. In some cases, if there are buried wires or pipes or if there is not enough soil depth you may want to think about building up. You can build up the walls using bricks, cultured stone or rocks and use a flexible rubber liner in order to make it waterproof.
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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