Because koi are so hardy, maintenance is minimal.
Learn how to build your own koi pond for ayard refresh.
If you have it professionally maintained, expect costs of at least $3,000 per year.
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The mechanical parts like pumps and filters will be your most expensive outlays.
The larger you make it, the more expensive it becomes and the longer it takes.
Expect that your pond will need to go at least 3 feet deep.
Consider building it on a hill if you want other features like a fountain or waterfall.
Also, if making waterfalls, use the excavated dirt to form your cascades or contours for the waterfalls.
The needs of the koi determine many aspects of the pond itself.
Pond Depth
Though classified as coldwater fish, koi dont necessarily lovecoldwater.
Nor do they do well in very warm water.
If the pond is deep enough, the koi will also be safer from any potential predators.
Pond Dimensions
Big fish need a big pond.
For around five koi, your pond should be 1,000 to 1,500 gallons, minimum.
Ten or more koi will need double that capacity: more than 3,000 gallons.
With that depth, the dimensions of the pond would be 6 feet by 8 feet.
The side of the house also provides access to anexterior electrical outlet.
Keeping the pond closer encouragesregular maintenance.
Consider the balance of sun and shade throughout the day.
Ponds in full sungrow algaefaster than ponds in shaded areas.
For the sake of the koi, too, it’s good to keep the water temperature moderate.
Koi fish need dissolved oxygen to breathe.
Oxygen also keeps the water healthy, enabling the beneficial bacteria to break down biological wastes in the water.
Oxygenated water also discourages harmful bacteria from taking over a pond.
An aerated pond also helps fish breathe in winter when the top of the pond ices over.
Fountains and waterfall features are natural aerators.
A small or medium pond heavily stocked with koi will likely need a backup aeration system.
Safety and Permitting
Before digging,call your local utility location service.
Water, gas, electrical, and sewer lines are a minimum of 12 and 24 inches deep.
Given the depth of the koi pond, the likelihood of inadvertently hitting a hidden line is great.
Small fountains or garden ponds may not needpermitting, but a koi pond’s large size might require permits.
Most types ofplumbingand electrical work require permits.
Generally, you’ll want to scale the pond upward to accommodate the fish as they grow.
This also builds room in case you add more koi.
Experiment with various shapes.
Dig Pond
Dig the pond by hand or with hired heavy equipment to the required depth.
Rather than creating tall sides, terrace the sides by about 5 to 7 inches per step.
Add the Drain
Trench out the pond to create a drain at the pond’s lowest point.
trigger the flexible hose pipe.
It helps to do this on a warm day, as the EPDM will be more pliable.
The liner should extend onto the banks of the pond by at least a foot.
Add Stones
Lay down smooth stones along the bottom of the pond.
Place larger flat stones on the bank to hold down the edges of the liner.
EPDM deteriorates faster when subjected to sunlight, so be sure to cover all exposed sections.
Install Setting Chamber
The pond’s drain pipe runs over to and up into the settling chamber.
This ensures that the water will recirculate every few hours.
The pump should be submerged.
The unit pumps water to the settling chamber.
Fill Pond With Water
Use the garden hose to fill the pond with water.
Keep an eye on the pond so that it does not overflow.
Add Mechanical Surface Skimmers
Electrically operated surface skimmers mechanically separate small pieces of debris from the water.
Some of these skimmers float on the surface or are installed off to the side.
Let them acclimate for about 15 minutes.
Place the bags in the pond water and let the fish swim out.
This lets your biological filters adapt to the koi.
Keep a close eye on the koi in the first week or two for parasites or any biological problems.
Koi ponds require maintenance, but they are not high maintenance.
Plan on feeding the fish every day and monitor their appearance and behavior.
No, koi ponds do not attract mosquitoes if the water remains moving and aerated.
Mosquitoes only lay their eggs in stagnant pools of water.
Complete cleaning of the pond must occur once a year.
