Dedicated koi ponds for koi fish are different
Koi ponds and koi fish ... first of all be clear what you really mean by koi ponds and their designs. Do you want to have a pond in which you will keep a few koi or do you want a large koi pond for the exclusive use of koi fish.
Your answer will make a big difference to your pond and your wallet. In this short article I will concentrate on large exclusive koi ponds and will point out the differences. Then make your own decision. If you really only want a nice garden pond with some koi then follow the info in my garden ponds web sites. If you want "proper" koi ponds then seek detailed advice. However the basic principles used throughout this web site apply just as much to these large koi ponds as they do to small koi ponds or your average garden fish pond
Keeping koi fish in large koi ponds is a wonderful and growing hobby enjoyed by many thousands worldwide. It sustains a massive and growing koi fish industry
"Proper" koi ponds are different .... the first difference is normally more about the pondkeeper than the koi fish. To grow koi fish to large size needs space and extra special attention to breeding stock, pond environment factors, and especially water quality. This automatically means the pond investment will be significant. Here are some specifics .. For my South African readers a word of warning for those seeking to build a large koi pond with large koi fish .... DO NOT USE SAND FILTERS. Or if you do expect disease problems, poor water quality and high electricity bills.
Sand filters work well for swimming pools because and only because chlorine is used to kill pathogens. If the dealer insists I am wrong then quite simply ask him to guarantee the water quality. Also ask him how is it possible to ensure all pathogenic bacteria are removed from the bed of densely packed sand (which is subject to severe channeling of water creating anaerobic conditions) and also ask him to work out the power cost per year. Sand filters do a good job of removing solids ... they do not work as effective biofilters ... this is a fact.
Koi ponds and volume ... like you and me koi fish do better with good exercise. To provide this exercise potential koi ponds need to be large.
Koi ponds and depth ... many garden ponds need be no more than about 24 inches deep . Serious koi ponds must be at the very least 40 inches and preferably more like 5 to 6 feet
Koi ponds and water flow .... Nigel Caddock built special water jets into his pond to allow his koi fish to swim against a current. This is a good idea in order to build up the shape of any koi fish.
Koi ponds and biofilters ... extra special attention MUST be paid to selecting the correct koi pond's filter. A black box with a few sponges and plastic balls or hair curlers will not do the job. Think of vortex or fluidized bed koi pond filters here.
Koi ponds and UV lights properly sized and maintained .... essential because you cannot run the risk of algae blooms suddenly appearing and creating havoc with the koi ponds pH. After all you have made a major investment
Koi ponds and water temperature ... koi fish are carp and prefer warmer temperatures. In extreme climates this means heating of the koi ponds water to prevent death, and stunted growth
Koi ponds and pond pumps ... forget that small submersible koi pond pump. You need lots of flow rate and these rates can only really be obtained from external centrifugal pumps. You MUST have spare pumps installed that kick in if one pump fails.
Koi ponds and back up power .... many koi ponds in the USA would have had serious problems during the recent black out that lasted about 2 days. No power means no biofiltration taking place which means rapid deterioration in your koi ponds water quality
Koi ponds and koi fish food ... you just have to buy the best. In other words 35% protein minimum, 10% moisture or water maximum and ash levels 8% maximum
Koi ponds and oxygen. Many koi ponds literally bubble continuously with air such is the need for large amounts of oxygen for the koi fish and the biofilter's well being.