Koi Ponds Buying Guide

Though they have been around for centuries, koi ponds  have gained recent popularity within the gardens of modern homes.  With "waterscaping" being the new trend for outdoor design, these ponds can perfectly enhance this type of atmosphere--water can flow in any and all directions and you can easily stock your pond with many colorful fish to create a beautiful and functional environment.  These ponds are sure to add dimension and ambiance to any property; however, achieving this beauty will take a little bit of work and a lot of maintenance.     

Filtering

Mechanical Filtration Mechanical filters  remove debris such as leaves, dirt, algae, dead plants, etc.  This is one of the most important kinds of filtration you can implement, especially if you want to SEE your fish, and there are a variety of systems and pumps  in place to help you do this.	Biological Filtration As absolutely the most important filtration your pond can have, biological filtration is that which happens naturally underneath the water.  Use lava rocks  or bioballs  to allow healthy bacteria to grow in an oxygen-rich environment.	Chemical Filtration Chemical filtration  removes ammonia and other organic compounds from the water; carbon,  zeolite, or other resins will often help you accomplish this.  It is also common to find a mesh bag inside of your filter that can be filled with the resin of your choice for emergency cleanings.

Cleaning

• Filters:  A mechanical pond filter can very easily collect a disgusting amount of dirt.  To clean it, you will need to remove any of its floss pads, etc. for a weekly wash (especially in the warmer months).  You can get away with cleaning off your biological filtration once a month or so; however, only clean some components at a time--not all--to keep some of the "good bacteria" present in the pond.

• The Bottom:  Cleaning the liner  of the pond may sound tedious, but it is an essential.  A large pond should be vacuumed  to clear away dirt and debris as often as possible, though many people will only clean it every few months.  There are vacuums available that are driven by a water hose, conveniently adding new water to the pond while sucking away the bad.  Smaller ponds can use a wet/dry vac  to clean up the bottom.  Yet no matter what the size of your pond, it should be drained and thoroughly cleaned out every few years.

• Water Changes:  The more frequently you can change the water, the better.  It is recommended that you change no more than 30% of the pond water at one time, and once a week should be adequate.  For those of you using city water, you will want to change even less of the water at a time (less than 20% of it) and will also want to use a dechlorinator  to balance out the pH. 

Feeding

Generally, you should only feed your fish as much as they are able to consume in five minutes.  Because goldfish species and koi lack a true stomach, they are always hungry; consequently, it is very easy for them to overfeed and develop bloat or bacterial infections.  Be sure to only provide food that is bite-size for each of the fish in the pond.   For big fish, use big sticks; for tiny fish, go with small foods.  Hard foods should be pre-soaked in water for a few minutes so that they do not expand inside of the fish.  Choose a feeding schedule to stick to so that you are not tempted to overfeed the pond fish.

•  Warmer Months:  In the late spring, early fall, and summer, it is wise to feed the fish some flakes  or pellets  about twice a day.  When the weather begins to get cooler, once a day will suffice.  Spring and fall foods should be mostly plant  in nature and high in carbohydrates, such as wheat germ,  Cheerios,  peas,  and vegetables.  Summer foods should be high in protein such as insects  and meats. Vitamin C is important for pond fish, so be sure it is included with the food.     

• Colder Months:  Usually, ponders say that once the water goes below 50 or 55° F, you should stop feeding the fish.  The trouble is that if it is too cold, the food will not agree with their digestive system.   Therefore, if you have not overstocked the pond with fish and have plenty of plants,  there won't be a need to feed. The fish can live off of insects, algae, and plants until it is time for them to go back to pellets in the spring. 

Related Guides

Check out some of our other guides for other ideas! 

Garden Accents	Theme Gardens	Fish Care

External Links

• DoItYourself.com:  Check out this article on pond care throughout the seasons.
• FishPondInfo.com:  Read more on water chemistry and learn about why a filter is so important.
• KoiAndPonds.com:  More on koi care, breeding, and setting up your own pond.