How to Create a Koi Fish pond in your Garden

Are you thinking of building a koi fish pond? Bringing these beautiful koi in your garden can be great fun and it is not as time and money consuming as it seems. With the right care koi fish live very long and get very big in size. Follow these suggestions to make your  fish pond    properly so your koi fish will live long and happy life.

Depth is important

Depth of your garden koi pond is very important. You pond should be at least 4 feet deep, however it is recommended to provide for your fish six or even 8 feet deep pond. This will ensure that your koi are safe from raccoons, pet kitties and other animals who love a fish dinner. Deeper fish pond also helps to prevent pond from overheating in summer months

Give them sapce

Small ponds are not suitable for koi. Remember, with time koi can grow quite large and they will need a big space. Also there are so many color variations of koi, that as time goes you will probably want to get other varieties. So it is better to create a big koi pond from the start than rebuild it later. About ten thousand gallons is suitable for a   koi garden pond , bigger would be even better.

Provide some heating in December-February

Unlike tropical fish, koi don't suffer much from cold; however you should never let your pond freeze completely. Installing a proper heater for backyard ponds will always keep an opening in the ice. Also keep in mind, that koi only grow when the water is warm, so with a heater your fish will grow faster

Give some shade for your koi

When selecting a spot for your pond, make sure it is out of direct sunlight. Also keeping water plants like water lilies in your pond can be very beneficial - not only they add beauty to the overall landscape, but they also provide shade for the fish. However, you should avoid building your koi pond under trees. Cleaning a fish pond of fallen leaves is a nightmare.

Protect your pond from preditary birds

There are many birds of prey that will enjoy eating your koi. Don't give them the opportunity; plan your pond location so it is possible to protect it with a net.

Don't poison your fish

When landscaping your pond keep in mind that you should not use any insecticides or herbicides so they can get into the wate. Even a small amount of common garden poison can make sick and possibly kill your beautiful fish.

Koi fish pond acsessories that you might need

Several accessories are absolutely essential for good health of your fish. Ideally you will have to invest into a water pump, filtration system, water aerator and an ultraviolet sterilizer. If the water in your pond is not moving, your fish might get sick and eventually die. Koi pond filtration systems cost a lot, so if money is an issue you can make your own homemade filters.