Tips to Get Started on Your Koi Pond

It is easy to see how homeowners have turned on to the idea of having an oudoor pond in their back yard. Since Koi Fish have all the best traits for an oudoor pond they are the most popular fish by far to grace these ponds.

Koi Can grow to be quite large and will require at least 500 gallons of water,. The health of the Koi fish depends a great deal on the amount of space and the quality of the water. Temperatures of 60 to 67 degrees Fehrenheit are best for the Koi as they are a cold water fish. Those people living in a cool weather climate will be happy to know they will also be able to keep Koi during the winter months. In the winter when ice forms over the surface of the water the Koi will hybernate. No need to feed them in the winter as their digestive systems slow down almost to a halt allowing them to easily make it through the winter.

The Koi are not the only thing that make the pond and yard into an enjoyalbe and relaxing place to be. Plants and lilies are a great addition to the pond, your Koi will love them. The lilies can cover up to 70 percent of the ponds surface. Not only do they give cover and shade to the Koi, but they also cut down on the algae growth in the pond. Five or six hours a day is about the maximum amount of direct sunlight the Koi can tolerate and the lilies give the perfect shade to protect them from the sunlight. Koi fish are omnivorous which means they can eat both meat and plants and the lilies provide then with insects and larva to eat,.

Building your Koi Pond under a tree is another good way to provide the Koi with extra shade. But you may want to consider the fact that being under a tree will also attract a good deal of debris from the tree and will create a good deal more work to keep the pond clear.

The depth of the pond is important and rerquires some additional planning. Outside predators can be a problem with your outdoor Koi Pond and the depth of the water can provide some needed protection. Koi Fish would be the ideal meal for a wandering Raccoon. You’ll need about 4 feet of water to protect them from ground predators such as raccoon. In some parts of the country you will also need to worry about birds like the Great Blue Heron who like a good meal of Koi as well. Amazingly the Great Blue Heron can eat as much as 100 small Koi a day. To foil the Great Blue Heron you will need a water depth of about eight feet. Another good way to protect the Koi from bird predators is to put netting up over the pond.

Building your own Koi Pond gives you the freedom to use your imagination to build your Koi Pond and outdoor living area as lavishly and spectacular as you wish.