How to build a Koi Pond – Plan Before You Dig
To the novice a pond is a pond is a pond. When it comes to Koi ponds, this is a huge mistake. A koi pond is a complex water environment. Because of the nature of Koi fish – large and fast growing – the pond needs to be of adequate size.
Your Koi pond project has many design aspects that you need to think about. The proper level of oxygen in the water is critical. Providing for the proper filtration and aeration of the pond are among the most important design aspects of the pond.
Don’t be short sighted when picking a location. Make sure you can enjoy your Koi pond the way you want to. Check the views from all angles – inside and outside. If you want to use excavation equipment, make sure there is easy access to the property.
Think about the type of construction you want to use for the pond. The simplest approach and least expensive is the liner pond. You essentially excavate the pond and line it with a heavy liner. The other choice is a block wall pond. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
You’ll need to choose a filter system. There a many choices and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. The major types include pump-fed or gravity-fed. Do some research to determine which will be best for your pond setup.
Your filtration system is one of the most important components of your pond. Don’t skimp on this. You have to provide two types of filtration. Mechanical filtration will break down solid waste particles and remove them. Biological filtration will provide the necessary bacteria to break down pollutants that get into the water.
As if there were not enough decisions to be made so far, the choice of a pump must also be made. There two basic designs – submersible and external. Submersible pumps are used either in the pond for a pump-fed system or in the last filter chamber of a gravity-fed system.
Hopefully you can see why I recommend careful planning before you start building a Koi pond. It is a large project with a lot of details and design decisions that need to be made. Save yourself frustration and money by doing the planning up front.
