koi fish ponds

Looking to Build A Koi Fish Pond?

Amazing colors, gracefulness and longevity– these are some of the reasons why koi fish are popular fixtures of backyard ponds.  The koi fish are ideal for ponds because they have special traits that allow them to thrive and survive in home ponds.

Koi are expected to grow large, so it is important that the ponds be huge and hold at least five hundred gallons of water.  Generally, the health of koi fish is shaped by the quality of water in the pond as well as its space.  It must also be remembered that koi fish thrive in cold water and can really have good health conditions when water temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees fahrenheit.

Even if you live and reside in cool climates, you still can build koi ponds and find pleasure watching them. The best thing about koi is that they simply hibernate during winter and when ice forms on the top of the pond.  The koi’s digestive systems slow down almost to a halt to allow them to survive through the winter cold.

There are however other things which can improve the amazing looks of a pond.  Koi find comfort in shade like those provided by water lilies. So, owners can cover their ponds with up to 70 percent of its surface by lilies.  Lilies reduce the extent of algae in the water, other than the fact that they provide the koi with cover and shade.

Water lilies do help and protect the koi a lot especially since they can only receive an estimated five to six hours of direct sunlight.  And as omnivores, they can eat the plants as well as insects that they can find within the water lilies and other plants.

Koi ponds can also be built under a tree and take advantage of the natural protection of the tree’s shade.  The disadvantage of building your pond under a tree is it can expose the pond surface to tree debris like falling leaves and twigs.

Pond owners must also think about the depth of the pond, especially if they build them themselves. The koi can find protection from outside predators by going into the depths of the pond .  Koi fish are a good and delicious meal to raccoons.

With at least four feet of water in the pond, you can protect your koi from direct sunlight and from enterprising raccoons as well as giving them more area to swim in.  Owners must also protect their koi from Great Blue Heron, which are prevalent in many parts of the country. They love the taste of koi fish as well.

A single Blue Heron can feed off about 100 six-inch koi as its meal for the day.  It is thus important that your pond must have at least eight feet of water in order to keep these predators at bay.  You can also put up a bird net over your pond as a way of warding-off predators.

There are no limits to the way you can build your koi pond provided that the most important aspect of your plan is the safety of your koi.  You can build your koi pond in accordance with the specifications of your courtyard and enhance it aesthetic value by improving the landscape.

About the Author

JAMES FIELD is a koi fish expert. For great information on koi fish ponds, visit http://www.koifishadvice.com/.

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