Build Your Koi Fish Ponds Right!

Koi fish are popular additions to backyard ponds due to their gracefulness, longevity and gorgeous and wonderful color patterns. These koi fish are ideal for outside ponds because they have special traits that allow them to thrive and survive in backyard ponds.

Considering that koi can grow quite large, their ponds must be built to hold at least five hundred gallons of water. The health of the koi fish largely depends on the quality of the pond water and the amount of space they are given to swim in. Also, koi thrive in cold water and will have better health conditions when water temperatures are between 60 to 70 degrees fahrenheit.

In other words, even those living in cold climates can keep koi ponds and enjoy these colorful and amazing koi. The best thing about koi is that they will hibernate during the winter and when ice forms on the top of the pond. The koi's digestive systems wind down almost to a halt to allow them to survive through the winter. It's best not to feed them during this time. Feeding the koi will only add to growing algae in your water.

But koi are not the only amazing things that can enhance the attractiveness of a courtyard pond. Koi find comfort in the shade of plants, like those provided by water lilies. So, owners can cover their ponds with up to 70 percent of its surface with water lilies or other types of water plants. Lilies reduce the total amount of algae in the water, other than the fact that they provide the koi with cover and shade. Water lilies and other plants really do protect the fish by providing much-needed shade, especially since koi should only have about 5 to 6 hours of sun per day.

Fish eat insects, so water plants not only provide shade, and plant food for the koi, but these fish can also eat the insects that are found within the water lilies and other water plants. Some homeowners and pond builders will build their pond under a tree to provide the shade that koi will need during the day. Be careful about this, though, sometimes you'll spend more time cleaning up dried fallen leaves and twigs than in enjoying your pond.

In building your pond, make sure that you have a deep enough pond for the koi to hide in. You'll want to have a depth of at least 8 feet of water to protect them from herons and even raccoons that will be fishing for food around the edges of your pond. 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 hide in.

Owners must also protect their koi from the blue heron, which live in many parts of the country. They love the taste of koi fish as well. Imagine, one of these large birds can eat as many as 100 six-inch koi every time it eats. It is so important that your ponds must be at least eight feet deep in order to keep these types of birds at bay. You can also put a bird net over your pond as a way of warding off predators.

Ultimately, pond owners can build their pond the way that appeals to them. You can build your koi pond in accordance with the specifications of your landscaping and enhance its beauty and improve your garden at the same time.