by John Stoner
Deciding to build a Koi pond is a big decision. Koi pond construction is not something to be undertaken lightly. But done correctly, it can be extremely rewarding, a beautiful addition to your home and garden and the perfect place to keep your Koi fish.
You can opt to build the pond yourself. For this task, you may consider using a pond kit. First you need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of doing the work yourself. You need to create a list of all tasks involved and see if you can actually do each yourself without experiencing any undue obstacles. You can avoid potential pitfalls and expensive mistakes if you plan carefully.
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of doing it yourself before you jump in. It could save you a lot of headaches and expense down the road. Using professional help will certainly be more expensive. On the other hand, doing it yourself with the help of a pond kit might be cheaper but if the components are installed incorrectly, you would probably spend more in the long run getting the problems fixed.
Doing it yourself will certainly let you build your Koi pond the way you want it. It will give you something to brag about and show off to your family and friends. All in all it can be quite enjoyable.
There are some other disadvantages to doing the work yourself. If you do use a pond kit, you may find some limitations that you don’t like. You may want to make adjustments in the size or other design aspects that the pond kit just won’t easily accommodate. Trying to make these changes fit can easily get you into trouble.
When you planned your Koi pond the design was just what you wanted and had that unique look – just perfect for your garden. Once into the project you may find the need for special tools or equipment. Since you are not a professional the end result may not have that “professional” look or worse yet may have some hidden construction problems that will haunt you over time.
Hiring a professional pond builder is not the cheapest way to go; however, the ideas, input and final outcome that are the results of their efforts could certainly be worth more than the relatively minor investment you will be making to get your dream Koi pond. Keeping Koi is a long term commitment so it needs an equally long lasting pond that will serve as the Koi’s home. The Koi will be as happy as you will be when you see them enjoying their home.
One thing to remember if you decide to use a professional contract is that the Koi pond is a dynamic ecosystem. There are many parts that have to work together properly. Make sure your contractor knows what he is doing. Be wary of seemingly low bids. Spending a little more may save you much added expense in the future not to mention the disappointment. Also remember that it is a permanent structure and not easily modified. My advice is to make it as large as you can afford to start with. Put in all the design elements you can financially handle. It will pay off in added enjoyment for years.
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March 29 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »
by John Stoner
We have all heard it before – plan before you start any major project. Well a Koi pond design is no different. Building a Koi pond is a big project. Poor planning will certainly cause it to be more expensive than you planned and take a lot longer to get it completed.
Think about the shape of your pond. There will be many factors impacting the ultimate shape that you won’t be able to control. Things like landscaping, structures on the property, grade and slope of the land, etc. will have to be planned around. The result will be when you can visualize the actual layout. Use rope or garden hose to lay out several different patterns. Look at them from all angles. Don’t forget to view them from inside your house, form balconies and porches – anywhere you can see the pond.
Your Koi pond design also needs to careful plan for the depth of the pond. Koi can get to be big fish and will need adequate room to swim not only laterally but also vertically. Plan for a minimum depth of four feet. If you can go deeper so much the better. Ideally abut 6 -8 ft. will be as deep as you need. This deeper pond will also help with keeping the water temperature more stable in the summer and winter.
Certainly the bigger the pond, the more fish you can put in it, but there are always limitations. The smallest practical size for a Koi pond is about 6 feet by 9 feet, and 4 feet deep. This size pond will hold about 1600 gallons of water. In calculating the actual depth of your pond, don’t forget that there is usually about six inches from the water line to the top edge of the pond.
The best Koi pond design concept to keep in mind is “keep it simple.” A very simple design will allow for better water movement and thus better filtration. A very complex design may look spectacular, but cause other problems when it comes to keeping it clean. Keeping your pond chemically balanced is critical to the health of your fish. A simple design will make this much easier.
The best shape for your Koi pond is just a rectangular or oblong pond. This shape is the easiest to keep clean because it can accommodate multiple drains. A pond like this will have no dead areas with poor water circulation.
The location of your pond is everything. Poor location can mean les enjoyment of your pond and your fish. Think about it carefully. Make sure it is the focal point of your garden or backyard.
The perfect location will take into account several points. A pond with no shade will foster rapid algae growth. Don’t let this happen. If it’s located under a tree it will collect plant debris which if not cleared frequently will affect the acidity of the water. This can be harmful to the fish. Tree roots can often crack concrete ponds or pierce pond liners. Don’t let your pond fill with large amounts of rain water runoff. Always make sure the pond is far enough away from any plantings that will require spraying with harmful insecticides.
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March 25 2009 | Gardening | No Comments »