What to keep in mind before building a koi pond

When one is seriously considering owning Koi fish, the first question that inevitably comes to mind is: “How do you build a Koi pond?” Koi fish, due to their size, require relatively large ponds. The smallest size to consider as Koi ponds is 500 gallons, but there are household ponds that are as large as 50,000 gallons. If you are new to Koi pond construction, a good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that you will need a minimum of 100 gallons of water capacity for each Koi fish that will be kept in the pond.

As with any large construction project, planning is critical to building a Koi pond. The key points to include in your planning phase are size, construction material, location, and how the pond will make use of auxiliary support systems such as filtration systems, heaters, protein skimmers, covers, etc.

Pond size

As mentioned above, you should plan for a water capacity of 100 gallons as a minimum requirement per Koi fish in your pond. Of course, the way this water is distributed is also very important. Koi pond depths should be a minimum of 4½ feet. If a depth of 6 feet could be accommodated, it would be even better. Also, if you live in colder climates, the deeper the pond, the greater the consistency that can be achieved with respect to water temperature.

Other dimensions to consider are the minimum width and length measurements to build a Koi pond. These should be four and twelve feet respectively.

Building material

Koi ponds can be built with simple concrete sides and bottoms. Other styles incorporate the use of a cinder block structure that acts as a dirt retention mechanism on the sides of the hole. These blocks are then covered with a waterproof layer of fiberglass.

As in swimming pools, precast fiberglass structures can also be used in the construction of Koi ponds. These require preliminary excavations and other site preparations to be made before scheduling the formal placement of the fiberglass structure by a professional.

Rental

When building a Koi pond, the location is also very important. Areas that expose the pond to direct or constant sunlight should be avoided. An area that allows passive shade, such as a tree or perimeter wall, is best. Remember, Koi fish need both sunlight and shade, but direct sunlight can literally burn the Koi fish’s skin. As such, if passive shading cannot be obtained, artificial covers, foliage, and water lilies should be incorporated into your design to provide your Koi with areas that they can use for shading when needed.

When determining the location of your Koi pond, also consider how glare and shadow will affect how you will be able to visualize your Koi. After all, one of the main reasons to build a Koi pond is to enjoy the beauty of Koi fish. Unwanted glare and shadows can make this difficult.

Lastly, remember that the fact that your Koi pond is exposed to the elements creates a number of concerns that would not otherwise exist compared to an aquarium, which is indoors. When building a Koi pond, be aware of water runoff from the surrounding gardens that could carry unwanted fertilizer and insecticide residues into your Koi pond, polluting the water. Other concerns would also include exposure to predators. Large birds, raccoons, and other creatures native to your area may be attracted to your Koi pond. Nets, perimeter fences, and other countermeasures should be employed if the surrounding environment harbors such creatures.

You shouldn’t consider building a koi pond a daunting task. Actually building one can be quite enjoyable and make you more in tune with your fish’s needs. Plus, the added pride you take in being able to tell everyone who admires your pond that you built it yourself can be a great motivator. All that is needed is careful and thorough planning before undertaking Koi pond construction.