There are few things in life that are more satisfying than a job well done, especially if it only needs to be done once.  It is very rare that an enthusiast’s first Koi pond is built correctly, especially since the challenge of constructing a Koi pond tends to be more involved than ‘Pond’ Books lead the reader to believe.  Many people begin, as we did, with a simple water feature that ‘whetted’ our appetite for something a little more interesting.  When we considered what we might do to add a new element to this feature, we decided that Koi would be the perfect addition.  We knew virtually nothing about Koi, but enjoyed their beauty and temperament.  If we had only known when we built our first water feature that we would become enraptured with Koi, we could have saved ourselves thousands of dollars and countless hours of hard labor.

Like all projects, there are necessary items that must be included in a Koi pond.  If you have ever asked Koi owners about their ponds, you most likely have heard completely different versions about the construction and filtration methods from each Koi owner.  If you’ve researched books or browsed the Internet for Koi pond construction, you have most likely come upon the same dilemma.  There are so many opposing ideas!  So, what do you do?

The best way to learn about Koi and Koi pond construction is to contact the American Koi Club Association (AKCA) before you begin building a Koi pond.  This non-profit organization has a wealth of information and can refer you to a local associated Koi club.  I tend to have a ‘knee-jerk’ reaction to clubs…so I was extremely skeptical of joining this one, but I found that the AKCA is a reliable educational source and it is a tremendous benefit to someone interested in Koi and Koi ponds.  There is a very simple way to find the best quality Koi and Koi pond information, just browse to http://www.akca.org   Voila!  Viva la web!   

After you’ve done that, consider the following:

Find the most suitable location for your pond:

            -Try to keep direct sunlight at a minimum

-Stay away from deciduous and/or large rooted trees

            -Plan the shape you prefer

            -Try to avoid “Pond” Books!!! 

Decide what it is that you would like:

-A Koi pond or a water feature

This is an important choice to make.  There are certain things you absolutely must include in your pond if you want Koi to survive.  Anything less will end up as a water feature.  Assuming you are not planning a sashimi holding bin, you’ll need to plan on incorporating the following into your pond design:

Adequate Pond Volume

To stay fit and healthy, Koi must have adequate space to swim vertically and horizontally.  The minimum depth of a Koi pond should be 4 feet.  The considered length should be based upon available space and the amount of Koi preferred.

Filtration

The ‘rule of thumb’ in filtration is to plan an additional minimum of 1/3 of the Koi pond’s water volume for filtration:  e.g., if the pond you are planning has a water volume of 1,000 gallons, allow an additional minimum of 300 gallons to be used in the filtration process.  (This means you’ll need to plan for the filtration space!)  Trying to get around this by using submersible filters will be a waste of money.  They are inadequate for Koi, so it’s best to not use one.

There are many types of filtration, and many of them work very well.  From Bubble-bead filters, to gravity-flow filters, to trickle-towers, to settling chambers, the variety is astounding!  Of all the various types of filters available, what is most important to realize is why filtration is required.  Koi have been bred to produce beautiful shapes, colors, and patterns, and like any over-bred organism, have a compromised immune system.  They require a filtration system that will eliminate the solid waste they produce and convert the ammonia that is produced by their gills.  Without proper filtration most Koi will not survive, and those that do turn into UPF’s (Ugly Pond Fish).

The best type of filtration system uses a series of gravity-flow chambers containing various types of filter media to trap all of the solid waste and produce ‘gin-clear’ water.  This does not mean that the water is ready to go back in the pond.  It is at this point that the water needs beneficial bacteria to process the ammonia that remains in the water.  The final chamber of a filtration system should be filled with filter media that contains the largest available amount of surface area but still allows for proper aeration (flow) of water.  This is the perfect area needed to grow the beneficial bacteria that process the ammonia.

Pumps for Circulation & Aeration

It is important to provide adequate water circulation and aeration.  Without it, the beneficial bacteria are at a huge disadvantage, and the bacteria that are harmful to Koi thrive.  If you have no circulation or aeration at all, you are creating an anaerobic environment and will most likely end up killing your fish.

Bottom Drains and Surface Skimmers

Both are necessary to remove the waste, debris, excess food, and plant matter that would otherwise accumulate on the bottom of the pond.

A Liner or Reinforced Cement or Shot Crete

(This is a given, right?) If using a liner, a 45ml EDPM liner is recommended. 

Ultra Violet Lights

Ultra violet lights are primarily used to kill algae, a natural occurrence in all ponds.  It’s important to realize that algae will not harm Koi, but at times it will make it difficult to enjoy your fish.  UV lights designed specifically for ponds contain UV lamps that are placed within a housing unit.  Pond water passes through these units, and algae, when exposed to UV light, are killed.  Without a UV light, there will be algae-clouded water at several periods during the year, especially depending upon the amount of direct light on the pond.

 The Koi!

What a fascinating fish…not only beautiful and gregarious, they have an incredible lifespan of 50-75 years!  Remember to be cautious and buy your Koi from reputable dealers.  There are many incidents of breeders selling fish that are carrying disease, bacteria or parasites.  Another point to consider is the value of the Koi.  Caveat emptor – Koi are unusually new to the pet industry, and some disreputable dealers sell their Koi at unreasonably high prices.  It is worthwhile to go to several dealers to compare quality and prices.  Dealers tend to change their stock regularly, so you never know what ‘jewel’ you might find from one of your favorite dealers.

There is a vast amount of information published on pond construction, but little of it considers the habitat requirements of Koi.  When the basic elements of pond volume, filtration, circulation, aeration, and ease of eliminating waste and debris are included in a Koi pond, the longevity and health of the Koi is increased dramatically.  Now that is something very satisfying.

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