Do It Yourself Koi Ponds

Instruction

• 1

  Stake out the pond area. The pond should not be in direct, all-day sunlight and should be located away from any trees that will drop leaves or needles into it. Koi fish need a pond with 1,000 gallons of water as the ideal size. The fish will grow six to eight inches the first few years and mature to 21 inches in ideal pond conditions. Calculate your pond size and fish population on the mature size of the koi. Ten gallons of water will support one inch of fish. A pond with 1,436 gallons of water will support 144 inches of fish. Divide this by 21 for the mature size in inches of each fish to see that a pond of this size will support seven koi fish.

• 2

  Dig the pond area. It should be at least four feet deep on one end and six to eight feet deep on the other. This depth will protect the koi from raccoons and other predators. If great blue herons or kingfishers visit your area, make the depth eight feet or plan to use a bird net over the pond so that the birds can't eat the fish. The pond should have steep rather than sloping sides. Remove any rocks, roots or other sharp objects that might tear the liner. Koi fish will hibernate in the winter and do not need feeding during the winter. As the surface of the water freezes, the koi will rest on the bottom of the pond, so ponds in colder climates should be at least eight feet deep at one end to prevent the pond from freezing solid. The koi willl be motionless while hibernating. A small hole in the ice or a floating pond de-icer will allow removal of any noxious gases in the water.

• 3

  Determine the liner size needed by measuring the pond area. Measure the width of the pond from one end down to the bottom, across the bottom to the other side and then up to the top. Then measure the length in the same way. Add an extra two feet on all sides, or four feet to both the length and the width. Trim the liner if needed. Liners made of 45-mil EPDM -- ethylene propylene diene Monomer -- are safe for koi fish. Place the liner in the pond, keeping the liner smooth on all surfaces.

• 4

  Select the submersible filter system based on the volume of water in your pond, which can be determined by multiplying the pond's length times width times depth in feet, and multiplying the result by 7.48 to convert to gallons. If your pond is deeper at one end than the other, use the average of the two depths.

• 5

  Select the submersible water pump based on this same water volume formula; i.e., multiply the pond's length times width times depth times 7.48. When placing the pump in the pond, elevate it on a brick or block. This will keep the pump above the sediment that may collect in the bottom of the pond.

• 6

  Measure the distance between the placement of the filter system and the water pump in your pond. Cut the black vinyl tubing to this measurement. Connect the tubing to the barb fitting on the water pump and on the filter.

• 7

  Fill your pond with non-chlorinated water. Chlorine can kill fish. Natural rainwater is best for filling your pond before adding koi fish or plants. You can also purchase dechlorinators at pet stores or garden supply stores that carry pond equipment.

• 8

  Fold the surplus liner back toward the pond. One foot from the edge, dig a one-foot trench all around the pond. Fold the surplus liner into the trench and fill the trench with gravel and dirt. To help anchor the liner, place very large rocks scattered around the pond edge. Cut a cross mark in areas of the surplus liner and place plants through the cut into the soil. Use small rocks and gravel to fill the areas between the large rocks and plants. Add bog plants around the edge of the pond. Typical bog plants are variegated cattail, flowing rush and bog lily. Add water plants when the water has been added. Good water plants are water hyacinths, water lilies and lotus plants.

• 9

  Purchase koi fish and add them to your pond. When introducing the fish to your pond, place the closed bag in the pond water for 30 minutes to acclimatize the bag water to the same temperature as the pond water. Open the bag and let a smalll amount of pond water enter the bag. Slowly lift the bottom of the bag to let the koi swim freely into the pond.