So you’ve decided to build a koi pond in your backyard finally? Well, that is a great idea because 
your compound’s landscape will certainly be amazing.
Koi ponds are built to keep koi fish: a unique type of fish which is also known as Japanese oriental carp.
For a healthy school of Koi fish, you must have expertise in koi pond maintenance.
Let us begin with the components of an elegant Koi Pond.
Contents
Bottom Drains
Even though the bottom drains are rarely used in water gardens, they are highly beneficial in Koi ponds. Bottom drains allow heavy solids to be carried to the mechanical filter when there are no rocks at the bottom of the pond. They are usually equipped with air diffusers, maintaining oxygen supply in the pond.
Skimmers
Skimmers enable cleaning of the koi pond: By drawing water from the surface of the pond, they collect leaves, twigs and other floating debris found on the surface of the pond.
Biological filters
Biological filters convert nitrogenous wastes from fish into nitrogen which escapes into the atmosphere.
Water and air pumps
Water pumps ensure circulation of water within the koi pond. Pumps should be able to perform a complete circulation of water once in every hour to maintain a conducive environment for your ornamental fish. Air pumps are also used to increase dissolved oxygen within the koi pond. Air pumps become vital when the ponds are stocked to capacity.
Ultraviolet Light
Sunlight helps to clump algae making them easier to be disposed of using the mechanical filtration. UV sterilizer kills free-floating bacteria thereby promoting a healthy koi fish.
Steps to building and maintaining a koi pond
Before you begin to construct a koi pond you should understand the following:
Size of the pond
The koi pond should be larger because koi fish grow in size and may not be able to survive when the resources in the pond become limited.
The pond should hold a minimum of 1000 gallons in volume or more to create a healthy environment that will promote the survival of these ornamental fish.
The depth of the pond should be at least 3 feet, but you can increase the depth to 4 or 5 feet keeping mind the larger fish.
Location of the pond
The pond should be located near your house for security and ease of accessibility. You should also position your pond away from trees as this can reduce the number of leaves falling on the pond, making it easier to clean. If you want to have lilies within your pond, then you should choose a location that has at least 4 hours of exposure to sunlight. This will enable extensive growth of lilies which is food to koi fish.
The keeping of koi fish is one of the best ways to make your home beautiful. You should endeavor to understand the details of koi fish rearing before you embark on this highly rewarding venture. For more information on koi pond building and maintenance and for koi pond repairs, visit OC Pond & Fountain Care!
