Introduction to Koi Ponds for Your Home

Koi are one of the most popular ornamental fish in the world. Adding Koi ponds to one's home is a popular move, so here is an introduction to Koi Ponds.

Koi are a species of carp. Fossils records found in china show they have been around for over 20 million years. It is thought that they originated in Persia and spread across the world from there, but this is really a bit uncertain. The fish is ideal as an ornamental pond fish for several reasons. They love to eat. Some people have described them as like a school of piranhas at feeding time. When they feed, they grow. Since a Koi is capable of living for up to 50 years, they have a chance to grow quite large.

One of the best approaches for a Koi pond is to build it as big as you possibly can. Almost everyone who builds a Koi pond regrets not making it bigger later on and many people find themselves building a second one. If you get it right the first time, you will be much happier. Most people have a tendency to start off with a pond between 500 and 2000 gallons. A 2000 gallon pond will support about 20 full sized Koi fish. Many people think this is going to be plenty, but end up wanting more. If you start with a pond that measures in at between 10,000 and 50,000 gallons you most likely will never need to enlarge it.

A second suggestion is to make your pond as deep as possible. About 4 feet is a minimum unless you want to raise Koi to provide meals for scavengers like raccoons or provide meals to birds like Great Blue Herons or Kingfishers. If you make your pond 8 feet deep, you double the fish's chances of escaping. A sad fact of Koi ponds is that it is sometimes impossible to prevent the loss of some fish to predators, but you should never make it easy for them.

Location is important. Koi are fond of shade and although you can provide this with aquatic plants and lily pads, a shady location is best. Also, try to locate the pond where it is possible to suspend bird netting over the pond as further protection to the fish. Along with protection from predators, you need to protect the actual environment. Koi, like all carp, are very hardy fish, but that does not mean they can survive and thrive in contaminated water. A properly size water pump and filtration system is essential.

Once you have the proper sizing and protection features taken care of, you are free to let your imagination and artistic style run rampant. Koi are popular because they are so beautiful and come in such dazzling colors. Although the fish are the stars of the Koi pond show, the pond itself is their stage. Only the limits of your budget and your imagination should limit the beauty of your Koi pond.

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