Friday, January 23, 2009

Koi Garden Ponds Make Your Garden Appealing

By Michael Deangelo

Koi garden ponds do wonders to spruce up your yard. They are exotic and calming, not to mention beautiful. However, putting one together takes quite a bit of work. You first need to learn how to care for the Japanese Koi fish. These playful, frisky, and vibrant fish add a touch of the Orient to any garden, but maintaining the pond takes quite a bit of effort.

When building a Koi pond, you have to consider the time involved. Therefore, before beginning this endeavor, make sure that you have the time and the resources necessary. Koi require a lot of care and their pond will require more. The results are worth it but you have to get to that point first.

A Koi pond has to be specially constructed. The first thing you need to think about is its location. For example, Koi fish do not do well in sunlight, so the pond should not be located directly in the sun. Placing it beneath the trees is ideal, but only if they are not trees which frequently shed. Leaves can increase the water's pH level to dangerous proportions. Thus, you might consider placing your pond within some walls.

When considering the size of the Koi garden, you need to remember that these fish can get quite big. They can be as much as three feet long and weigh as much as forty pounds. Thus, their pond needs to be large enough to accommodate their growth. As well, since Koi are social fish which do not like to be alone, you should plan to have at least three or four fish at the onset.

These gardens require a lot of pond maintenance as well. This can be made easier by implementing either a pond liner or a pre-made pond. However, by all accounts, pond liners are the superior choice. They allow you to chance the size of the pond very easily.

When building a Koi pond, feel free to include aquatic plants and other features. Underwater plants will provide plenty of controlled nutrients to the fish. They will also keep the fishes safe from the sun. Water lilies, dwarf papyrus, cannas, lily pads, irises, and similar plants and flowers are ideal. However, they must be inaccessible to the fish, which like to nibble on plants. You should also line the bottom with gravel and pebbles. These allow beneficial bacteria to breed.

Finally, you have to consider the water in your Koi garden pond. It requires special specifications all its own. Because these fish are very sensitive, you need to keep a close eye on the pH levels. It should be neutral. Filters and aeration systems can help you keep the water clean and healthy, as can a bottom drain.

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