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Koi Fish Ponds Explained

Phil Turner — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:35:16 +0000

Because of their gracefulness, the longevity of their lives, and their gorgeous colors, it is easy to see why koi fish are so popular to outside ponds. They are one of the best fish suited for life in a pond outside.

Since it is realistic to think that koi fish will grow to be large fish they require a pond that is about five hundred gallons or more. Typically the health of the koi depends a lot upon the amount of space that they are provided with and the quality of the water. The ideal temperature of the water should be around 60 – 67 degrees Fahrenheit because koi fish are cold water fish. This is great for people who may not live in the hottest of places, because there is no reason they can’t maintain a vibrant koi fish pond. When ice forms above the pond during wintertime the koi fish will hibernate. They make it through winter by slowing their digestive systems down to an almost standstill. Find more koi fish ponds information.

The koi fish alone will make your pond look great, but you can add other things as well. Lilies offer great shade for the fish. You can have up to 70 percent of the water’s surface covered by lilies. They not only help to give your koi fish cover and shade, lilies help to reduce the amount of algae in the water. Koi fish can only put up with 5 or so hours of direct sunlight, which is why having lilies to provide shade is a great idea, and not only that but the lilies look great as well. As well as the shade, aesthetics and cleaning bonus of lilies, they provide a great food source for koi fish, which eat both meat and plants, they can get at insects that live amongst the plants. You could also think about placing your koi fish pond under the shade of a tree to protect the fish. Although this is usually a shortcut to a messy pond, thanks to things dropping from the tree into the pond.

When thinking about building your koi fish pond give some thought to the depth you will build it. If the water is deep enough the koi fish will be able to swim deep to avoid predators. Raccoons would love a good koi meal. Having a koi fish pond that is at least 4 feet deep is a good idea, this way they have shade, room to swim and can avoid predators. Depending where you live you may have to combat Great Blue Herons as well. A single Heron could eat over a hundred 6″ koi in one sitting. If you have to worry about these Herons then you should dig your pond at least 8 feet deep. If you can not dig it this deep or you want some added protection from such predators you could always place a bird net over the pond. Follow this link for fish koi information.

When you build your own koi pond you are free to allow your imagination to run wild. You are able to build your koi pond to you specifications in order to flow nicely in your yard and enhance your landscape.

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The Mystery Of Koi

Phil Turner — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:59:52 +0000

Koi fish are the domesticated variety of the common carp. In fact, the word “koi” is actually Japanese for the word “carp”. The Japanese started breeding koi for the first time around the 1820’s. Today, due to their popularity, koi fish come in a large variety of patterns and colors like black, red, orange, yellow, silver, green and blue. Follow this link for fish koi information.

Outdoor koi ponds can be relaxing as the sound of the rippling water flows through the yard. Creating visually pleasing koi ponds is almost an art form. Cultivating living plants and replicating a natural environment in the koi pond is no small task. But when someone is talented at creating the necessary synergy, the result is captivating. Some people do not realize that certain koi and plants do not live harmoniously together. Koi can be somewhat difficult when it comes to living alongside potted plants in the pond water. It can be a challenge to get a good mix.

Some owners try to place potted plants within the pond that are meant to sit on the pond floor. When you place a plant that should be rooted in the sod of the pond free and loose in the water, the koi themselves inadvertently knock the plants about. This not only muddies the water, but can create havoc in the pond environment. Koi are notorious for the digging up the soil at the bottom of the pond. But, that does not mean you can not have any plants in your pond at all. Find more koi colors information here.

There is more than one way to solve these pond issues. You can wrap netting over the tops of the pots to keep the koi from digging in them. Another method of circumventing the digging efforts of the koi is to use pea gravel along the bottom of the pond and on the tops of the plants. If you have a really large potted plant, then river stones would be an appropriate measure. The weight of the stones will prevent the koi from being able to knock the plants over. The stones will obviously outweigh the fish themselves. The stones also keep the fish from being able to loosen the dirt underneath the plants. Thus, the plants cannot be dug up by the koi.

A plant that works quite well in a koi pond is a lily. Lilies are available in a wide assortment of species. Many will root in shallow water, while others will develop in much deeper water. Lilies are not a good choice when what you need oxygenation, but they do bring shade and shelter for the koi. As a bonus, lilies are attractive to look at. Another bonus of the lily is that insects will be drawn to the water. Koi fish are omnivores and will search the plants foliage to seek out insects and larva to munch on.

Koi eat other things besides insects. They have a varied diet and can be fed many different things. It is not unusual for koi fish owners to mention that they successfully trained their fish to eat out of their hands. In fact, koi are able to discern one human being from another. They will typically pick out the person who routinely feeds them. Koi will swim to the person when it is feeding time. Although you can buy koi food, koi fish also like to eat food human beings eat. They’ve been known to consume peas, watermelon and lettuce.

Having koi fish grace the waters of an outside pond is truly an enjoyable and unique experience. They area able to add a great amount of pleasure to their owners lives and in turn are rewarded by the generosity and good care of their owners.

Koi Fish Will Be An Excellent Addition To Your Home

Phil Turner — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:50:47 +0000

Having all of the various brands of Koi fish food available, it can be difficult to identify which one is right. Koi fish owners are looking for the food which can provide the proper nutrients for their fish at the lowest price. Any choice a person makes regarding this food will have a big impact on the overall well being of the fish. Using the best food can also permit the fish to mature and help sustain a more picturesque fishpond. While people generally don’t look at fish as pets, Koi can certainly grow to be cherished members of your family, the same as a dog or cat. Koi will let you give food to them by hand, and might possibly let you to pet them after you have earned their trust.

At first, many, inexperienced Koi owners tend not to realize the significance of the feeding routine. Not only should you give thought to how much food they receive and the time they are fed, but you must also consider the combination of food types which will be necessary for strong and colorful Koi. Rather than just throwing the food into the pond, you should consider taking a few extra minutes to set the food in the pond in the same area every time. If you do this the Koi can adjust to the routine, and can, after a while, grow to be friendly. They will even trust you enough to be fed directly. Some Koi owners say that the fish actually know their footsteps and follow them around the edges of the pond. Even though taming and training your Koi can be a slow process, it should be a truly gratifying experience. After spending the extra time with the Koi, you will be able to identify any problems the fish might have.

The most important thing to consider is the food which will provide the Koi the very best health and growth. One of the most widespread types of Koi food are pellets. Using these makes it easy to see the amount the fish are consuming in order that you do not give them too much. Never provide your fish more food than they can eat in a five minute time frame. Wasted pellets will rapidly drop to the bottom and decay, causing a large amount of organic waste in the pool. There are many high quality brands of Koi food, each one providing a level of certain kinds of nutrients. The various brand names contain different levels of a number of ingredients and the best made Koi food is not always the most expensive available. Some of the big names in the business will charge more for their Koi food because they have popularity, not because their food is better than anyone else’s. One of the smartest ways to figure out which brand of food is appropriate for your fish will be to ask other Koi fish enthusiasts. Obviously you want to locate the highest quality food but not clean out your bank account in the process. Therefore, do a bit of Internet research and you will find the Koi food that is right for you and your fish

Koi Pond Heaters – Are They Worth It?

John Stoner — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:55:58 +0000

Have you ever wondered why so few Koi ponds are heated? Well heating a Koi pond was an expensive process and few Koi owners could handle the cost. Also Koi ponds were usually found only in the warmer climates where heating was never considered necessary. Today Koi are being exported to all parts of the world where heating is much more a necessity. In addition the cost of heating Koi ponds has become much less expensive and well within the reach of many more owners.

Koi Pond Design – Tips for Getting the Plumbing Right

John Stoner — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:59:50 +0000

There are many things to consider when you are starting a Koi pond project. It's easy to see why so many people forget to pay attention to the plumbing aspect of the project. This is a mistake I hope you won't make. A lot of headaches can be avoided if you pay proper attention to the pipe and valve layout of your project before you get started.

Koi Pond Equipment – How to Keep the Water Crystal Clear

John Stoner — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:23:19 +0000

It is every Koi fish owner's dream to have healthy Koi swimming in crystal clear water. But how to do that has always been a challenge. There are a few pieces of equipment that will help you in your quest for that elusive perfectly clear water.