Orange County Pond Service

Koi Pond Design Tips

Koi Pond Design Tips

Koi Pond Services in Orange County

We have all heard it before – plan before you start any major project. Well, a Koi pond design is no different. Building a Koi pond is a big project. Poor planning will certainly cause it to be more expensive than you planned and took a lot longer to get it completed.

The shape of your pond is an important aspect of design. Many factors impacting the design of the pond you won’t be able to control. Certainly, there will be existing landscape features, structures on the property, grade and slope of the property, etc. that will have to be considered. Always lay out several potential designs with rope or garden hose and view them from all angles. Make sure you view them from inside as well as outside and from second stories that may overlook the pond.

Plan for the proper depth of your pond. Tree roots or rocks on the property can be a problem. Koi, when grown, will be big fish. They need room to swim vertically and laterally. Your pond should have a minimum depth of four feet and ideally closer to 6 – 8 feet deep. A deeper pond allows for better water temperature stabilization – cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

With a larger pond, you have more Koi fish, but there are always limiting factors. Don’t make your pond smaller than 6 ft. by 9 ft. By 4 ft. Deep. A pond this size will hold about 1600 gallons of water. Remember in planning the depth of the pond, allow for about 6 inches from the waterline to the top edge.

When planning your Koi pond design – keep it simple. A simple layout, while it may not look that spectacular, will allow for better water movement and filtration. The more complex design may impress your neighbors but will be much harder to keep clean and maintain. For the health of your fish, you want to be able to easily and consistently maintain the chemical balance in the pond. A simple design will help.

The best shape for a simple design is rectangular or oblong. A pond with this shape is easier to clean and maintain. This koi pond design more easily accommodates multiple drains and eliminates dead areas that have poor water circulation.

Certainly, you want to locate your pond where you will get the most enjoyment out of viewing it. Most people choose to have it off a deck, porch or balcony. What your choice, make sure it is the focal point of your backyard or garden setting.

Consider these points in finding that perfect location. A pond in full sun will stimulate algae growth. Provide some shade for your pond. A pond located under a tree will collect debris. If not cleaned regularly this can cause the acidity to raise and become harmful. Large tree roots can crack cement ponds and pierce pond liners causing expensive repairs. Protect the pond from receiving large amounts of rainwater runoff and make sure there are no plantings that will require the use of harmful insecticides close to it.

With a few simple suggestions, you should be well on your way.

Location

Where do you want to put your new fish pond? Make sure that where you want to place it fits into the overall plan that you have for your yard. Your pond must be placed in a location that is appealing to your eyes but also makes sense as far as maintenance. Preferably a cool, shaded area would be the best choice. This area will allow you to relax and also allow the water temperature of the pond not to get too high.

Design

The design of your koi fish pond will depend on the terrain of your backyard. Because of the soothing nature of a koi pond, you don’t want a design that does not fit in with the natural landscaping of your

backyard. Avoid unnatural shapes such as rectangles or perfect circles. Use the curves of your yard’s natural terrain as a guide for your koi pond building.

Size

The size of your Koi fish pond truly depends on its design and the limitations of your yard. Remember, that a pond is a permanent project. Build your pond correctly during your first attempt. There are koi fish pond kits that you can buy that will help you with this decision.

Maintenance

Your Koi pond garden project should include both a good filtration and aeration system. A filtration system is needed to maintain the algae and debris that can form in your pond. The aeration system is needed to provide oxygen for your koi fish. If done properly, both systems will help to improve and extend the life of your koi fish.

Patience

Many new Koi fish pond builders get too impatient if their ponds are not perfect in the very beginning. Don’t let this happen to you. Understand that it will take time to find the right balance for your koi pond. Yes, you may have plenty of uncontrollable algae at first. But understand that through trial and error, you will eventually determine what works best for your koi pond.