Pond Build

Hi chums. I'm THINKING of building a Koi pond, nothing set in stone, just thinking about it. What I'd like to know is, is there a good book or publication that gives a CLEAR step by step guide to building one ? I used to have a pond at my last home and I kinda miss it, well, the fish (me ol' mates ). I had a liner and an 'in pond' pump driven system, which worked very well. However, this time (if I go ahead with it !) I'll go for a gravity fed system and also have the sides in fibreglass. Cheers...freddy.

 

There are lots of books and information out there regarding koi ponds, but what you should really ask yourself first is how deep are your pockets?
Your pockets should be as deep as the pond, so you can fill them with money.
Koi ponds when built properly from scratch and as you want fibre glassed and gravity fed filtration system i would say you will be looking at several thousand £ for starters.

Also have you the room for a koi pond? they are usually 10 x 12 feet (minimum) and at least 6 feet deep, have concrete bases (for the bottom drains, and stability) (not to mention the cost of the filtration)

Tip: a koi pond drain on paper with everything you want / required will cost almost nothing compared to the real thing, you can then work out the costing from the drawing

 

Hi water-garden. I'm well aware of some of the costs involved. A Nexus for around £850, a Sequence pump for around £275 and all the other bits and pieces. I'd probably do the fibreglass lining myself, how hard can it be ? As for size of pond, my last one was 9' 6" by 7' 6" and 5'ft deep (around 2,000 gallons) and I never had any real problems with it apart from 'new pond syndrome', so I would respectfully dispute your dimensions. Indeed, I know of folks that had half the amount of water and still managed to keep one or two Koi. Given the space I have, I figure this one would be around 10' by 8' or so, and 6' deep. Anyway, my original question was for a "CLEAR" guide, can you suggest one ? Cheers...freddy.

 

Hi Freddy,don't know if this site is any use to you http://www.koicarp.org.uk/koi_pond1.htm
Unless you are going to show your koi you don't need 6ft depth,surface area is important for oxygen exchange this will limit the amount of fish you can keep,you can get away with an absolute minimum of 2ft depth the problem with shallow ponds temperature differences are more pronounced but Koi are tolerant of this,they are more susceptable to predators in shallow water but you probably know all this,my pond is 12ft x 12ft x 2ft deep I have 5 Koi and 1 Orfe the daddy of the Koi is 18" and 26years old,they have never been any trouble to keep and are healthy stock.Go for it Freddy.

 

Hi walnut, thanks for the link. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about ! :D As I recall, oxygen exchange is one of the factors that limits the amount of stock. Another is volume of water. In my previous pond (9'9" x 7'6") I managed to keep 12 good sized Koi, look here http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/my-garden-3105.html. The pond was 5' deep and I don't think I could have managed that stock level in anything much less. I guess it just depends how many fish one want to keep. Me, I want as many as I can have if I go ahead with it, that is. There are several considerations, cost being one (but not the main one). I'd say the main consideration is actually doing the work and putting up with the disruption (bearing in mind that I've not long finished this area of the garden) If it goes ahead, it won't be for some time as I have plenty on at the moment. What I want to do is look into it as deeply as I can (in terms of cost, design and practicalities) before I decide. Thanks for your input walnut. Cheers...freddy.

 

Koi pond depth, some more information. There are lots more that all say a similar thing

Taken from here

Taken from here

Taken from here

 

water-garden, I'm not sure what you're saying ? "Also have you the room for a koi pond? they are usually 10 x 12 feet (minimum) and at least 6 feet deep,........." And then ............."To be large enough to accommodate the potential size that Koi can grow to ( 24 inches / 60cm plus). A pond of around 8 feet x 6 feet and 4 feet deep............................" Anyway, I think it's horses for courses and it just depends what you want. If you look at the link I posted, you'll see that the fish look to be in good condition and of good size, which is what I wanted Cheers...freddy.

 

Freddy, I am not surprised you are not sure what i am saying, since you are not reading what is actually written. (I did not quote everything you seem to be implying that I did)

I asked have you the room for a koi pond because I do not know how big your garden is. In general koi ponds are big, as I said 10 x 12 x 6 minimum.

I then went on to "quote" what other people have said on various websites (So I am getting a general opinion) That koi ponds should indeed be big and deep, not as has been suggested 2 feet deep.

"What you want" and "what is best for the koi" are not the same thing.

I am merely pointing out that a lot of koi keepers are saying you have to have a wide and deep pond in order to keep healthy koi.

You would not for example buy a large dog and never take it out for exercise, yet the dog may look fine (and big) but it does not mean to say its healthy. Looks can be deceiving.

 

water-garden, maybe it's you that isn't reading what's written. What I ASKED for was a publication/book on the subject of pond building, plain and simple (like myself). Maybe when someone asks this type of question you could be more helpful ? It seems you're predisposed to showing off your prowess and wordplay instead of offering helpful advice. Any further comments made by you will be ignored.

 

I do read what is written which is why I have so far made the comments I have, they are in response to your main question. But it does not matter since you said you will ignore what ever I say, but I am writing this for the benefit of others who may choose to read this, not just you.

Your main question is "Is there a simple guide to building a koi pond book" (or similar information) The actual answer is no.

The answer is no because there are a whole variety of options and choices open to anyone wishing to build a koi pond, so if I had posted a link to xyz website (as some one did) then the reader would only get the opinion of the website being viewed.

I chose to answer by making a statement with a question

â??There are lots of books and information out there regarding koi ponds, but what you should really ask yourself first is how deep are your pockets?
Your pockets should be as deep as the pond, so you can fill them with money.
Koi ponds when built properly from scratch and as you want fibre glassed and gravity fed filtration system I would say you will be looking at several thousand £ for startersâ?.

It is not my fault that some people do not read what is actually written. If any one wants links to koi pond construction I suggest you try this one

 

Water Garden I don't think anyone suggested building a pond 2ft deep if you are refering to what I wrote I was pointing out to Freddy the size of my pond not recommending it should be built this size,maybe you would be better reading the posts properly.If I wanted to grow a Koi the size of a small whale I would consider a pond 6ft deep.

 

That is exactly what you did say

Yes, you did say minimum but that is saying it can be two feet deep. (You also did say get away with, again this implies you can) I know it shouldn't, you know it shouldn't but what about any one reading it for the first time? To them it clearly says a koi pond can be 2 feet deep minimum which is simply not true.

 

W G by the same inference anyone reading your first post in answer to freddy would assume koi ponds have to be 6ft deep and the cost of building one would be several thousands of pounds which would put the cost way beyond the reach of your average hobbyist. I pointed out the minimum you can get away with you have put your own interpretation on my replies I have not recommended anyone to build a koi pond 2ft deep, if anyone (appart from yourself) finds my post misleading I appologise,I have kept fish all my life have a pond 2ft deep that has homed koi for the last 25years they are extremely healthy and regularly get commented on it takes a bit of extra effort to maintain but it's worth it.

 

I agree with Watergarden and understood his comments, If you are wanting to do it you'll only get one chance so definitely worth doing it properly. I don't feel that 2' is in any way deep enough although you MAY get away with it.

Glass fibre is possible to do on a diy basis, but there is a distinct knack to doing it. Ive built a few ponds for customers and have always subbed the fiberglassing out, the guy Ive used (although now retied) did glass fibre work daily and could get hold of the materials cheaper than i could. Worth contacting a few farmers as most milking parlors are lined with glassfibre and they will know a contractor.

 

But koi ponds should be at or around 6 feet deep, and when done properly they do cost several thousand pounds.
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taken from here

taken from here

Sorry this is American

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taken from here

I could go on giving quotes.

To the reader.
Have you noticed what all these quotes have in common? They all say a koi pond must be over 4 feet deep, the deeper the better, this is not only for a constant water temp. but to allow the koi to swim up and down as well as left and right this is to keep the fish healthy.
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Walnut, its nothing personal, its just that in my opinion, and those of koi keepers around the world, koi should be kept in a deep pond for their health, just because "its always been that way" does not mean to say it is right.