| Question: What is the ideal depth for a koi pond? | | | | of their prize koi. A critter-proof pond is over 3 feet |
| Answer: In my experience of over 25 years, 4 to 5 | | | | everywhere and has a raised deck 13" minimum over |
| feet is ideal. You need a minimum of 3 feet for koi fish | | | | the water surrounding the pond. Raccoons cannot |
| for several reasons. Safety for fish from wading | | | | swim and catch fish at the same time, and they or the |
| cranes they can't wade in 3 feet of water. Plus the | | | | birds will not be able to reach the water. |
| water temperature in shallow ponds fluctuates too | | | | Q I would like to have a koi pond but I live in Michigan |
| much with the changes in ambient temperature. The | | | | and every year ponds and lakes freeze over. Will they |
| greater the volume of water, the longer it takes for the | | | | survive? |
| temperature to change. Warm water or fluctuating | | | | A There are fish in those lakes you are talking about: |
| temperatures are unhealthy for fish. | | | | blue gill, bass, sunfish, carp, and they all survive. And |
| Q What is the ideal size for a pond? | | | | guess what? Koi are in the carp family. Koi were |
| A The ideal size would be determined by the size of | | | | originally raised for food in Japan. They would grow |
| your yard. Its size should be proportional to the size of | | | | rice in the summer and then flood the rice patties and |
| the yard. Also, the larger the pond, the greater the | | | | raise koi in the winter, cutting holes in the ice to catch |
| maintenance. | | | | them for food. However, your pond must be 4 ´ |
| Q What is your opinion on using a liner to construct a | | | | to 6 feet deep to ensure the water stays about 40 o |
| pond rather than using a hard molded or concrete one. | | | | the bottom. Turn off the waterfall and bottom drain, |
| A My recommendation is and always has been to use | | | | draw water from the skimmer to keep the bottom still. |
| concrete. However, if you are on a tight budget or do | | | | Place swimming pool solar blankets over the surface. If |
| not plan on living there for an extended period time, a | | | | your pond is deep enough, you can let it freeze over. |
| liner would be recommended. In this case, you would | | | | However, you need to install a horse tank heater to |
| have to add a thin layer of mortar between the liner | | | | keep a hole open in the ice to allow any ammonia gas |
| and soil to prevent tree roots, ground squirrels, rats, | | | | from rotting debris on the bottom to escape. If your |
| mice, gophers or chipmunks from compromising the | | | | pond is less than 4 ´ feet deep, take the koi |
| liner. The hard molded, preformed plastic ponds | | | | indoors for the winter and place them in a garage or |
| become brittle from the sun's UV rays in just a couple | | | | basement tank. |
| of years. No good! | | | | Q Can I keep koi and goldfish together? |
| Q What type of pond filter do you recommend? | | | | A Yes, you can. They are both cold water fish and |
| A That cannot be answered simply because many | | | | members of the carp family. Most other cold water |
| factors are involved. Do you have an existing pond | | | | fish can also swim together, such as shubunkins, rudd, |
| with a submersible pump or above-ground pump? | | | | orfe, blue gill, mosquito fish, guppies, sunfish, bass, etc. |
| What's the volume of the pond? Do you have fish, and | | | | However, only in deeper ponds where the mean |
| if so, how many? What size plumbing pipe is being | | | | temperature is 65 degrees or less on the bottom for |
| used? This is so involved, I have devoted an entire | | | | bass, sunfish and blue gill. |
| chapter in my construction manual to the subject. I | | | | Q Should my pond have a bottom drain? |
| have an 8000 gallon pond with above-ground pump | | | | A First of all, a bottom drain is essential for a healthy |
| and I use a pressurized biological bead filter. It takes 2 | | | | pond. However, if it is exposed and the suction is |
| minutes to back flush with the turn of a handle and | | | | strong enough, turtles or fish can get stuck to it and |
| keeps my pond crystal clear. | | | | not be able to get loose. Therefore, two drains should |
| Q I have tons of algae hanging from the rocks in my | | | | be hooked in series to relieve the pressure between |
| falls and growing in clumps in my hand. What can I do | | | | them, just as in a swimming pool. Bottom drains draw |
| to get rid of it? | | | | falling waste from the fish before it reaches the |
| A When the first Polynesians settled in Hawaii | | | | bottom, keeping it clean. Areas where it does build up |
| between 300 and 600 AD, they were probably very | | | | can be swept to the drains for easy cleaning. If you |
| annoyed by the aggressive, wild, pervasive taro plant, | | | | are using a submersible pump or pulling the water from |
| just like you are your algae. They tried to chop it down, | | | | a skimmer, water is not circulating properly on the |
| burn it, stomp it, but to no avail. It just came back, so | | | | bottom of the pond. That is where rotting debris is |
| they eat it, and still do to this day. In fact, it's a staple | | | | producing ammonia and other toxic gases. |
| like peanut butter is to some Americans. Just kidding! | | | | Q My pond water is very clear, but my fish are dying. |
| However, if you told me it was watercress I would | | | | What is wrong? |
| suggest eating it. Many pond stores will try to sell you | | | | A Drinking water might taste good, smell good, and |
| a very expensive algaecide to solve your problem, but | | | | look clear. But some of the most toxic chemicals that |
| all you need to do is increase the salt content of your | | | | are known to cause cancer are colorless, odorless |
| water. Some experts recommend one pound of rock | | | | and tasteless. I recommend that you purchase a test |
| salt to every 100 gallons of water. This will not hurt | | | | kit form a pond store and check your water regularly. |
| your fish; in fact, it will help to produce a healthy shine | | | | Nitrates, nitrite and ammonia are all detrimental to fish. |
| coat. However, it will harm most of your plants if you | | | | Ammonia and nitrite can, at high levels, be fatal to fish. |
| apply that dose all at once. Plus the dead and | | | | These substances are dissolved in the water and |
| decaying algae will deplete the oxygen and this will | | | | consequently are impossible to detect by the clarity of |
| harm your fish. Apply it slowly over a week or two, | | | | the water and they can break down the fishes' |
| and be patient. It takes longer to kill it this way, but your | | | | immune system. |
| fish will appreciate it! This topic is also a chapter in my | | | | Q What type of filter do you recommend?A For any |
| construction manual. | | | | pond over 1000 gallons, I recommend a pressurized |
| Q Should I keep salt in my pond on a regular basis? | | | | biological bead filter that can be back washed. I have |
| A If you maintain a specific gravity of 1.000, your fish | | | | used Aqua Ultraviolet Ultima II filters for years. Most |
| will be less susceptible to ulcer and fin rot. And you will | | | | larger pond suppliers carry them. Their filters range |
| keep the algae from getting out of control. | | | | from 1000 gallons to 10,000 gallons. Up-flow and gravity |
| Q I am considering building a waterfall between my | | | | flow filters require regular cleaning, which is a filthy job. |
| house and my neighbor's against the fence. Will the | | | | The filter media is packed with stinky, putrid fish waste |
| sound of the falls annoy them if I let it run 24 hours a | | | | and decaying pond scum. As you handle the filter |
| day? | | | | screens, media, scrubbers, etc., you will have little white |
| A The sound generated by a waterfall is called white | | | | feces-eating worms that are 1/16" long crawling on |
| noise, which is very relaxing and soothing, not annoying. | | | | your hands and arms. Not to mention the noxious smell |
| I have several hundred clients who leave their falls | | | | that burns your eyes and lungs. |
| running 24/7 and none have ever had a neighbor | | | | It cost pennies on the dollar to make, yet dealers |
| complain. In fact, they all appreciate the fact that they | | | | charge a fortune. You pay the price for the filter and in |
| did not have to spend the money to enjoy the sound. | | | | the time it takes to maintain it you pay an additional |
| Q How many koi fish can I put in my pond? | | | | cost for your time maintaining it. With a pressurized |
| A The amount could range from 150 to 250 gallons | | | | filter, it only takes the turn of a handle for 2 to 3 |
| per fish. If you are starting out with small 6" to 8" long | | | | minutes and the filter is clean. The waste water is not |
| koi, they can reach 2 feet in three years, depending on | | | | wasted either. You can water your plants with it using |
| how much food and how often you feed them. They | | | | the discharge hose. If you can imagine, that brown, |
| could even grow to over 3 feet long! The | | | | colored, stinky water is packed with nitrogen. It's better |
| overcrowding of fish produces stress and a lot of | | | | than Miracle Grow T.M. I have used my 6000 gallon |
| waste material. It can reduce the health of the fish and | | | | Ultima II for over eight years and it works as well now |
| result in various diseases. Also, a less crowded pond is | | | | as they day it was installed. Happy, happy fish! |
| more pleasant to look at. | | | | Q How much does an average pond cost? |
| Q Do I really need a filter in my pond? | | | | A What is average? It depends on whether you are |
| A Not in every case. If your pond is small and you | | | | talking about a liner pond or a professional concrete |
| have any guppies or mosquito fish and adequate | | | | and rebar pond. A typical liner pond can be 6 feet by 8 |
| water plants covering 1/3 to ´ of your pond, your | | | | feet, and depending on who is installing it, could cost |
| pond will clean itself by means of the nitrogen cycle. | | | | between $2,500 and $3,500. The other dimensions are |
| The biological aspects of pond chemistry is well | | | | pretty much proportionate. Liner ponds are susceptible |
| covered in my waterfall and construction manual. | | | | to leaks from punctures, gophers, and rats, etc. |
| Q How long do koi fish live? | | | | Concrete ponds last for decades and on the average |
| A The average life span of koi in Japan is 70 years. | | | | cost only 20% more than liner ponds. |
| Some have been known to live to 100 or more, such | | | | Q My pond is green and I can not see my fish. What |
| as the legendary Hanako, alleged to have lived for | | | | should I do? |
| over 200 years. Unlike the amazing results of the | | | | A Your challenge is algae (suspended planktonic |
| meticulous care the Japanese give their koi, American | | | | algae), which does not directly hurt the fish. However, |
| koi live a fraction of that time, usually due to neglect | | | | algae gives off oxygen during the day from |
| and lack of care or proper environment. | | | | photosynthesis. But unfortunately, it uses up oxygen at |
| Q How can I protect my koi against predators? | | | | night. In addition, it is unsightly and blocks the view of |
| A Unfortunately, most people that come to me are | | | | the fish. You can increase the salt content or install an |
| frustrated people who already have a pond or a | | | | ultraviolet light, which not only kills spore algae but kills |
| rather poorly planned pond. If your pond is shallow, less | | | | the bacteria that causes the water to become murky |
| than 3 feet, or has a shallow end, the raccoons, | | | | and stinky. |
| coyotes, cranes, egrets, etc. have easy access to | | | | Q I heard that UV light will also kill the beneficial |
| your fish. You may think your fish are safe because | | | | bacteria. Is that true? |
| you have a deep end for the fish to retreat to. Well, | | | | A If I say "No," I am calling many so-called professional |
| you and your fish are dead wrong. A crane will stand | | | | experts liars. So I will put it this way. All the beneficial |
| perfectly still for 10 to 20 minutes waiting for the koi to | | | | pond bacteria such as aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, |
| forget he is there. Some will regurgitate chum into the | | | | nitrobacter, etc., reside in the filter or in the decaying |
| deep pond, luring the fish to the surface. Your only | | | | debris at the bottom of the pond. They aren't floating |
| solution is a net, or try the crane statue, scarecrow, or | | | | around in the pond. Bacteria and algae containing |
| high-frequency sound emitters for smaller animals. | | | | pathogenic disease are, and as they pass through the |
| However, one of my clients watched a crane land | | | | UV light, they are eradicated. |
| next to his crane statue. While the scarecrow was | | | | Q Do I need a waterfall for my pond? |
| pelting him with a stream of water, it snatched up one | | | | |