Designing your Koi Pond

Designing your koi pond is not an endeavor that should be taken lightly. It is good to remember that the specific waste removal and aeration concerns for koi fish require a certain specialization that other water gardens might not, meaning that there are numerous steps and considerations to take into account. Here are a few fundamentals to think about:

Size

It really boils down to what you want. Consider how many koi you think you will want to keep, how big you will want them and if you plan on adding. A good minimum for your first effort is a 1,500-gallon pond.

Location

Some enthusiasts recommend keeping it close to your house, so that you can gaze upon its wonder. You, and many others, will naturally be drawn to the koi pond so look to keep it close to the house.

Shade is something to consider in location choice, too. Four to six hours per day of direct summer sunlight is the generally accepted industry standard. If you are using trees as a means of shading, try to stay clear of pine trees. They can lead to real problems with your pump.

Shape

If you are looking for the optimum shape to ensure proper circulation and maximize debris movement toward the bottom drain, an oval with a contoured bottom (think “bowl”) is always a good choice. Of course this might not fit into your koi pond worldview or even the constraints of your available space, but keep in mind the cleaning and maintenance before opting for the Ravensburger puzzle piece shape.

In terms of depth, plan on nothing less than 2ft (many designers and experts recommend 3-4ft to “dissuade” predation) and up to 6ft (so as to still be able to see your koi fish).

Filtration

“Keep it clean” is a good mantra to adopt. Mechanical, biological and chemical, they form the core of your pond’s health. How you want to accomplish this should be central to designing your koi pond.  You will have to very carefully select how and where you want to add it to your design.

Solid waste removal

Healthier fish, less clouded views and good water quality are the order of the day. Bottom drains (at least one) are recommended for waste that sinks to the bottom, and consider an area for a surface skimmer in your designs to collect floating debris (like leaves).

Circulation

This is another important factor to consider. It will play its part in your design. If you opt for a waterfall (and there are debates as to whether they are useful or necessary) as a means to move filtered water, this will have to be incorporated in your overall design. Jets (and where they are placed) will also have to be penciled in.

Remember—more haste, more waste. You might go through two or three ponds before you find your perfect match. Take your time. In all phases, from planning to design and then to building—don’t rush. Because what you skip at the beginning you’ll probably find that you will put back in spades on the backend in fixes and maintenance.

When you are ready to stock your pond, Next Day Koi can help you find exactly what you are looking for, bringing you high quality fish at an unbeatable price, sourced from some of the biggest and best koi farms in the world.