Have you ever seen a fish pond in a yard or in a park and wished you had one of your own? It’s really easy to get hooked on the water feature and decide to build one. Not a bad idea, fish are fairly easy to keep in a pond and are enjoyable to watch. Fish ponds, if properly built, make great additions to a backyard.
Building a pond is not a project that should be really hard. But, most people have no idea how to make a koi pond. Without some planning, what could be beautiful could become just a hole in the ground with water in it.
Getting good information and learning how to do the job is the first step to avoid making common and costly mistakes.
If this is your first time building a pond or keeping pond fish, or you just want an ordinary fish pond or water feature in your yard, then take heart. It’s only as difficult as you make it. There is literally tons of information available that can help guide you along the way. At any rate, there are a few things that you will need before you get started.
Building A Pond
Here are five things I’ve discovered that you need before starting a large project:
1. Time – plenty of time, so be flexible with your deadlines. Making a koi pond is not something that can happen overnight. Like most other DIY projects, a good rule of thumb is to estimate how much time you think it will take, then double that time. Things seldom go as planned and there will always be changes made during the construction that will probably take more time.
2. A plan. Planning that include drawings and lists is the one thing that can’t be stressed enough. I have seen several ponds that were built without a plan in place to use as a guide. Usually they end up being just a hole in the ground and then things are added to make the pond a good habitat for fish. Koi and goldfish grow very large in a pond and require more than just water. They require good water and sometimes even maintenance.
Every koi pond needs a good filtration system, plants that can provide shade and food and water treatment to improve or maintain the quality of the pond water. It is kinda like a swimming pool. And, it may be necessary to consult with a professional to make sure you get the right size filtration components and design for the size of your pond. Clean water is is really necessary to keep healthy fish and be able to see them in the water.
3. Money is probably the most important thing you need to build your pond. Your plan should include all the equipment and utilities that can be installed while you are building the pond and supplies for keeping fish in it after it is built.
Go back to number 1 after you estimate your time and expenses, double it. That way, you will not have any surprises and may even have some money left over.
4. Patience is one thing you should never, never run out of. Many things will cause delays and stress while the pond is under construction there will be many things that will cause delays and some stress being built. Especially, if the pond is a do it yourself project. My experience with outdoor projects is that the weather seldom cooperates and your contractors may overbook and not show up when they are supposed to. Be patient and do as much as you can by yourself.
5. A good sense of humor may keep you from loosing your mind. The perfect koi pond takes time, planning and patience to get the end result you have in mind. Focus on what you will achieve the end result and use the problems as an opportunity for learning and experience. There will probably be things that you have little control over and your sense of humor will help reduce your stress and keep you focused on what you are doing.
Remember this, A koi pond can be a wonderful addition to any yard, balcony or patio. They can be made in any size, shape or depth to fit any yard and keep any kind of fish. If you want a pond, then by all means, build one. But keep the five things in mind and you will have a successful project and enjoy your koi pond for a very long time.
Go to How To Keep Koi for more great information on how to build a koi pond.