Koi fish, Ponds, and Supplies
Welcome to aquaticgardensandkoico.com. Here you will find a lot of information about how to build and maintain your own koi pond or aquatic garden. aquaticgardensandkoico.com does not endorse any products or method, we just gather useful information on the subject and hope other people find it useful as well.
The tradition of backyard koi ponds and water gardens has a long history in China and Japan. Only recently has this subtle art reached the U.S. and become popular and mainstream. In the Eastern tradition, there is a lot of symbolism and peace of mind achieved through water features, mindful gardening, and rock placement.
Koi fish add color and more symbolism. Long considered good luck, koi also symbolize friendship. There are koi fish for every pond budget.
To build your own pond, a hole must be dug. Before digging any holes, consult with zoning agencies and utility companies to make sure you are in compliance with building codes and not going to burst a water main while digging (for example).
Next, conventional wisdom says to rope off the area you want to be a pond and begin digging. Most pond builders recommend rounded shapes (like a kidney shape) because they blend better with the surrounding landscape. After digging a hole, you’re going to need some kind of liner to keep the water in.
Earthen materials are the most natural and inexpensive, but are prone to seepage and invasion from wild plants that could subsume your cultivated aquatic plants. Plastic and flexible liners are good options for plants-only ponds, but vulnerable to punctures. And the only way to drain them is to pump or siphon the water out.
Fiberglass and rigid plastic liners are made for ponds, but usually they are made too shallow to support fish life. They do last a long time, if not compromised by freezing temperatures.
Concrete seems like a great option, but is the most expensive. There are also toxic possibilities involved with sealing the cement. You have to seal the cement to ensure the stability of the water, but make sure the sealant you choose isn’t going to kill all plant life in the vicinity. Also, cement becomes more vulnerable to cracking with age.
At aquaticgardensandkoico.com we know the beauty and calm achieved in a backyard with an artfully constructed koi fish pond or water garden. We hope you’ll check back here often for new tips on building and maintaining your own koi fish pond.
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