Garden Decors

Most Koi fish owners, because their pond is outside, don’t worry very much about the oxygen level in their ponds. This is a big mistake! They often forget about even simple Koi pond aeration. The fact is, the amount of dissolved oxygen in your pond is critical to the health of your fish. Don’t forget to check it often especially in the warm summer months.

There are several reasons why you need to pay attention to the oxygen level in the pond. First, its critical for the fish – this goes without saying. But it is also necessary for any vegetation you may have in the pond and most importantly for the critical chemical processes that go on including bacterial decomposition. Every pond has its own unique oxygen demand and it’s constantly changing. It’s affected by the number of fish and the amount of plant decomposition that goes on in the pond.

There is just so much oxygen that can be absorbed into water at any given time. It depends on factors such as the temperature of the water, movement of the water (aeration) and salinity. Since we’re talking about freshwater ponds here, salinity is not a factor to worry about.

Since warm water cannot absorb as much oxygen, during the warmest months of the year, Koi pond aeration becomes very important. Watch the oxygen level in you pond carefully when it gets hot. Keep it at least between 5.0 and5.5 mg per liter.

Keeping the water moving will provide good aeration and the oxygen level higher. With standing water, the oxygen levels can drop very quickly as the water becomes stagnant and dangerous for your fish. Waterfalls or fountains can help keep the water moving.

Don’t let the algae growth in your pond get out of hand. While algae creates oxygen in the daytime, it depletes it at night. Too much algae will make it much more difficult to control the oxygen level in your pond.

Also understand that Koi fish will utilize more oxygen when they are feeding. So if you feed your fish during the hottest part of the day, you will run the danger of having the oxygen level drop below healthy levels.

A good pond aeration system will go a long way in controlling the oxygen level in your Koi pond. Adding simple water features like waterfalls and fountains will not only provide improved circulation but also add distinguishing features to your pond.

A project to construct a Koi pond is both a big project and one of the most enjoyable parts of being a Koi owner. Your Koi pond should be your own work of art and at the same time the perfect home for your fish. Plan carefully ahead of time.

If you have some construction experience and are handy at projects like this, you could choose to build the Koi pond yourself. If you decide to take on the project yourself, I suggest using a pond kit to help you get started.

Getting professional help with the project will certainly cost you more but may save you a lot of headaches in the end. Doing it yourself and using a pond kit can be cheaper but if you install it incorrectly, you will probably spend more in the end getting your mistakes corrected.

The biggest reason for doing the project yourself is getting it done the way you want. Building something that you created yourself will certainly allow you to brag to friends and family. Plus, such a project can be quite enjoyable if you like working outdoors with hands.

Also consider some of the disadvantages as well. Using a pond kit can make the project simpler but this comes with some limitations as well. For example, if you want to change the design or make the pond larger, the pond kit may not be easily adaptable to what you want to do.

When you planned your Koi pond the design was just what you wanted and had that unique look – just perfect for your garden. Once into the project you may find the need for special tools or equipment. Since you are not a professional the end result may not have that “professional” look or worse yet may have some hidden construction problems that will haunt you over time.

Hiring a professional contractor may not be the cheapest initially but in the end may be the best way to get your dream Koi pond. Remember, you are making a long term investment in your pond, so that added cost may easily pay off in the long run. Your Koi will happy as well in their new home.

One point that you should not forget when deciding if you are going to use professional help is that a Koi pond is a dynamic ecosystem, thus, it needs some interrelated and interconnected components that may be difficult to understand from an uninitiated mind. You must beware of cheap quotes, which could translate to disaster later on in the pond’s life. It is a permanent structure and should be as big as you can afford. Once constructed, you may not be able to add or change things unless you are prepared to spend more at a great inconvenience to yourself. So, you need to choose what may be the best, if not the least expensive, of all the materials needed.