[kopdogs] How to Build a Koi Pond - The Basic Components

'How to Build a Koi Pond - The Basic Components'

To the novice a pond is a pond is a pond. When it comes to Koi ponds, this is a
huge mistake. A koi pond is a complex water environment. Because of the nature
of Koi fish - large and fast growing - the pond needs to be of adequate
size.

There are many things you have to consider when you start a project to
build a Koi pond. You have to provide for good water quality and filtration. Koi
fish give off a lot of waste that needs to be continually removed from the pond.
Good aeration is needed to keep the oxygen level right. There is also a variety
of equipment that needs to be installed.

Don't be short sighted when picking a
location. Make sure you can enjoy your Koi pond the way you want to. Check the
views from all angles - inside and outside. If you want to use excavation
equipment, make sure there is easy access to the property.

Carefully plan the
type construction you plan on using. There are basically two ways to go. You can
have a liner pond or a concrete block pond. There advantages and disadvantages
of both so consider both alternatives carefully. The liner pond is the simplest
and least expensive route.

One basic component you'll need to decide on is the
type of filter system to use. There are many choices when it comes to filters
but there are really two made categories - pump-fed and gravity-fed. Do some
research to find the type of pump best suited for your pond design.

The type of
filtration system to be used is a very important design consideration. You have
to provide two types of filtration - mechanical and biological. Mechanical
filtration breaks down and removes solid waste particles. Biological filtration
supplies beneficial bacteria to breakdown pollutants in the water. There are
different types of filtration systems to consider. You can choose a single
chamber or multi chamber system. The single chamber, as the name implies, is one
tank with a combination of filtering media such as aquarock and foam. These
really don't have the capacity for the load of a Koi pond. A multichamber system
is the best choice for serious Koi ponds. These consist of between three and
eight chambers depending on the size of the pond. The big advantage of these
systems is that you can different filter material in each chamber. These are an
ideal solution for most Koi ponds.

To keep the water moving through the
filtration system, you have to have a pump. Again there are two basic designs
available - submersible and external. Again, do some research before you select
one. The submersible pumps are the simplest and are usually used either in the
pond for a pump-fed system or in the last filter chamber of gravity fed
system.

Hopefully you can see why I recommend careful planning before you start
building a Koi pond. It is a large project with a lot of details and design
decisions that need to be made. Save yourself frustration and money by doing the
planning up front.


John Stoner is an author and Koi Fish Enthusiast. Learn more about how to
build a Koi pond and many other secrets of Koi ponds and Koi care by getting a
copy of his latest book Koi Care Made Easy.Article
Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-build-a-koi-pond-the-basic-components-905809.html