Q&A for How to Build a Koi Fish Pond

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Is a cemented pool suitable for koi?

Aussie J

Community Answer

Yes, but they're expensive and you must let them cure for a month, as they can raise the pH of the water.

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Question

I notice the second method (digging your own) doesn't appear to use a filtration system. Is this intentional or would one still be required?

Nick

Community Answer

You would still need to use one. Without the filter, the ammonia from the fish feces builds up and there is little oxygen left in the water for the fish. The filter removes the ammonia and puts more oxygen in the water. It keeps the fish alive.

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Question

Would wild animals or house cats come and eat the Koi? Like your Koi pond is an outdoor fish grill free-charge and they eat them. What should you do?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

Koi that live in outdoor ponds can be predated. Make sure that the pond is over 3 ft deep, as this will make it much more difficult for the predators to catch the koi. Use predator repellents in your garden to prevent them from getting in. Floating vegetation can also give the koi places to hide.

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Question

What soil is needed in making a pond?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

The specific soil type doesn't matter too much, provided that it is compact and stable. This is because you will line the soil with a pond liner first so that the water isn't touching the soil directly.

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Question

I need to take my koi out of the pond so I can re-line it. What do I use as a holding tank?

Community Answer

A large aquarium with a filter would work if you need a decent amount of time for that. If you can be pretty quick, a large storage tote filled with water should work.

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Question

Where can I get protective paint?

Community Answer

Amazon carries it. You could also try eBay.

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Question

When making my pond with a liner, do I need to fill it with gravel?

Community Answer

No. In fact, you should never use gravel in a pond. It traps waste and uneaten food, which becomes anaerobic and is the perfect breeding conditions for the type of bacteria that will kill your fish.

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Question

How do I look after the koi when it is sick?

Raya Bastian

Community Answer

Make sure you are doing 50% water changes each week. This will help your fish feel better and get rid of the sickness faster.

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Question

I live in a state with snow and ice, So what would I do with the koi fish during the winter?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

You will have to monitor the temperature very closely over the cooler months to make sure that the temperature doesn't drop too low for the koi. Install a pond heater if necessary and if the pond does freeze over, create a hole in the ice so that oxygen can get into the water.

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Question

How do I keep the water from overflowing?

Community Answer

Theoretically, as long as you have adequate suction coming from the pond, at the same rate water is being put back into the pond, the water should stay at the same level.

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Question

I dug a pond have pump with fountain running for 1 month introduced fish to it and within 24 hours they all died. What could be the cause?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

Check the quality of the water. Make sure that the pH, dissolved nutrients, and temperature are all at the right levels for the koi. Also, make sure that you let the koi adjust to the water in the plastic bag before you release them.

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Question

How deep does the pond need to be so the fish can live through the winter?

Community Answer

It should be a minimum of 80 centimeters. At this level, the water doesn't go under 2°C, which is the limit for a fish.

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Question

How do I keep the water from turning green?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

Clean the pond regularly and monitor the levels of dissolved nutrients to make sure that it isn't too high.

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Question

Can I use a swimming pool as the liner?

Community Answer

Assuming the swimming pool doesn't have any rips or tears in it, then it should work as a liner.

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Question

Shouldn't I use a pond liner instead of a tarp?

Raya Bastian

Community Answer

You could. Just make sure the pond liner is humane for your fish, and does not release chemicals.

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Question

Where can you buy koi fish and can they live indoors in a tank?

Kaitlyn Wislang

Community Answer

You can buy koi from koi breeders. Koi can live either in a pond or in an indoor aquarium.

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Question

About how much will this cost?

Community Answer

It depends how you build it and how big it is. Pond liner sheets costs depend on how much you need. Concrete and rebar ponds are the most expensive, usually ranging from hundreds to thousands depending on how big you want yours.

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Question

Do all ponds need a UV light to have clear water?

Aussie J

Community Answer

If you do not have loads of plants, then yes. Plants will serve as nature's UV filter, but you'd need around 2/3 of the total volume to be plants.

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Question

If I build my pond with a waterfall, is a filter still necessary?

Caitlin123

Community Answer

You should still have a small filter in there because the filter will clean your pond while your waterfall will add a lot of oxygen into the water, creating a perfect environment for your fish.

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Question

How do I prevent ponds from getting dirty with mud?

Community Answer

Put rocks around the pond. They look nice, and help prevent bacteria, parasites, and dirt from getting in.

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Question

How do I build a swimming pool?

Community Answer

Reference wikiHow to Build a Swimming Pool .

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Question

Is there a specific gravel I need to use for my koi pond?

GirlCatsRule

Community Answer

You shouldn't actually use gravel. It could trap uneaten food and waste, and could make bacteria that could really harm your koi.

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Question

What is a normal size of pond for a 3 inch Koi?

Community Answer

Koi can grow to a big fish so it is best to have a pond as big as you can afford. You need a minimum of a 10 x 20 x 10 meter container.

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Question

Can I have an external filtration system that I use in the pond weekly or something? I don't have a way to have a permanent built in 24 our filtration system.

Community Answer

The filter system is a big part of establishing and maintaining the biological filter, and needs to run 24/7.

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