So you have decided to build a koi pond. Before you get your shovel out, or if your pond is mor ambitious, a backhoe,please consider a few things first.
These "things" are location, size, construction material, style, shape, landscaping and, most importantly, your budget!
Let's consider each of these 'things' individually, beginning with the most important and controlling''thing'' your budget. After you have convinced your spouse to do without new clothes, eating out, remodeling your house, a new car. etc.. you can get serious about your budget. If you plan on building the pond and filter yourself, your bud- get could he as low as a few hundred dollars. The top limits are almost limitless! For exanple,a liner pond of 2500 gallons with filters, pump, waterfall and plumibing can be built for less than $1,000. So decide how much you want to spend on your pond, before you decide to dig up the petunias!
The next step is the site location.The pond should he near the house so that you can get the most enjoyment out of it and monitor it regularly, especially during severe weather extremes. It should not be placed in an area where runoff from your roof or groundwater can enter your pond!. In the planning stage, try to avoid placing it near trees as their root systems could damage the pond walls, plumbing or floor. Deciduious trees also drop a lot of leaves in your pond, which will create additionall work for you to maintain a clean, attractive and healthy environment for your koi.
Once your location is determined, it is time to consider the shape and style of your pond. These ''things'' blend together somewhat, but there are major decisions to be made about the style of a pond that you prerer in your setting. Would you like a formal pond to go with your formal planters, swimming pool, spa. etc., or would a more natural pond setting blend better with your existing landscape? This is entirely your call, but there are some issues that are important in making this important decision. A natural pond lends itself to almost any building materials, whereas a formal pond above ground, or partially above ground, creates some additional considerations as to the building materials and construction requirements.
Now, consider the shape and size of your pond. While keeping in mind your style, use an ordinary garden hose to lay out the shape and size of your proposed pond. Remember to lay the hose on the outside edge of the pond, not the inside edge. Your pond will have some kind of a border perhaps with rocks or other landscaping, and this all needs to he considered for its impact on your total landscaping plans and the other functions of your space. This site will prohably become a compromise with your entire familly which is why I recommend using lengths of garden hose to lay it out. Garden hose is very flexible!
After looking at the hose for a few days and checking out the shade patterns developed frotn the sun's course across the sky, you may have to go back to the site and reevaluate! Keep in mind that a pond that is going to get sun part of the day and shade part of the day is best situated so that it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. This sun/shade ratio is not a 'must' but it will definitely affect your landscaping.
Now that all these exciting fun decisions are made, we must consider the building materials used in constructing the pond. A liner pond is tile most reasonable material and there are liners availahie with life expectancies of 10 to 20 years. The duribility and strength varies greatly by manufacturer. This is a good place to recommend that you look up your local koi club and join with the others who have lots or expertice which you will need to help you along your path into this exciting hobby.
Other building materials to consider are concrete, concrete block and fiberglass. Each material has its advantages and its disadvantages. Concrete has long life, is more expensive than a liner, requires the use of reinforcing bars or some type or steel mesh, as well as the help of somebody with a basic working knowledge of how to use concrete. It also has to be poured all at one time. Concrete block has the advantage that it can be used above ground without any forms, lends itself well to formal ponds but doesn't work for natural ponds due to its straight edges. You can built with block at your leisure, stopping and starting any time you choose. Other disadvantages are that you must seal the entire inside of the pond with a plaster coat or other type of sealer such as Thoroseal or rubber sealer. Block does need steel reinforcing and it creates corners in the pond which can lead to 'dead water' unless the pond is equipped with properly located water jets.
Fiberglass ccn be done by a'hand lay-up' process using pieces of fiberglass roving, matting and a finish gel coat of resin. Some advantages are that you can stop and start this process at your leisure, except for the finish get coat. It lends itself well to in-ground and above ground or partial above ground applications. Fiberglass has a long life if properly done, is easy to repair, is non-porous so algae does not grow well (in it). It is inert, so that it will not affect your water chemistry and it can take any shape you choose. Another method of applying fiberglass is with the use of a 'chopper gun' process. This has to be done by a professional and is the most expensive of all building materials. However, it has a very
nice finish. The weather conditions in your location will also affect your choice of building materials as some are better or more suited to certain climates. Weather will also determine the mimimum depth of your pond. Minimum depth in temperate areas should be two feet, or preferably three. But in colder climates you may have to have a five or six foot depth to ensure that the pond doesn't freeze solid in the winter.
Plumbiug for all drains, pick ups. etc. should be at least two inches or bigger. Selecting a filter or ciombination of filters, pre-filters, setting tanks, sumps, jets, and waterfalls will all be discussed at a later date.
The correct size pump and type of pump are determined by the gallonage of your pond and the type of filtration system you choose. The types of filters to choose from include updraft and downdraft, inpond, crossflow, chemical and mechanical filters among others. But the most important filter is the biological filter. Another consideration is the filter media. Your choices here include crushed pea gravel, brushes, matting, coconut husk, bamboo hair curlers, bio balls, Silica sand, charcoal, zeolite and almost any object that will create a home for the friendly bacteria.