Koi Person - Primary goal is to obtain show quality fish.
Pond Person - Primary goal is to establish a small ecosystem containing water, fish, plants. etc.
At a recent meeting of the Piedmont Koi and Watergarden Society, one of the members asked the guest speaker a question. She wanted to know if a person could keep a pond with a few fish and plants without getting into all of this other "stuff". The guest speaker had just finished explaining the nitrogen cycle and all of the gizmos from bio filters to Ultraviolet Sterilizers to keep water clean and safe. The "stuff" she was referring to was the knowledge and equipment needed to support any Koi pond and most goldfish/watergardens.
To answer her question without offending our speaker or those who will read this. I referred to the club name. The Piedmont Koi and Watergarden Society was formed in April of 1990. We chose that name to reflect the different levels of interest of our founding members. These areas of interest continue to change, evolve and mature. My ponds are a good example.
My first pond was a dismal failure in my opinion. It failed to stay clear in spite of my "balanced" approach mentioned in the books. I kept fish down to a minimum, planted it with water lilies and the like for 80% sun blockage, but the water still went green. The fish didn't seem to care, but I was frustrated, I didn't want to raise lips, (that's all I could see when they fed). I wanted a clear, inviting environment. Had I understood the nitrogen cycle back then, I would have known that I had too many fish putting out too much ammonia. I was also overfeeding and the pond was anything but balanced. The green water was the only reason my fish were even alive as I had no filter of any kind. This pond was a success in one way though, it fueled my desire for knowledge. I remember looking at a book on watergardening in a pet shop one day, when I turned the page to see a beautiful red and white fish swimming in clear water in a Japanese garden. Yes, it could be done, and that was now my goal.
My focus shifted from landscape to water and fish. Notice I said shifted, not changed. I began to read everything I could get my hands on. I subscribed to KOI USA. I finally achieved some success later that year when I discovered the bio filter. I built this new pond with the filter but I also read up on that red and white fish and the garden I had seen in the book. I discovered the fish was a Koi and the garden was called Zen. I attempted to create that look with a rock bridge, stone lantern, water basin, and trimming on the pine trees and shrubs. I also traveled around the country trying to find and purchase the imported Japanese Koi.
When completed, the garden with Koi pond draws toads, frogs and dragon flies, The water stays clear and safe and I spend many hours beside it letting the sights and sounds wash away the stress of the day.
Conclusions
Which comes first, Japanese garden or the Japanese fish? Does the filter keep the fish alive or do the fish keep the filter alive? Is it okay to put water plants in a Koi pond or is it not a pond if only fish live in it? Can you achieve success with the balanced approach or is all of the other "stuff" necessary? I say YES! There are as many ways to do things as there are opinions and pocket books. The one place that takes the versus out of the discussions is your local club. You get involved and make sure that your area of interest is met. Don't have a club in your area, Neither did we until I made the first mess of a pond in 1990.