Above ground koi ponds take a lot of time and commitment and also money. If you are interested in koi pond design from scratch, then you are facing a considerable financial investment. You may also have to find out from your local planning authority if you are permitted to build an above ground koi pond on your property. But chances are you already have a pond that you want to stock with koi. If not, and you want to build your own garden pond then I recommend “How To Build Your Own Garden Pond”
The Ideal Koi Habitat
Because koi are long living fish that can grow quite large they require a pond of at least 1000 gallons, which is about 48 square feet. If your pond is much smaller than this, then you could consider comets or goldfish instead. Remember, a gallon is not that big, so don’t be alarmed at the thought of 1000 gallon pond.
In order for koi to live in an above ground pond year round, it needs to be at least three feet deep. This will help them to survive the cold of winter and also in the heat of summer. If your pond gets too hot, the koi will die of a fish version of heatstroke. But with a deep pond, they can retreat to the cooler water at the bottom of the pond in summer.
Water Filtration
All ponds require a filtration system, not just above ground koi ponds. Filtration prevents the water from turning stagnant and maintains the chemical balance of the pond water. Any massive changes in water chemistry will stress your fish. Stagnant water encourages algal growth and mosquitoes. You can learn about mechanical filtration and biological filtration systems at www.fishpondtips.com
Predator Protection
Koi are considered delicacies by some species of wildlife, including domestic cats, raccoons and birds. Some sort of scarecrow is recommended near your koi pond. Very thin netting is also an option, but this will make pond maintenance more difficult.
Other types of fish can also prey on koi so koi pond design is usually restricted to the single species. Do not overstock your pond; the koi may turn on each other in the competition for food and swimming space as they grow.
