If you have always loved the look of backyard ponds filled with beautiful koi fish, you may find yourself in a position to install a koi pond in your landscaping. However, if you have never had a koi pond before, there are many things that you should know before you get started. Learn some of these facts about koi ponds so that you can be as prepared as possible for your new landscaping project.
Getting the Pond Ready for Life Will Take Time
While you may be anticipating spending time getting the pond dug, lined, and filled with water, there are other factors to keep in mind before you fill it with koi. The water will essentially need to mature before you can actually have koi fish live in it and remain safe and healthy.
There are certain types of bacteria that are considered to be "good" bacteria for the water and for sustaining fish life in your pond. These bacteria need a chance to grow and proliferate in the water before the pond can sustain life. The reason is that these bacteria filter and break down nitrogen in the water, keeping levels optimal for the koi fish to survive and thrive.
It can take several months or even years for these bacteria to be sufficiently developed in your water. If they are not, you will have a lot of dead koi on your hands if you introduce these fish into your pond too quickly.
You Will Need to Monitor the Water Regularly
The quality of the water matters when it comes to koi (or any fish) in your pond. The pH levels of the water need to remain between 7.2 and 8.0 to be optimum for koi to live. Anything too far above or below that could put the entire ecosystem of the pond at risk.
The water also needs to remain relatively steady when it comes to pH levels. Rapid changes to the pH levels (even if you are trying to bring it to optimum levels) are too hard on the fish and can cause them to die off in a hurry.
Regular, even daily, monitoring of the water in your koi pond will be essential to sustaining life, particularly when you first introduce the fish into the pond. Over time, you may be better able to manage the pH levels without daily check-ins and instead drop back to every few days or even once a week.
Now that you know some of the facts to keep in mind before you install a koi pond, you can proceed better prepared for what your new landscaping feature entails.
For more information, contact local professionals like those found at Michigan Koi.
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