| Question: What is the ideal depth for a koi | | | | crane statue. While the scarecrow was pelting |
| pond? Answer: In my experience of over 25 | | | | him with a stream of water, it snatched up |
| years, 4 to 5 feet is ideal. You need a | | | | one of their prize koi. A critter-proof pond |
| minimum of 3 feet for koi fish for several | | | | is over 3 feet everywhere and has a raised |
| reasons. Safety for fish from wading cranes | | | | deck 13" minimum over the water surrounding |
| they can't wade in 3 feet of water. Plus the | | | | the pond. Raccoons cannot swim and catch fish |
| water temperature in shallow ponds fluctuates | | | | at the same time, and they or the birds will |
| too much with the changes in ambient | | | | not be able to reach the water. |
| temperature. The greater the volume of water, | | | | |
| the longer it takes for the temperature to | | | | Q I would like to have a koi pond but I live |
| change. Warm water or fluctuating | | | | in Michigan and every year ponds and lakes |
| temperatures are unhealthy for fish. | | | | freeze over. Will they survive? |
| | | | |
| Q What is the ideal size for a pond? | | | | A There are fish in those lakes you are |
| | | | talking about: blue gill, bass, sunfish, |
| A The ideal size would be determined by the | | | | carp, and they all survive. And guess what? |
| size of your yard. Its size should be | | | | Koi are in the carp family. Koi were |
| proportional to the size of the yard. Also, | | | | originally raised for food in Japan. They |
| the larger the pond, the greater the | | | | would grow rice in the summer and then flood |
| maintenance. | | | | the rice patties and raise koi in the winter, |
| | | | cutting holes in the ice to catch them for |
| Q What is your opinion on using a liner to | | | | food. However, your pond must be 4 ´ to 6 |
| construct a pond rather than using a hard | | | | feet deep to ensure the water stays about 40 |
| molded or concrete one. | | | | o the bottom. Turn off the waterfall and |
| | | | bottom drain, draw water from the skimmer to |
| A My recommendation is and always has been to | | | | keep the bottom still. Place swimming pool |
| use concrete. However, if you are on a tight | | | | solar blankets over the surface. If your pond |
| budget or do not plan on living there for an | | | | is deep enough, you can let it freeze over. |
| extended period time, a liner would be | | | | However, you need to install a horse tank |
| recommended. In this case, you would have to | | | | heater to keep a hole open in the ice to |
| add a thin layer of mortar between the liner | | | | allow any ammonia gas from rotting debris on |
| and soil to prevent tree roots, ground | | | | the bottom to escape. If your pond is less |
| squirrels, rats, mice, gophers or chipmunks | | | | than 4 ´ feet deep, take the koi indoors |
| from compromising the liner. The hard molded, | | | | for the winter and place them in a garage or |
| preformed plastic ponds become brittle from | | | | basement tank. |
| the sun's UV rays in just a couple of years. | | | | |
| No good! | | | | Q Can I keep koi and goldfish together? |
| | | | |
| Q What type of pond filter do you recommend? | | | | A Yes, you can. They are both cold water fish |
| | | | and members of the carp family. Most other |
| A That cannot be answered simply because many | | | | cold water fish can also swim together, such |
| factors are involved. Do you have an existing | | | | as shubunkins, rudd, orfe, blue gill, |
| pond with a submersible pump or above-ground | | | | mosquito fish, guppies, sunfish, bass, etc. |
| pump? What's the volume of the pond? Do you | | | | However, only in deeper ponds where the mean |
| have fish, and if so, how many? What size | | | | temperature is 65 degrees or less on the |
| plumbing pipe is being used? This is so | | | | bottom for bass, sunfish and blue gill. |
| involved, I have devoted an entire chapter in | | | | |
| my construction manual to the subject. I have | | | | Q Should my pond have a bottom drain? |
| an 8000 gallon pond with above-ground pump | | | | |
| and I use a pressurized biological bead | | | | A First of all, a bottom drain is essential |
| filter. It takes 2 minutes to back flush with | | | | for a healthy pond. However, if it is exposed |
| the turn of a handle and keeps my pond | | | | and the suction is strong enough, turtles or |
| crystal clear. | | | | fish can get stuck to it and not be able to |
| | | | get loose. Therefore, two drains should be |
| Q I have tons of algae hanging from the rocks | | | | hooked in series to relieve the pressure |
| in my falls and growing in clumps in my hand. | | | | between them, just as in a swimming pool. |
| What can I do to get rid of it? | | | | Bottom drains draw falling waste from the |
| | | | fish before it reaches the bottom, keeping it |
| A When the first Polynesians settled in | | | | clean. Areas where it does build up can be |
| Hawaii between 300 and 600 AD, they were | | | | swept to the drains for easy cleaning. If you |
| probably very annoyed by the aggressive, | | | | are using a submersible pump or pulling the |
| wild, pervasive taro plant, just like you are | | | | water from a skimmer, water is not |
| your algae. They tried to chop it down, burn | | | | circulating properly on the bottom of the |
| it, stomp it, but to no avail. It just came | | | | pond. That is where rotting debris is |
| back, so they eat it, and still do to this | | | | producing ammonia and other toxic gases. |
| day. In fact, it's a staple like peanut | | | | |
| butter is to some Americans. Just kidding! | | | | Q My pond water is very clear, but my fish |
| However, if you told me it was watercress I | | | | are dying. What is wrong? |
| would suggest eating it. Many pond stores | | | | |
| will try to sell you a very expensive | | | | A Drinking water might taste good, smell |
| algaecide to solve your problem, but all you | | | | good, and look clear. But some of the most |
| need to do is increase the salt content of | | | | toxic chemicals that are known to cause |
| your water. Some experts recommend one pound | | | | cancer are colorless, odorless and tasteless. |
| of rock salt to every 100 gallons of water. | | | | I recommend that you purchase a test kit form |
| This will not hurt your fish; in fact, it | | | | a pond store and check your water regularly. |
| will help to produce a healthy shine coat. | | | | Nitrates, nitrite and ammonia are all |
| However, it will harm most of your plants if | | | | detrimental to fish. Ammonia and nitrite can, |
| you apply that dose all at once. Plus the | | | | at high levels, be fatal to fish. These |
| dead and decaying algae will deplete the | | | | substances are dissolved in the water and |
| oxygen and this will harm your fish. Apply it | | | | consequently are impossible to detect by the |
| slowly over a week or two, and be patient. It | | | | clarity of the water and they can break down |
| takes longer to kill it this way, but your | | | | the fishes' immune system. |
| fish will appreciate it! This topic is also a | | | | |
| chapter in my construction manual. | | | | Q What type of filter do you recommend?A For |
| | | | any pond over 1000 gallons, I recommend a |
| Q Should I keep salt in my pond on a regular | | | | pressurized biological bead filter that can |
| basis? | | | | be back washed. I have used Aqua Ultraviolet |
| | | | Ultima II filters for years. Most larger pond |
| A If you maintain a specific gravity of | | | | suppliers carry them. Their filters range |
| 1.000, your fish will be less susceptible to | | | | from 1000 gallons to 10,000 gallons. Up-flow |
| ulcer and fin rot. And you will keep the | | | | and gravity flow filters require regular |
| algae from getting out of control. | | | | cleaning, which is a filthy job. The filter |
| | | | media is packed with stinky, putrid fish |
| Q I am considering building a waterfall | | | | waste and decaying pond scum. As you handle |
| between my house and my neighbor's against | | | | the filter screens, media, scrubbers, etc., |
| the fence. Will the sound of the falls annoy | | | | you will have little white feces-eating worms |
| them if I let it run 24 hours a day? | | | | that are 1/16" long crawling on your hands |
| | | | and arms. Not to mention the noxious smell |
| A The sound generated by a waterfall is | | | | that burns your eyes and lungs. |
| called white noise, which is very relaxing | | | | |
| and soothing, not annoying. I have several | | | | It cost pennies on the dollar to make, yet |
| hundred clients who leave their falls running | | | | dealers charge a fortune. You pay the price |
| 24/7 and none have ever had a neighbor | | | | for the filter and in the time it takes to |
| complain. In fact, they all appreciate the | | | | maintain it you pay an additional cost for |
| fact that they did not have to spend the | | | | your time maintaining it. With a pressurized |
| money to enjoy the sound. | | | | filter, it only takes the turn of a handle |
| | | | for 2 to 3 minutes and the filter is clean. |
| Q How many koi fish can I put in my pond? | | | | The waste water is not wasted either. You can |
| | | | water your plants with it using the discharge |
| A The amount could range from 150 to 250 | | | | hose. If you can imagine, that brown, |
| gallons per fish. If you are starting out | | | | colored, stinky water is packed with |
| with small 6" to 8" long koi, they can reach | | | | nitrogen. It's better than Miracle Grow T.M. |
| 2 feet in three years, depending on how much | | | | I have used my 6000 gallon Ultima II for over |
| food and how often you feed them. They could | | | | eight years and it works as well now as they |
| even grow to over 3 feet long! The | | | | day it was installed. Happy, happy fish! |
| overcrowding of fish produces stress and a | | | | |
| lot of waste material. It can reduce the | | | | Q How much does an average pond cost? |
| health of the fish and result in various | | | | |
| diseases. Also, a less crowded pond is more | | | | A What is average? It depends on whether you |
| pleasant to look at. | | | | are talking about a liner pond or a |
| | | | professional concrete and rebar pond. A |
| Q Do I really need a filter in my pond? | | | | typical liner pond can be 6 feet by 8 feet, |
| | | | and depending on who is installing it, could |
| A Not in every case. If your pond is small | | | | cost between $2,500 and $3,500. The other |
| and you have any guppies or mosquito fish and | | | | dimensions are pretty much proportionate. |
| adequate water plants covering 1/3 to ´ of | | | | Liner ponds are susceptible to leaks from |
| your pond, your pond will clean itself by | | | | punctures, gophers, and rats, etc. Concrete |
| means of the nitrogen cycle. The biological | | | | ponds last for decades and on the average |
| aspects of pond chemistry is well covered in | | | | cost only 20% more than liner ponds. |
| my waterfall and construction manual. | | | | |
| | | | Q My pond is green and I can not see my fish. |
| Q How long do koi fish live? | | | | What should I do? |
| | | | |
| A The average life span of koi in Japan is 70 | | | | A Your challenge is algae (suspended |
| years. Some have been known to live to 100 or | | | | planktonic algae), which does not directly |
| more, such as the legendary Hanako, alleged | | | | hurt the fish. However, algae gives off |
| to have lived for over 200 years. Unlike the | | | | oxygen during the day from photosynthesis. |
| amazing results of the meticulous care the | | | | But unfortunately, it uses up oxygen at |
| Japanese give their koi, American koi live a | | | | night. In addition, it is unsightly and |
| fraction of that time, usually due to neglect | | | | blocks the view of the fish. You can increase |
| and lack of care or proper environment. | | | | the salt content or install an ultraviolet |
| | | | light, which not only kills spore algae but |
| Q How can I protect my koi against predators? | | | | kills the bacteria that causes the water to |
| | | | become murky and stinky. |
| A Unfortunately, most people that come to me | | | | |
| are frustrated people who already have a pond | | | | Q I heard that UV light will also kill the |
| or a rather poorly planned pond. If your pond | | | | beneficial bacteria. Is that true? |
| is shallow, less than 3 feet, or has a | | | | |
| shallow end, the raccoons, coyotes, cranes, | | | | A If I say "No," I am calling many so-called |
| egrets, etc. have easy access to your fish. | | | | professional experts liars. So I will put it |
| You may think your fish are safe because you | | | | this way. All the beneficial pond bacteria |
| have a deep end for the fish to retreat to. | | | | such as aerobic or anaerobic bacteria, |
| Well, you and your fish are dead wrong. A | | | | nitrobacter, etc., reside in the filter or in |
| crane will stand perfectly still for 10 to 20 | | | | the decaying debris at the bottom of the |
| minutes waiting for the koi to forget he is | | | | pond. They aren't floating around in the |
| there. Some will regurgitate chum into the | | | | pond. Bacteria and algae containing |
| deep pond, luring the fish to the surface. | | | | pathogenic disease are, and as they pass |
| Your only solution is a net, or try the crane | | | | through the UV light, they are eradicated. |
| statue, scarecrow, or high-frequency sound | | | | |
| emitters for smaller animals. However, one of | | | | Q Do I need a waterfall for my pond? |
| my clients watched a crane land next to his | | | | |