The Koi fish has been on the planet for hundreds of years. A descendent of the Japanese magoi carp they are prized for their beautiful shapes and brilliant colors, especially with the right Koi care. There are several varieties including the fancy fantail Koi which has draping fins and tails. The beautiful fish can be a combination of black, red, yellow, white and orange and it has been known to grow to three feet long and weigh more than forty pounds with the right Koi care.

The Koi is known to be a hardy fish that seldom sickens or dies without an underlying reason. The original magoi carp was known to survive harsh conditions and nasty parasites with little to no affects. However, man has weakened the strain as the Koi has been inbred to obtain the most prized shapes and colors. Even so, with proper care the Koi can still live for decades.

When Koi dies it is usually because the water is lacking oxygen, the water quality is poor; the fish has ulcer disease or parasites. Other factors in the death of the fish include toxic pesticides, virus, tumors, and medication overdose. So as you see, these are all things that could have been avoided with the proper diligence. Predators are also a problem as is the fish jumping out of the water.

If you already have a pond on your property, or you are looking to build one, one way to make it extra special is to add some Black Koi. Black Koi are as versatile as they are beautiful, and make a great addition to any pond.

However, before getting any type of live animal, it is a good idea to do a little background research. This is to ensure you will be able to handle the care and maintenance of the animal, and that you will be a good fit for each other.

If you didn’t already know, Koi is just another name for carp, which is a large species of fish that originated somewhere around Asia and Central Europe. There were several species of carp even in the beginning, and this led them to be easily domesticated throughout South East Asia and China. They were even used as a food source in and around Asia. By the time the fish made it to Japan, they became known as Koi. This creature is extremely hardy, and can withstand many different climates and water types and conditions. This hardiness is what allowed Koi to spread throughout Japan and many other new locations.

The season is going to determine how you feed your Koi. Since Koi are cold blooded, their metabolism changes based on the temperature of the water where they reside. Feeding Koi too much food during cold weather and not enough during hot weather can be quite hazardous to them. Luckily, though, Koi feeding is not a science, but does require that you use some care. As long as you follow the correct Koi feeding instructions, there should be no issues with having healthy Koi for years to come.

One really great way to ensure that you are feeding your Koi in the right way is to have a pond thermometer provide you an accurate temperature reading of your pond water all year round. When the weather is cold, their metabolism slows down, so you definitely don?t want to overfeed. They will not be able to process the food they eat and it is important to realize that fish don?t really know when to stop eating. That is why they are easily overfed. In the summer, their metabolism speeds up and this is when they tend to grow, so daily feedings are a good idea.

When you have a Koi garden or pond, it is important that it stays clean and the best way to do that is by using a Koi filter. But there are various types of filters that you can purchase, so it is very important that you understand what is available. Having the right filter means that you will have a system that works for you when it comes to your budget and the size of your pond.

The filter you want to look at is the biological filter. This is a filter that is made to get rid of particulate and organic substances. These filters use what is called anaerobic bacteria-laden filter media. A biological filter breaks down the harmful substances that can damage your fish and your pond. It removes decaying pond creatures, fish waste, leaves, and other decaying debris that sits at the bottom of the pond.

Bacteria is used in the breakdown process because it is a special bacteria that can take substances that are harmful and break them down into something that is not as harmful. For example, ammonia is broken down in two stages. Each stage also involves a different type of bacteria. The first stage is the nitrifying of the bacteria and the second stage involves converting the nitrite to nitrate.

If you have been thinking about a Koi pond but are afraid it may be too difficult to consider, think again it really is not as difficult as you think. A Koi pond can be a beautiful enhancement to your garden and if you build and maintain it properly you will have a pond to be proud of for many years.

Choose an area where you can build a pond large enough to allow your fish to reproduce ant grow in size. They like elbow room so be sure you have plenty of room for them to swim easily. It is not a good idea to have the fish so crowded that they are bumping into each other at every turn. Of course you will want to be sure that you do not have more room than you need. Filtering the water and adding medication if you need it can be very expensive, especially if you are working with more water than you actually need.

Koi pond filtration is the process of removing waste products and other harmful substances from the Koi pond. This is a basic requirement if you want to keep your Koi healthy for a long time.

That unsightly green scum we all seen on stagnate water is the result of poor filtration. Don’t let this happen. Parasites and other harmful bacteria will develop and spread quickly among the fish. With all this the water will quickly start to smell. If this happens it will be a deadly situation for your fish.

A koi pond is a big investment. Don’t risk that investment and the health of your Koi by not planning for a proper Koi pond filtration system. Take the time to carefully plan the kind of system that’s best for your particular pond.

Some Koi experts recommend a filter system that will handle a volume of not less that 33% of the total pond water volume. Therefore, a 3,000 gallon pond should have a filter capable of handling 1,000 gallons of pond water at any given time. At the very least, it should not be less than 10%.

A Koi’s growth rate is directly related to how they are fed. Their feeding pattern in turn, is dependent on a lot of factors, including water temperature and quality, number of fish in the pond and the genetic background of the fish.

They need food that contains various elements such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. These elements are essential for all animals to maintain healthy bodies, grow and reproduce.

The size of the Koi will determine what type of food and the quantity you need to offer them. You have to choose a food size that is small enough to be eaten by the smallest koi in the pond. If there is a mix of small and large Koi in the pond, you need to give them an assortment of large and small foodstuff. Make sure, though, that the small ones are fed enough and don’t suffer much from food competition.

Commercially prepared food is usually the best choice. It is available in two types – floating and sinking. Since Koi fish are naturally bottom feeders some owners will choose sinking food since it is matches the Koi’s natural habits. This type of food will last longer since it is specially formulated with fats that are not easily affected by cold water.

Planning ahead can save you a lot of headaches. Planning out a Koi pond design is a big project even before you turn the first shovel of dirt. Save yourself time, effort and bucks by doing the right way.

Think about the shape of your pond. There will be many factors impacting the ultimate shape that you won’t be able to control. Things like landscaping, structures on the property, grade and slope of the land, etc. will have to be planned around. The result will be when you can visualize the actual layout. Use rope or garden hose to lay out several different patterns. Look at them from all angles. Don’t forget to view them from inside your house, form balconies and porches – anywhere you can see the pond.

The depth of your pond is a critical consideration for several reasons. Koi get to be big fish. They can grow 3 to 6 inches a year. They need room to swim not only laterally but up and down as well. You need to have a minimum depth of 4 feet. Ideally, 6 to 8 feet will give your fish all the room they will need. This greater depth also helps to stabilize the water temperature being cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter months.

Deciding to build a Koi pond is a big decision. Koi pond construction is not something to be undertaken lightly. But done correctly, it can be extremely rewarding, a beautiful addition to your home and garden and the perfect place to keep your Koi fish.

If you have some construction experience and are handy at projects like this, you could choose to build the Koi pond yourself. If you decide to take on the project yourself, I suggest using a pond kit to help you get started.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of doing it yourself before you jump in. It could save you a lot of headaches and expense down the road. Using professional help will certainly be more expensive. On the other hand, doing it yourself with the help of a pond kit might be cheaper but if the components are installed incorrectly, you would probably spend more in the long run getting the problems fixed.

Doing it yourself will certainly let you build your Koi pond the way you want it. It will give you something to brag about and show off to your family and friends. All in all it can be quite enjoyable.

The Oxygen level in your Koi pond is something you probably don’t think about very often, but it is critical. To ignore it is a big mistake. Some koi owners don’t understand the need for simple aeration of their pond for the health of their fish. This is even more important in the warmest months.

The proper level of oxygen is important not only for the fish but also for vegetation in the pond and most important for the needed chemical processes that go on in a healthy pond including bacterial decomposition. Now every pond will develop its own particular oxygen demand. This demand is affected by the level of bacterial activity, the number of fish you have and by the decomposition of plant material in the pond as well as unwanted plant material that falls and collects in the pond.

The amount of dissolved oxygen that a pond can hold is dependent on several factors. Moving water can absorb much more oxygen then water that is standing or stagnant. The water temperature also affects the amount of dissolved oxygen along with salinity. With freshwater ponds, however, salinity is really not a factor.