A backyard pond or water garden can be a beautiful addition to any yard. Adding koi to the pond, however, can completely transform your pond. Many people assume that keeping koi is simple – you just put them in the pond and feed them once in a while. While it isn’t necessarily difficult to keep koi, there are a few things you need to know. Koi require a certain amount of space as well as certain conditions in order to fully thrive. Take the time to learn the basics about keeping koi before you decide to turn your pond into a koi pond.
One thing you need to be aware of before you purchase any koi is that the quality of koi varies tremendously. Along with quality, the price of koi fish can vary as well. Several factors play into the quality and price of koi – the most important factor is the intensity of colors along with the pattern on the fish. Like many fish, koi are selectively bred to achieve certain colors and patterns – the more work that goes into the process, the more expensive the fish will be. If you go to the pet store looking for koi, you may not think the prices are too exorbitant. You should be aware, however, that the quality of the koi you find in pet stores is going to be much lower than the quality you would get from a specialized koi breeder.
Knowing this, you still shouldn’t run off to your local koi breeder and spend hundreds of dollars on quality fish. If you are new to koi keeping, you should be prepared to go through a learning period – it is best not to start off with the highest quality fish in case you make a mistake. On the other hand, purchasing low-quality fish may make it more difficult for you to keep them successfully. Your best bet is to speak to a qualified koi breeder regarding his or her recommendations for starter koi – you may even be able to get a discounted rate on mid-quality koi that do not meet the breeder’s strict standards for quality.
If you want to have the best chance of raising your koi successfully, the key is to start small. Purchase the koi when they are small and buy only a few at first – remember, koi can grow to be very large and you do not want to overcrowd your pond. Another thing to be wary of is maintaining high water quality. Koi produce more waste than other species of fish so routine water changes are incredibly important. You should also invest in a high-quality filtration system to help mitigate the waste produced by your fish in between water changes. Do not be tempted to think that adding a filter to your pond will allow you to keep more fish – if something should happen to your filter or if the power goes out, your koi will be quickly overwhelmed by stress and by the accumulation of waste affecting the water quality in the pond.
In addition to these tips, there is one more simple thing you can do to increase your chances of successfully raising koi. Try installing an EcoBio-Block Wave in your pond to help keep your pond water clean and clear between water changes. EcoBio-Block products are infused with beneficial bacteria that will help to maintain the nitrogen cycle in your pond, keeping your pond water clean and clear. One EcoBio-Block Wave can accommodate 300 to 1000 gallons of water and it can last for more than two years. Make your life as a pond owner easier by purchasing and installing an EcoBio-Block Wave in your pond!