Tag Archives: Pond

Carp Fishing Basics

How to Build a Koi Fish Pond

If you want to have a really attractive feature in your garden, then why not build a Koi fish pond? These beautiful fish make wonderful pets and are becoming one of the most popular pond fish to keep because they have such ornamental quality. Koi are part of the carp family and can grow quite large, so if you do want to keep a Koi fish pond then you need to have quite a lot of space so that you can have a big enough Koi fish pond to keep them happy and healthy. You don’t have to keep your Koi is a fish pond, some people also keep these beautiful fish in aquariums, but they can be harder to look after if you keep them in aquariums because of the lack of space.

When it comes to looking after your Koi fish pond, before you embark on looking after these fantastic creatures, you should always do some research before purchasing your fish. This is because, as with any fish Koi need special requirements in order to thrive and survive and so it is important that you know as much as you can about these fish before starting your fish pond. One of the most important aspects that you should consider when it comes to your Koi fish pond is the number of Koi fish you are planning to keep in your pond. This is because on average, two Koi fish should have at least 1000 gallons of water to swim around in, so if you want to be able to keep quite a few Koi fish then you will need to invest in a much larger pond. This is simply because Koi fish can grow so large and they need a lot of room to grow and if they are in a small environment then it could result in your fish fighting with each other. It also means that if you keep your Koi fish in a small pond which doesn’t have enough room for your fish to live then it will mean that you will find it difficult to maintain the fish pond.

If you are thinking about keeping a Koi fish pond, then something which you might want to consider investing in is a downloadable guide to Koi care and fish ponds, you can find these helpful guides on dozens of websites specialising in these fish and if you have your own Koi fish guide then you will be able to maintain the health of your fish and your pond much easier, it is a must for any Koi lover

If you would like more details on how to build a koi fish pond, then please go to this site that covers everything having to do with koi fish pond construction.

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    Koi Fish Information – Rainbow In a Pond!

    How about a live rainbow that shimmers right in front of your eyes, 24×7? Sounds beautiful, isn’t it? For those of you who know Koi fish, such a rainbow must be an old acquaintance! And for those who are just venturing into the Koi fish hobby, it will be a sight that comes in gratis with all the beauty, warmth and friendship that this ‘very social’ fish brings along.

    Koi is a domesticated, cold water fish that thrives very well in outdoor ponds. It is popular for its beauty and adaptability. It is originally a species of Carp that was first bred for colour mutations in ancient China. Koi, in its present form, owes its worldwide popularity to Japan. ‘Koi’ means Carp in Japanese. The fish that is known world over as ‘Koi’ is actually the brocaded carp or ‘nishikigoi’ in Japanese. The Japanese started breeding Koi for colour in early the 19th century. The hobby spread all over Japan in the early 1900s, after the fish was exhibited in the annual exposition in Tokyo. Eventually, the Koi journeyed to various parts of the world.

    Koi fish and Koi fish information is available in most pet stores. But if you want the best quality and information, with all the traits specific to the species, you should buy from a speciality store. There are different varieties of Koi, each having a specific colour pattern. However, the fish is still being actively bred for producing new colour patterns and for increasing the adaptability even further. Some hybrid varieties like the Ghost Koi and the Butterfly Koi have also been developed.
    Based on the colour patterns some Koi varieties are listed below.

    A glance at this list is enough to give you a peek into the colourful world of Koi:

    ?  Kohaku – White Koi with large red markings.
    ?  Taisho Shanshoku – Similar to the Kohaku but with an addition of small black markings.
    ?  Showa Shanshoku – Black Koi with red and white markings.
    ?  Tancho – It’s a term for any Koi with a solitary red patch on it.
    ?  Chagoi – A Koi with colours ranging from pale olive green to brown and bronze.
    ?  Asagi – A Koi that is light blue above and red (or sometimes pale yellow) below the lateral line and on the cheeks.
    ?  Utsurimono – A black Koi with a red, white or yellow markings.
    ?  Bekko – A Koi with a white, red or yellow skin and black markings on the top.
    ?  Goshiki – A dark Koi with red hi pattern.
    ?  Shusui – A koi with a sky blue or grey colour above the lateral line and red or orange below the lateral line and on cheeks.
    ?  Kinginrin – A koi with metallic scales.
    ?  Ogon – Metallic Koi of one colour only.
    ?  Ochiba – A light blue/grey koi with copper, bronze or yellow patterns.
    ?  Koromo – A Koi with Kohaku style pattern with black/blue edged scales only over the high pattern.
    ?  Hikari-moyomono – A koi with two metallic colours.

    Besides these, a Koi that can’t be put into a specific category is categorized as ‘Kawarimono’.

    Koi is very adaptable, but temperatures below 10 C are not very good for them. In an outdoor pond, it’s necessary to use protective measures in order to keep the predators away; as Koi’s bright colour results into being an attractive invitation.

    It’s an omnivorous fish that requires to be fed on carefully designed nutritious food. Feeding is also the time when your Koi will respond to your love and care by eating from your hand, once they recognize you as their regular feeder.

    So go ahead, and take a plunge into the rainbow world of Koi and add some colour for your pond to ponder!

     

    Nelson writes more about raising koi fish here: http://www.koifishinformationcenter.com. He has raised, studied, bred and cared for hundreds of varieties of Koi. Nelson has become a well respected source of information for breeders internationally. His twenty plus years of practical experience and research are available in his latest book,<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’, ‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’]);” href=”<a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push([‘_trackPageview’, ‘/outgoing/article_exit_link’]);” href=”http://www.koifishinformationcenter.com”>http://www.koifishinformationcenter.com”> Insider’s Secrets To Raising Healthy Koi: The Ultimate Guide</a>.

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    Tips On How To Build A Pond

    A pond is not only a stunning garden feature but is also a wonderful wildlife habitat, attracting birds, insects and many other animals.


    Building a pond from scratch can seem a daunting task however it need not be, having the correct equipment and understanding what form of pond will suit your needs is half the battle.


    The first thing to consider when you build a pond is where it will be located, try to view where the pond will be from many different angles, try looking from an upstairs window also, use what ever you have to mark out a make believe pond so you can see it from different angles.


    You need to consider the size of your pond, this will be affected by the size of your garden and what you are considering to have in the pond. A larger pond would be needed for larger fish such as koi carp where as a smaller pond would suit goldfish or if the pond was just for newts and frogs.


    Once you have defined the parameter of the pond (this is often done with string or hosepipe) and you are happy with the size and positioning you will need to excavate the area. Dig out the turf and keep going until the required depth is achieved, remember to remove any sharp stones or large lumps of mud.


    When digging the pond it is recommended that you leave one side with a slop so any animals that accidentally fall in have a way of getting out, it is also a place where you fish can bask in the sun.


    Once you have dug the pond you will need to lay a base, if you decide to use concrete then you will need to add some sort of wire to it to bind it together and prevent it from cracking, sand is another option, lay a layer of sand around the hole you have dug, this will protect the pond liner and help to prevent it from being punctured.Adding a layer of old carpet adds to this protection.


    Once the base has been laid you need to position your pond liner, this will require some help depending on the size of your pond. Ask a friend to help with this part, hold each end and lay over the hole you have dug out, take care not to damage the liner by dragging it over rough ground or sharp stones.

    Once the liner is in place secure the sides with some bricks and most importantly leave plenty of overlap.


    Once the liner is in place it is time to start to fill your pond, as the pond is being filled it is important to pull the edges of the liner so it fits neatly in the contours of the pond.

    Keep adding water until the pond is full then cut away any excess liner leaving an overlap large enough to lay slabs or turf on to keep in place.


    Stand back and have a look at what you have created!, Now you have the job of decided which fish and plants you will add and position around your new pond.

    Allen Jesson writes for several sites including Seapets, a leading source for Ponds he also specializes in hot dog training tips and training for dogs.

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    Creating a Fish Pond with Variety

    In order to create the perfect fish pond in your own garden, you will need a performing pool or foil, pumps, special vegetation and fish. It sounds quite easy but what is really important is the way in which all these elements are combined in order to create the pond of your dreams.

    First of all, it is very important to make up a plan of the pond. Its form, dimension and maybe a little waterfall all have to be in complete harmony with the yard you are willing to build it in. You have to avoid the areas close to the trees because leaves may fall and this wouldn’t be very aesthetic for the pond and could even destroy its natural balance. The necessary condition for the existence of a biologic equilibrium is sun light. If the pond does not receive enough sun light, the water temperature does not warm enough and the plants and fish do not evolve adequately.

    Moreover, in order to style up the pond, you can give it a geometrical form (circle, rectangle or diamond). This style asks for sober vegetation, like water lilies and some semi aquatic plants. You can also hide the edges of the pond with river rocks or using a multitude of plants in love with watered areas. It also gives the pond a plus in what concerns the style and also contributes to the creation of the natural habitat for the fish that will come up in it.  In addition to this, it is very necessary to project the pond with variable depth. Thus, during the winter, the fish will have deeper areas to stay in and will not be affected by water freezing.

    After two or three weeks from installing the pond, you can start to populate it. You may start with plants which evolve best in water, such as myriophyllum, potamogeton, ceratophyllum. They are very useful for fish and for the water oxygenation, stopping the apparition of algae. A very important element is represented by the famous water lilies. The varieties of this species are numerous as well as the form and the color of the flowers. You can combine different colors and different species in order to make the pond seem natural and stylish. In order to plant them, you have to use special baskets with sand covered with gravel as not to spread and to keep the plants very well fixed.

    There are also some floating plants which can cover the surface of the pond and can move in the direction of the wind. Some of these plants are the water hyacinth and the water salad, which give the pond an exotic aspect. The bad thing is that these plants don’t survive in the winter. The edges of the pond can be populated with reed, rush, pond iris and pond lily, plants which also survive during the winter. As species of fish, the most recommended ones would be the exotic ones, such as Chinese carp or discus fish. Both of them can be found in different colors, which give the pond a great variety.

    Jason Boonstra is the author of “The Ultimate Water Garden Manual” – compulsory reading for anyone considering pond fish species. For a FREE 20 part mini-course on “The Secrets To Creating & Maintaining a Stunning Water Garden!” go to => http://www.watergardentips.com

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    Koi Carp Pond – a Process of Creativity and Engineering

    When considering building a Koi carp pond, one must fist be clear on the reason and motivation behind taking on such a wonderful yet laborious commitment. Throughout the world, Koi ponds bring different experiences to different people. In China, Koi are believed to be bearers of good luck to their owners with Koi ponds bringing fulfilment to their lives, while others around the world experience a sense of inner peace when relaxing by their garden ponds watching the Koi swim and even feeding right from their hands. In general, Koi have brought joy to those who have made these beautiful fish a part of their lives.

    Today, more and more Koi enthusiasts are taking on the responsibility of building and maintaining a Koi carp pond. And with the vast resources of information available, its no wonder Koi are becoming ever popular as finding the right help and advice on caring for them has becomes more readily available.

    In planning the development of a garden pond, one must fist understand the basics of what goes into it in terms of construction, maintenance and Koi keeping and, realize that it is a process of both creativity and engineering. And even though the rewards of spending countless sunny afternoons in the tranquil surroundings of a Koi garden pond, this endeavour should not be taken lightly. As with any other pet hobby, this takes time, effort, patients and money to maintain. Also, because Koi can be quite sensitive to certain changes, keeping Koi and maintaining a Koi carp pond requires the owner to learn all that they can, even before starting any construction and development on a pond and surely before buying or obtaining any Koi fish.

    Now none of this is meant to discourage Koi enthusiasts. But if you are seriously thinking of getting into such an extraordinary hobby, then you owe it to yourself, and your Koi, to get it right the first time. Consider the alternative of having missed something after you have completed everything, only to find that it could cost you more in time and money to rectify the issue then it did for your to build it in the first place.

    Are you ready to begin? Good. A few Koi carp pond terms you should familiarize yourself with, just to get you started on some basics of what goes into pond maintenance are; mechanical filtration and why sand filters are bad, biological filtration, the Nitrogen Cycle, nitrifying bacteria – what they are and what they do, denitrifying bacteria – what they are and what they do, heterotrophic and autotrophic bacteria, organic and inorganic waste products – what they are and what happens to them.

    Once you have done the research and gained the basic knowledge, you will have a much better understanding of what a Koi pond entails regarding your time and commitment in raising these beautiful fish. With knowledge comes peace of mind, as you will feel more secure in getting things done the right way the first time, thus adding to the enjoyment and serenity of completing and owning your very own Koi carp pond.

    Get your FREE 10 day Koi Carp Fish Care mini course, today. Michael C. Harris is a Koi fish specialist. Get more great Koi carp pond tips today. His successful Koi care secrets e-Book “Koi Fish School”, is an inspiring guide of easy follow techniques for every Koi fish enthusiast.