Building and keeping a koi pond in your backyard is like having almost any type of pet - or even a child.
It requires your full attention in order to keep everything running smoothly and ensure the health and survival of your fish.
Maintaining the perfect water conditions is the most important in operating a pond.
This upkeep has proven too daunting for some, and after some people learn of the amount of attention to detail that's required of them, they balk at the idea.
However, maintaining your pond isn't hard work if you know what to do.
It may be a little tedious, but it will eventually become routine.
The first and most vital step in the process is making sure that your construction is done properly.
Whether you're building a liner pond or using concrete block, everything must be properly level, built in the proper location and secure so that no harmful elements seep into the pond.
Pre-construction also requires purchasing a filter that will handle the arduous task.
Any filter chosen needs to be able to dilute and evacuate the pond of harmful elements that can become hazardous to your fish.
With filtration systems, it's not enough to have a good filter; your filter needs to be excellent.
It needs to use both main types of filtration: mechanical and biological.
With mechanical filtration, the filter will rid the pond of small debris, dead insects, algae, koi waste, etc.
With biological filtration, a nitrogen cycle circulates through the pond, diluting waste and keeping the water free of the materials that will inevitably turn into ammonia if left to fester.
The larger your pond and the more fish you have, the more powerful your filter needs to be.
Take care of this and you have half the battle won.
The list of various pond cleaning materials is too lengthy to touch on properly.
It would be overwhelming.
Basically, you want to get whatever's necessary to clean you pond.
Each product will have a rhyme and reason, and most store clerks will inform you of their proper use.
The water being pristine is important.
You should always be able to see the bottom of your pond, even if it's very deep.
If not and the water is cloudy or murky, you will need to clean it.
Water can become cloudy in a few ways.
If you feed your koi often, this means that they're producing a lot of waste; both fish feces and uneaten food particles.
This will lead to bacteria growth and, at the least, cause the water to look horrible.
At the most, your fish will be dead.
Make sure the filter functions properly, do not feed the fish too often, and always skim the top of the pond.
You want to avoid using any type of chemicals to keep your pond clean.
Chlorine and other water purifiers might be okay for swimming pools, but we're talking about a pond where the fish live and breathe.
You also want to use a vacuum to clean your pond, and always clean along the perimeter of your pond.
The wind and rain will blow and wash debris into your pond.
Even if it's not harmful to the fish immediately, it may still clog up the filter and stop the circulation.