I love keeping attractive, aquatic pets for higher aesthetics and visual stimulation. Before purchasing the koi varieties, I built a pond in my backyard, especially tailored to their needs.
Koi’s are temperate freshwater fish that thrive in rich and spacious environments, such as outdoor ponds. The sweet spot for pond size is 150 square feet with a depth of at least 3 feet.
How Big Should a Koi Fish Pond Be?
The size of the backyard pond depends on various factors, such as space, fish types, and climatic conditions.
Small to medium backyard koi ponds are at least 6 feet by 8 feet. 3 feet deep size ponds hold over 1,000 gallons of water.
The average size of backyard koi ponds is 10 feet by 15 feet. If the pond is 3 feet deep, it will hold around 3,300 gallons.
Large backyard koi ponds are around 20 feet by 30 feet. If the pond is 3 feet deep, it holds about 13,500 gallons.
N.B. A 3 ft-pond can hold different quantities of water because of varying length and width.
Calculate Average Pond Size
To calculate pond volume for a rectangular-shaped area, use the following formula: length x width x depth = cubic feet x 7.48 gallons
The average size of a backyard pond should be:
Length: 6 by 8 feet
Depth: 3 feet
Tank Capacity: 1077 gallons
Koi Pond Size and Depth – Factors to Consider
When making a koi pond, remember that it’s not only a garden pond, it’s a safe sanctuary for marine life.
Pond Depth
Koi ponds should have an average depth of 2 feet or at least 3 feet deep to provide adequate aeration.
Depth matters as it help maintaining stable water temperatures; deeper ponds ensure a safer sanctuary for fish species.
N.B. A 2-ft deep pond is adequate for fry to small koi fish only.
Pond Dimension
For free movement, a koi fish can survive in a pond size of 6 feet by 8 feet in length. A depth of 3 feet is minimum.
To stay safe from predators, the pond depth should increase to 4 to 6 feet.
For a school of five koi, the pond capacity must be 1,000 to 1,500 gallons.
For a school of ten or more koi, the pond capacity must be 3,000 to 3,500 gallons.
Pond Location
Keep the pond close to your living space. It helps to maintain the water quality easily.
Choose a space with a balance of sun and shade throughout the day. Ponds in full sun grow algae faster than ponds in shaded areas.
Pond Circulation
Koi fish need dissolved oxygen to breathe. you can consider adding a water feature to your pond.
A small-sized pond stocked with koi will need a proper aeration system.
How To Build a Backyard Koi Pond
Enjoy the step-by-step guide on how to build a pond for your aquatic pets:
Pond Area
Check for the available space in your backyard. In my opinion, a pond that’s irregularly shaped looks more natural and appealing. As for rectangular ponds, they’re abrasion and dirt prone.
Trace outlines of the pond by laying out a garden hose on the ground. Scale the pond upward for better accommodate of your pet fish.
If you want to add more koi or other fish to your pond, check out different shapes for added modification.
Dig The Pond
After choosing the area and shape for your pond, you can start the digging process or hire a professional for it.
Add a Drain
Dig a channel to make a drain at the lowest point of the pond. Remember to lay down the flexible hose.
Add a Liner
Fix the EPDM liner at the corners of the ponds. Don’t forget to extend the liner by a foot (onto the pond’s edges).
Add Stones
Place smooth stones at the bottom of the pond and secure the edges of the liner with big, flat stones. Koi ponds require bacteria colonization to sustain water quality over time.
Install the Settling Chamber
The pond’s drain pipe leads to the settling chamber, which should be placed above ground. You can disguise it with plants, rocks, or a decorative cover.
Install Water Pump
Look for the pumps with gallon per hour (GPH) rate that equals half or more of your water volume. This will ensure water circulation after every hour.
Fill The Pond With Water
When the space is ready, use the garden hose to fill it. Keep the water temperature from 59 F to 77 F.
Add features like fountain or waterfall to enhance the pond’s aesthetics.
Use Surface Skimmers
To remove debris from water, a floating skimmer is the best choice for small to medium sized ponds. Or, if you have a larger pond, then opt for box skimmers.
Use Biological Filtration
For those who like to use bacterial disintegration of unwanted particulates, I’d recommend a proper aeration system with a variety of species, such as lily pads, water weeds, snails, and frogs.
Fill Your Pond with Koi
Try this method to add koi to your new pond:
Put koi in a bag filled with pond water.
Let them settle for 15 minutes.
Place the bag near the pond to let them slip in the water.
N.B. Be particular about the number of fish otherwise you’ll end up overcrowding the area.
Bottom Line
I hope you’ve learnt how to build a pond for your pet koi. Make sure that it’s the right size: A larger koi will not be able to sustain in a small-sized pond.
Installing a koi pond comprises concrete steps that you will need to follow: From pond area measurement to pet koi addition.
To prevent space constraints, keep a check on the quantity of fish. Don’t add too many fish at a single go. it must go according to your pond size!
