backyard koi pond
Ecosystem ponds work with Mother Nature to provide food, shelter, and safety to the wildlife around it. It also provides an all-natural, low-maintenance piece of paradise. Every piece of the ecosystem puzzle must be present in order for a true ecosystem to be in place. Eliminate one of these elements and you’ve got an unbalanced ecosystem.
Skimmer (mechanical filter): will not only pre-filter the water and house the pump; it will also skim debris from the water’s surface to prevent the accumulation of organic materials on the pond floor.
Pumps: an efficient circulation system will keep the water moving and provide the necessary oxygen levels for healthy koi fish and plants.
Backyard Pond Waterfall Ideas You'll Absolutely Love — Kevin Szabo Jr Plumbing
Rocks and gravel: provide tremendous surface area for beneficial bacteria to break down excess nutrients in the water and dissolved organic debris on the pond floor.
Fish: reduce koi pond maintenance as they graze on string algae and bottom feed on the pond floor. Koi also make very enjoyable pets, providing hours of natural entertainment.
Plants: Mother Nature’s true filters, plants are great for adding character to a pond by providing color and texture, but from a filtration perspective, they’re second to none. Thriving from the excess nutrients in a pond and depriving algae of its food source, the aquatic plants in a water garden, given proper coverage, are critical for the overall health of the ecosystem.
Study On Health Benefits Of Koi Pond Ownership & Backyard Ponds
In the event of getting full sun on the pond the entire day, then you need to have sufficient filtration. This includes both mechanical and biological to prevent heavy algae buildup and keep the water clean.
While it may seem some easier to build and maintain a smaller pond, the reality is that a larger pond makes it’s much easier to keep your pond balanced and also allows you to hold Koi and pond fish. However, putting in a larger pond means larger equipment that is required such as filtration, liners, and pumps.
If you want as little maintenance as possible when it comes to your pond, then a filter will be needed to keep it clean with very little effort from your end.
Dress Up Your Koi Pond With Plants…and Rocks
So once you figure out all of the nitty-gritty details and exactly how you’d like to customize your backyard pond, you can go ahead and get into the planning phase.
When creating a pond, steer clear of trees especially those that have deep roots and any area containing electrical lines. Instead, choose an area with either partial or full sun if you’re planning to keep fish safe and plants.
Using marking paint, you need to outline the outer pond areas and exactly where you are going to put the pump, filters, falls, etc. Start by digging tiers and shelves, which will initiate the excavation process. A point to note is that the bottom tier should be at least 4 feet deeper pond to accommodate hardy fish during wintertime.
What Is An Ecosystem Koi Pond?
Backfill and place both the spillway and skimmer. In this step, you also need to roll out the placement of the pressurized filter and flex pipe.
You need to use underlayment and lay it down on the entire pond and fall area and thereafter, use a 45 mil EPDM liner. The liner should extend beyond the limits of the pond by at least 1 ft to allow for rockery over winter and settling earth. To prevent the liner from escaping from its position, extend it behind the waterfall as well.
In this step, you need to attach the liner using a lap sealant to the skimmer. The bolts and nuts will also be provided with a skimmer. Thereafter attach the liner to the upflow spillway, or alternatively, you may have the liner coming behind the spillway if there is no faceplate.
The Importance Of A Koi Pond In Your Backyard
In step 6, you need to start by placing your stone or rockery. Begin with the larger rocks and work your way down to the smaller ones. The stones should be worked into the first shelf of the pond and also on the top surface so that it can hold the liner securely in place.
Use waterfall foam in the stream as well as close to the spillway, and between the rocks to prevent water from disappearing through the stones as it travels.
In this step connect the skimmer pump to the spillway using PVC flex pipe and situate the pipe in the back skimmer. Connect the solids handling pump to the pressure filter and from the pressure filter back to the spillways or directly into the pond.
Koi Pond Care Guide For Beginners
Fill the pond water. Add dechlorinated water and also add some beneficial bacteria. Switch on the pumps and the filtration and to ensure that all is running smoothly.
Now that all of the legwork has been taken out of the project, you can start to add the finishing touches. Plant around the pond to create a more natural setting. Plants and fish can be added after a few days once the water temperatures have warmed up. Along with the fish, you should add aeration. This is optional, but lighting can also be added at any
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