Japanese koi pond
A Japanese koi pond is a beautiful thing which will give you hours of peaceful pleasure.
Koi fish ponds are a classic Japanese garden feature. The pond in a Japanese hill and pond garden is often a koi pond. Koi have a special place in the Japanese heart, as the word 'koi' sounds like another word that means 'affection or love', so koi are symbols of love and friendship to the Japanese.
Japanese koi ponds are wonderfully tranquil, and this fits perfectly with the general mood of Japanese gardens. And not only are koi very beautiful (often called 'living jewels'), but their peaceful movements help reduce stress.
The exception to those tranquil movements is feeding time – koi are a lot of fun to feed because they really go crazy over food! Kids especially love feeding koi, so if you have it's a nice idea to create a special feeding place for your Japanese koi pond where the water is shallower, so that kids can feed the koi safely.
Koi are a kind of carp, and the Japanese word koi actually just means carp. The Japanese word for the colourful fish that we call koi is actually nishiki-goi. There are many varieties of koi, and they come in a range of colours: classically, orange, yellow and white, but also black, grey, and blue.
Koi live a long time – about thirty years on average, though with good care they can live much longer – 230 years is the oldest on record. A Japanese koi pond is a long-term investment!
Japanese koi pond design
You can apply the same design principles to your Japanese koi pond as to the rest of your garden. Here are some ideas for Japanese koi pond design »
Japanese koi pond construction
Koi are fairly sensitive creatures, so you need to construct your Japanese koi pond to keep them at their healthiest. Temperature and water quality are important, and you'll need to build your pond to the right size and with the right mechanisms to manage them. The way you construct your pond can also help deter predators. Read about koi pond construction »
Japanese koi pond filters
A really good filtration system is the most important investment for your Japanese koi pond. Koi are very sensitive to water quality, and in a pond they're living in a very small body of water. There are various types of filter you can use for your Japanese koi pond. Read about koi pond filters »
Japanese koi pond maintenance
Your Japanese koi pond takes a certain amount of regular looking after. Read about koi pond maintenance »
