Introduction to Koi Pond

Welcome to the wonderful world of raising Koi fish in your outdoor Koi pond. While this is a "hobby" that takes time, effort, and patience, more and more people are finding Koi ponds to be a great investment not only because of their enthusiasm for the fish, but for the pond itself -the sense of escape, of peace, of harmony that a good Koi pond can bring a person. For many, having a Koi pond is like having a wilderness temple all to themselves. That escape from stress and the rigors of an increasingly busy and stressful society can be one of the many major benefits of an outdoor Koi pond.

A Koi pond is a small, enclosed pond that is dependent on re-circulating fresh water to keep Koi healthy. The Koi is a fish that originated in Japan, and is named Nishikigoi by the Japanese. The Nishikigoi, or Koi, were developed in Japan over two hundred years ago and are not big gold fish, despite their
beautiful appearance, but are actually related to the common carp. Koi ponds are specifically designed for these fish.

While there are other types of small ponds or water decorations for a garden, the Koi ponds offer the additional bonus of beautiful fish that add a beauty that a birdbath or natural garden pond just cannot match. The outdoor Koi ponds are designed specifically for two purposes, which are:

A) To provide a safe and healthy environment for your Koi

B) To provide a "clear as glass" water surface to give the owner a clear view of these beautiful and amazing fish.

The ideal outdoor Koi pond is one that satisfies both of these criteria. You can have perfectly healthy fish in a darker water pond, or vice-versa, with unhealthy and suffering fish in crystal clear water. The ideal situation is to not have either of those situations, but to have the best of both worlds with healthy fish and clear water: which will add to the tranquility and enjoyment of having a Koi fishpond. There are different ways to do this, and the explosion of members in "Koi clubs" has made advice on these matters much easier to find than in the past, but this book will cover some of the most popular and conventional methods for going about this, as well as everything else you will need to know in order to be prepared for the perfect backyard addition.