Garden pond design does not just have to be categorised into the standard shape garden pond that is home to a few cold water fish. There are many different types of design you can choose from, each having different positive attributes.

The standard garden pond

This can be a focal point in your garden and be home to many different types of wildlife. From amphibians to fish and even small mammals this will provide a brilliant habitat for lots of different organisms. This type of pond will usually have a filtration system and be home to a few varieties of cold water fish.

A koi pond

Koi ponds have to be a certain size and a certain depth so the fish have enough room to grow and be comfortable with their environment. Keeping koi is a brilliant hobby and many people spend numerous hours each week taking care of their koi and checking for problems. The water environment in this pond needs to be more closely controlled.

The formal pond

This type of pond can double up as a spectacular water feature. Sometimes the owners of these ponds just want to create a statement and the pond may only have crystal clear water and symmetrical planting.

In the last part of this article we are going to discuss pond heaters, aquatic plants and pond lighting.

Pond heaters

When the weather gets colder your fish are less active. Some people like to keep their fish a little more active and prevent ice from forming on the surface of the pond in the depths of winter. The best way you can do both these things is by using a pond heater.

Aquatic plants

There is a wide variety of aquatic plants available and different plants can add different elements to your pond design. Plants of course turn carbon dioxide into oxygen which is essential for any aquatic life-forms in the pond. They also use up the nitrates that are formed as part of the filtration process that removes ammonia from the water. Plants also provide shade for your fish and also the pond surface so the pond temperature will not fluctuate too markedly. This will reduce algae growth in your pond because the sunlight levels reaching your pond will be reduced.

Pond lighting

Your garden pond can look brilliant at night when it is illuminated from above or below. Using lighting at different locations around and in your pond can make the difference between your pond being a feature in your garden and not being seen during the winter months.

There are many different types of Koi food on the market and most of them do a really good job at keeping your Koi in tip-top condition. There are however a few pointer to follow when feeding your Koi, especially at this time of the year when the weather is a little colder.

Koi will feed all year but will slow in their feeding during the winter months. And, at this time of the year you should adapt their diet to a cold weather feed. Your fish will actually tell you they want to be fed by rising to the surface of the pond.

Throughout the rest of the year you should try to offer only as much food as your fish will eat about 2 to 3 three times a day. The manufactured types of Koi food provide all the vitamins and protein your fish will need throughout the course of their lives. And this type of food will actually help reduce fish waste production and hence help to keep your pond cleaner and clearer.

If you want to give your Koi something a little extra to their standard feed you can give them very small quantities of aquatic worms, fruit and even lettuce as a special treat.

There are different methods you can use to try to keep unwanted animals and leaves out of your pond but the only foolproof method is to cover the pond with a pond net.

Most of the leaves have now fallen from the trees and hopefully you will have removed most of the leaves that may have fallen into your pond. If you haven’t used a net before, you may now be rueing the decision not to use one. And it’s easy to forget the hassle you had this year removing the leaves when the leaves start to fall next autumn. So there is no time like the present to invest in a pond net.

The best thing about pond nets is they don’t just stop leves falling in your pond, they also stop predators such as cats and birds from taking your fish. If you have seen a heron at your pond, using a pond net for a few weeks is a good way to discourage the bird from feeding so he will hopefully learn to fish elsewhere.

Pond nets are available in different sizes and the perfect way to protect your pond from leaves and fish from predators.

Supplying electricity to your pond is of course a necessity for most pond owners. Electricity is needed for filtration systems, pond pumps, water features and pond lighting. It is worth noting that any mains voltage electrical work outside should always be carried out by a part P qualified electrician.

The different components your pond needs to function require electricity to operate. And, it’s always worth considering how you are going to get the electricity to your pond if you are starting out from scratch. It’s no good installing a patio around your pond and then having to dig it up again just to install the electrical supply.

Most installs outside will need the installation of a Steel Wired Armoured cable (SWA). This type of cable protects the conductors from damage whilst underground and is the perfect way to provide a supply to your multiple device switch box. The ends of the cable need to be made off using SWA glands into your household electricity consumer unit and also at the switch box end.

It goes without saying that electricity and water do not mix so all connections should be weatherproof to at least IP44.

Continuing from our last article we will try to cover some of the most popular Koi varieties.

Bekko

The three types of Bekko are the Aka Bekko (red), the Shiro Bekko (white) and the Ki Bekko (yellow). They have a black pattern of spots or patches (sumi) running down their back against the solid colour background.

Taisho Sanke

This variety adds black markings to the Kohaku red and white patterns. A more intense black lacquer colour is more sought after as is an unblemished crisp white body.

Goshiki

Goshiki means five colours and this fish is derived from Agasi and Sanke so has the navy, blue, red black and white colourings of these fish.

Showa Sanshoku

These fish have a black base colour and then feature red and white markings. The black background colour really makes the red and white markings stand out beautifully.

Hikarimuji (Ogon)

These fish have a solid colour without any markings. Thus their colour and lustre are their most important features. Types include the Yamabuki Ogon which is yellow in colour and the Platinum Ogon which has a shiny platinum colour.

Kujaku

Kujaku have a reflective net pattern on their back. They have a Kohaku type patterning in colours of yellow, gold, red and orange.

Doitsu

Doitsu have no scales, they were initially imported to Japan from Germany in the 1800s. Breeders have cross bred the Doitsu with other varieties of Koi so there are now many different Doitsu types.

There are of course lots of different types of Koi, here we will try to cover some of the most popular varieties in a little detail.

Asagi

These are a classical type of Koi. The scales on the back of this fish have a white base but have blue on their whole back and Hi (red or fire) on the belly. They usually have a spotless head region but when they age black spots may appear.

Kohaku

This is the most popular type of Nishikigoi. The fish displays different tones of red patches on its body and the Kiwa (edge of patch) can also be different, from a sharp finish to a more jagged effect.

Tancho

These Koi are easily recognised by their red head patch, and if the patch is directly in the centre of the head the fish are held in quite high regard. Having milky white skin is also important as it really sets of the striking head patch.

Utsurimono

The word Utsurimono translates as reflections. There are different varieties such as Shiro Utsuri (white) and Hi Utsuri (red) as well as the rarer Ki Utsuri (yellow). These colours are set upon a black base.

We will continue the different types of Koi in the next article.

Most pond owners want to achieve a crystal clear water environment for their fish. Whilst this is something to aim for having crystal clear water does not however mean the water quality is good. A pond owner should be aware that fish will thrive in a pond that might not look too aesthetically pleasing to the pond owner but provides the perfect environment for your fish.

One problem that most pond owners will face at some point in their pond owning life is excess algae. When algae gets out of control it can make your pond look more like a carpet of short grass than a pond. This situation usually arises when your pond temperature increases in the spring. The algal blooms multiply out of control due to the extra light they receive and can smother your pond surface. If you have a problem like this it could be an indicator that the nutrient level balance in your pond is not quite right or it might just be that you have a small pond and it cannot cope with the quick rise in temperature.

A good way to try to eliminate excess algae is to use a UV clarifier; this device makes the algae clump together so it can be easily filtered. Have a look at the available options on online aquatic websites, UV clarifiers are really not that expensive and they can solve excess algae problems.