Garden Ponds and Fish
Today, the popularity of garden ponds has skyrocketed. You can choose a small whiskey barrel-style pond without fish or a larger yard pond with fish. Regardless of the style you choose, garden ponds are relaxing and enjoyable. While there are many different options, the three most commonly seen types of garden ponds include the water garden pond, goldfish pond, and Koi garden pond. While there are similarities between the three, you do have some distinct considerations.
For starters, water garden ponds include plants but because there are no fish, no filtration is needed. The nice thing about this type of garden pond is that it requires little maintenance. All you do is set it up and then choose the type of plants you want to add. The only thing to remember is that you could eventually develop a problem with insects. Fishponds are also very popular, which could include goldfish or Koi, the Japanese fish.
If you choose goldfish, then you will have a little bit of maintenance to consider and will need to add some plants for shelter. However, goldfish are hardy, making a nice, easy to handle choice. Koi are beautiful Japanese fish that can grow quite large. While you can add plants, Koi do not need the same shelter as goldfish do. The advantage of Koi is that they can handle temperatures from 39 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit but typically need a larger size pond.
Once you decide the type of garden pond you want, you will need to decide the best location. For a garden pond, choose a sunny spot but be sure you choose plants that do best in full sun. If you go with a goldfish pond, the pond should be set up in partial to full shade. Just remember that with a goldfish pond, you want it to be placed where it can be seen and enjoyed. Then for Koi, the pond should be in a shaded or partially shaded spot since Koi can actually become sunburned. However, you want to have the pond in a place where it can be seen for enjoyment. However, you also want the pond in a place for protection since larger animals may see the Koi as dinner.
As far as the size of the garden pond, you have a huge array of choices so it really depends on the amount of space you have and how much work you want to do. With a water garden pond, again, you could go with a barrel size that sits on your deck or patio, or choose a pond that is literally acres in size. For the goldfish pond, you simply want enough room based on the number of fish you want to keep. Remember, goldfish can handle near-freezing temperatures and shallow depths but you also want them to be comfortable and happy. Then for Koi, choose a larger garden pond. For one thing, Koi when at maturity can reach three feet in length so they need adequate room. Again, the final size of the garden pond for Koi will depend largely on the number of Koi you want to keep.
Now, you want to consider the best filter for your garden pond. For the water garden pond, we recommend a fountain, spitter, aerator, or you can get by without any at all. Now for the goldfish pond, an aerator, fountain, spitter, underwater filter, waterfall, submersible pump, or out of pond pump all work well. Finally, the Koi pond would need a bubble-bead system, vortex, bottom drain, complete pond water movement, or out of pond filtration system. While all of these options would work well for a Koi garden pond, the aeration system is probably the most desirable.