Pond Construction
Build / Repair Koi Ponds
We are going to start by saying that there is only one way to build a pond, and that is the right way. There can be no shortcuts! It has been our experience that ‘owner-builders’ always spend double on their pond before getting it to work properly. Using the correct building materials, bio filters, pumps, UV lights etc is imperative and will not only ensure your pond works, but ensures it will never leak.
We are experts in this field and have not only built ponds from scratch, but have converted swimming pools into ponds and repaired leaking ponds. (For repairs to ponds, we keep the fish in a quarantine tank on our customers premises for the duration of the repair.)
Whether we build ponds from scratch of repair them, once we have filled the pond with water we allow it to run for at lease 10days to ensure all toxins are removed and that the PH and salt levels are 100% before putting fish back in.
Not to scare anybody away, but building a pond is a costly exercise. Depending on the size of the pond you require, it can start from R50,000 for 10,000 litres. However, on a positive note, the pleasure you will get from a clean, healthy, leak free pond with happy fish is very rewarding indeed!
Lastly, a point to remember – if you’ve invested in koi they need a beautiful home where they can grow and flourish. It can be an easy task or a tiresome one to keep them happy.
Winter Fish and Koi Ponds
We suggest having ponds built in the colder months (Autumn and winter). Obviously weather in Gauteng is a positive as it rarely rains so your pond (depending on the size) can be built and have fish in it in under a month. Another positive is that once the water goes under 10degrees, fish go into ‘hibernation’ and do not need to be fed as much as in the warmer months. In fact, the Japanese stop feeding their koi when the water temperature goes below 14 degrees.
We however have found that a slice of brown bread, a handful of oats or our Winter Feed every two weeks or so, does no harm what-so-ever. As a result of less eating, the water stays clean and little or no maintenance is required to keep it like this.