Other water supplies for your koi pond are filters, and a pump. Filters include man made filters as well as natural filters. Check the working of any mechanical devices from time to time and consider keeping a back up pump handy if you have a large pond or a number of valuable koi.

A quarantine tank is another essential koi supply for a well-stocked pond. If you are a koi collector and you like to add to your koi family from time to time, the quarantine tank is useful for introducing new fish in a controlled fashion. You can monitor the health of your new koi while getting them acclimatized to the pond environment by using water from the pond in the quarantine tank. If, for any reason, the new koi experience problems, you will save your existing collection from exposure to any bacteria or diseases introduced by the new fish.

You can test the quarantine tank in the same way that you test the larger koi pond with your chemical supplies.

Another handy supply to have for the koi tank is an airstone. Typically this is a porous stone, usually limestone, which you set in the bottom of the pond. The airstone will help to oxygenate the pond. You can also find airstones made from fiberglass and other synthetic materials. You can also find oxygenator plants. Look for anacharis, hornwork, vallisneria and more. Your favorite koi pond supplies store may be able to make recommendations based on their inventory for other plants that are beneficial for the koi pond. Floating plants, such as water lilies, are good for adding shade to the pond. If you use a lot of plants, remember to use algae eaters, such as snails, and check the pond from time to time to clean out debris from petals and leaves that might clog the filters or present obstacles to your koi.

About the Author

Jonathon Matthews is a koi expert. For more great tips on selecting the best koi supplies and building amazing koi ponds, visit http://www.koicaringsecrets.com.

There are numerous types of liners available. Concrete, fiberglass, rigid plastic and flexible liners are the most common and every pond liner has positive as well as negative features.

Knowledge of the positives and negatives of each will help you determine the best Koi pond liner for your pond.

* Concrete pond liners used to be considered the longest lasting liners. People who were building a permanent Koi pond used concrete to line their ponds. Some of the drawbacks that have been discovered with concrete include the leakage of toxins from the concrete into the pond and the higher price of purchase and installation.

* The fiberglass Koi pond liner is considered one of the best pond liners available. The average lifespan of this type of liner is approximately 50 years. They can be installed easily and they expand for ice without cracking. Their only disadvantage is an unnatural look and the extra care needing to be taken with the landscaping to disguise it.

* Rigid pond liners are considered the cheapest in the category and they have a natural look. They are considered good resistors of sharp roots as well as rocks but their drawback is installation problems. These pond liners can not be installed easily. It is very difficult to dig the right size hole to lay the liner in. But it is a great choice for Koi enthusiasts in warm areas. They are rated highly in terms of controlling leakage.

* Flexible pond liners have a minimum lifespan of 20 years and are believed to have a firm resistance against weathering and cold cracking. They are completely non-toxic and you can get them for a fraction of the cost of concrete pond liners. These pond liners are best for almost every climate. Due to their wonderful flexibility you can install them with great ease. This particular type of Koi pond liner is probably the most often purchased.

Prior to installing a Koi pond liner you must decide upon the location where you want to place the pond. The procedure is to outline the shape and size with chalk and colored string. Following this is excavation of the soil from the marked area.

If the hole is deeper than three feet you will probably require a permit from the municipal department in your town or city.

Finally you will fill the bottom of the hole with sand and salt to bring the bottom level. Now the excavated area is ready to acomodate your carefully chosen Koi pond liner!

There is three types of filtration for your pond, mechanical, chemical, and biological. Biological filters come in three different types down flow, up flow and lateral flow. Skimmers pull water from the surface and remove things off the top.

Aeration is also important for oxygen for your fish. Some examples of aeration would be a waterfall or a fountain. Pumps can be added if you don’t want these features.

One of the hardest things to beat is algae. Algae can take over your pond. Especially if it is in the direct sunlight. It can also be caused by high nitrate levels. Try adding a UV sterilizer and doing a partial water change.

New ponds are similar to new aquariums in that they take time to get established. It can be up to 6 weeks before your water is safe to add fish. You can be adding some plants during that time though.

A bottom drain for you pond is really handy. If you didn’t add one you may want to consider adding one. Also and overflow pipe comes in handy when it rains or snows.

Maintaining and keeping your pond clean is critical. You need to skim all debris off the top and vacuum dirt off the bottom. If you have a bottom drain you can open it to clear out the dirt.

Backyard ponds have to be taken care of differently as the seasons change. Springtime is when you need to do the heavy duty cleaning. In the summer you need to watch the algae growth and do partial water changes. In the fall you need to remove dead leaves and plants from you pond. Winter time is when you need to be sure your pond doesn’t freeze all the way over. Your fish need oxygen. You can put a cover over the top to help the freezing and catch some of the falling debris.

For well-balanced systems, such as a garden pond or a koi pond with few fish and plant life that supplies a large amount of air to the water, something as simple as a few more hardy plants may be sufficient. Or, you may want to add a small to medium sized waterfall if your pond is a suitable size. There are a number of considerations among the most important are to ensure there is sufficient calm water in your pond to provide diversity for the various life that you plan to house there. You’ll need to learn about the various plants and animals to create a system that provides what they need to thrive. A koi fish pond is usually best suited for a combination of plant and animal life.

If you learn that you will need a considerable amount more air in the water of your pond then you may want to consider a complete aeration system. These can consist of a number of intake ports and a number of output ports. These can work to provide an even aeration to a medium sized koi pond or garden pond. A koi fish pond may require some amount of this sort of aeration and the fish can benefit from the even aeration that it may supply, but too much aeration may not be good for your pond, so please learn about how much you aeration you need for your pond. You can also use systems with multiple ports to provide variable levels of aeration to your pond. This can have some definite benefits for plant life that differs quite a bit in what it needs.

By: California Waterscapes

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In fact, one of the main attractions that Koi hold for pond owners is the great variety of colors that they display. An even greater attraction is the idea of owning a fish that can literally change colors right before one’s eyes as the Black Koi can!

Koi pond owners need to be careful since it is quite easy to fall in love with with the wide variety of colors that the Koi offers. That is why many owners will end up purchasing too many fish, thus overcrowding their ponds and negatively affecting their Koi’s environment and health.

The Japanese have been patient in developing the Koi. Over the years their breeding has produced numerous colors and more pattern combinations than can be mentioned in one short article. Using water temperature and diet they turned the common carp, with only one or two colors, into a glorious and diversly hued creature. It was an almost magical transformation!

The first Black Koi species that mutated were called Magoi. They appeared to be black when you stood above them looking down, but they were actually a bronze color. Magoi blood is being sought after for breeding purposes because of the Magoi’s larger size. Breeders are hoping to hasten growth and maximize size of their Koi through these efforts.

Seasonal conditions, diet and water temperature can fluctuate and affect the color of all the Koi species. The Matsukawabake Koi is a Black Koi with white areas on it’s body. This Koi has been known to change back and forth from completely white, to black and back to white depending only on water temperature. This is a thrill to observe as most Koi coloration will only dull or brighten as conditions change.

In Japan “Karasu” means “crow”. The Karasu Koi has a black body and fins and can also have an orange or white belly. It is also one of the most ancient species.

Koi fish are popular in both indoor and outdoor ponds throughout the world. Their life span is generally from 25 to 35 years although some have been recorded to have lived as long as 200 years!

People seek out Koi because of their ease of maintenance, the colors they offer and the relationship that grows over time. The Black Koi is particularly popular primarily because of their ability to change color right in front of your eyes!

About the Author

The author, Alan Deacon, is a Koi expert. If you would like more information about Black Koi or Koi care visit KoiCareBasics.com

Sumi found on the Sanke will be in small patches placed in a balanced way along the length of the body, but not normally on the head. Although the two colors should be on a white base, it is possible for the Sumi to overlay the red or white completely or possibly spread across both red and white. When black is on white (preferred) it is called Tsubo Sumi and when it overlays the red, Kanase Sumi. Ideally, a Sanke should have Tejima (three or four stripes of Sumi) in the pectoral fins. These stripes are sometimes found on the others fins, too.

Showa Sanshoku, or Showa as it is commonly known, was developed in the late 1920s by crossing a Ki-Utsuri with a Kohaku. In the simplest terms, a Showa is non metallic but with red and white markings on a black base. Over the years, this variety has changed with fashion.

The early Showa had large amounts of Sumi (black) and Hi (red), but only small amounts of white. Today it is possible to find Showa with very little black but plenty of white; these have been names Kindai Showa. This may make it difficult to distinguish from a Sanke at first sight. However, the traditional Showa will always have Sumi wraps around the body (more in bands than in patches) and finishes below the lateral line.

Sumi on the Sanke should always be above the lateral line. The Showa also has Sumi in the base of its pectoral fins, but it is solid not striped, and is known as Motoguro. Ideally, the Sumi on the head of a Showa (Menware) should be a diagonal stripe across the head or in the shape of a V, but neither type should be without some white on the tip of the nose.

Recent tragedies such as that of the Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina, and those common everyday illnesses, shows you that you need to have a plan of action when it comes to your pets. Whether an emergency or not, you should know how to bag and transport your fish properly so as to ensure their safety.

So, what are the equipments that you need for bagging and transporting your pets? Now, these equipments are relatively small and can easily be stored when they’re not in use.

1) Bags – Always have the proper and sizable bags to transport the fish. Never use those trash bags or regular plastic bags, which can cause damage to your fish. You may need to take a trip to your local pet store to buy them if you don’t have any bags at hand.

2) Net – You’ll need a net that’s big enough to compete with your fish. You can use it to lead and direct them to the place that you want them to go. Just be careful when using the larger nets, as they have the potential to damage your fish.

3) Rubber Bands – You’re going to need a number of rubber bands for each of the bags you purchase. Buy those that are of good quality, so as to make sure that they won’t pop up due to the pressure from the water when you transport your fish.

4) Paint Bucket – This is a better option for catching your fish, as it will not harm your pet like the net can. Just make sure they’re big enough to hold them.

Now, the process of catching and bagging your fish is really a simple task, provided that you have the proper equipments at hand. With a large pond, you can have your friends help you in bagging your pets. Use the net in guiding the fish into the paint bucket, and once they’re in there, remove the excess water, and then start bagging it. Check the bag for leaks, and once it is secured, place the bag over the fish from head to tail. Make it a point that there’s enough amount of water that will cover the gills completely.

You can leave a lot of air room so that the bag won’t be too heavy to carry. After this, place the rubber bands around the ends of the bag to double it until the bag is secured. Place the bags in a horizontal manner in your container for transport. Take the necessary care so that you won’t bend the Koi as you lift it. Ensure that the bag will not be able to move with bumps and turns along the way, and it is important that you should cover the fish so that only a little amount of heat from the sun can enter.

About the Author

In order to have a healthy pond, what a pond owner needs are the secrets that can help him keep a good environment for his Koi as he takes care of them. Utilizing such secrets will give him the best relaxing and beautiful addition to his home.

Go and check out the secrets you need from Dori Thompson so you too can have the best Koi pond there is. Act now by clicking on this link: Koi Pond Secrets .

Besides that, koi have excellent fins and a tail that act as propeller, stabilizers and rudders when they swim. One variety of koi with unique fins and tail is the Butterfly Koi. The koi is covered with scales except for its head and breathes through a pair of gills.

But unlike some other types of fish, the koi does not have a stomach and neither does it have teeth. Food that is eaten is crushed by bony projections from its gills. It is then passed through the esophagus and its very long intestine as it is digested. For a more detailed explanation about koi anatomy and physiology, visit Koi Biology.

Like any other type of pet, some koi owners find it fun to give their pet koi treats. While this is a great bonding experience between pet and owner, some precautions should be taken.

Koi will eat pretty much anything that you put in the pond, no matter whether it is good for them or not. Since koi do not have a sense of what is bad or good for them, you must control their snack diet. Another potential problem is over feeding. Again, Koi do not know when to stop eating and overfeeding non-nutritious food may result in weight problems.

If you feel that your Koi deserves treats, stick to food that contains nutritional value. These are those that are found naturally in their pond, such as earthworms, tadpoles and bloodworms. The best way to find out what natural treats are available is just to look around the pond. Once you know what it out there, then you can either dig up the treats from the ground around the pond or buy similar products at your local store.

Prawns – Prawns are edible crustaceans which are similar to shrimp, but are usually larger. Prawns are actually very good for koi because they are high in protein. You can find prawns at a number of places including your local pet stores, department stores and feed stores. Prawns are also one of the best treats to promote hand feeding.

Lettuce – Lettuce is high in essential vitamins and minerals and it quite healthy for your Koi. There is no need to tear the lettuce in smaller pieces as the koi can find joy in doing it themselves.

Fruit – Koi will eat a wide variety of fruit. When feeding your Koi fruit, make sure to break the fruit up into small pieces. Fruit should only be fed to your koi on special occasions, as most fruit contains high amounts of natural sugar, which can be bad for koi in large amounts.

Bread – One of the cheapest treats available is Wheat Bread. Take a piece of bread, break it up, and roll it into small balls before throwing it into the pond. Be sure to avoid all types of white bread, as it may contain small amounts of bleach and other chemicals that can be potentially dangerous to your Koi.

No matter what type of treat you decide to use, it is still very important that you do not over do it. Too many treats and interference with their normal diets will cause more harm than good. Just do not get carried away and you will be alright.

You should pay special attention to the certain foods such as corn, beans, and grapes, as they contain an outer casing, which cannot be properly digested if swallowed by koi. If you must feed this type of foods to your koi, be sure to completely remove the outer casings before giving it to your koi.

About the Author

Christopher Andrews is a koi expert. He writes books and gives lectures on this subject. Get a FREE 10-part mini course on How to Keep Koi Tips and Tricks.

Although Koi is simply a carp, modern specimens are products of selective breeding over many generations. Outside elements such as the environment that they live in and the diet they eat can also affect the color of Koi.

It is easy to understand the patience and skill it took for the first Japanese breeders to develop such a magnificent fish.

Koi are extremely social with other breeds of fish as long as they are not small enough to be eaten by these opportunistic feeders. In a smaller pond Koi may seem to school together, but in larger areas they tend to split up into small groups. Most fish owners understand that most fish will only grow to the size of their enclosure. However, because Koi can grow to be a large fish, they require and thrive in ponds that are about five hundred gallons or more.

It is important to keep the number of fish in a pond relative to the amount of water that the pond holds. The depth and size of the pond is extremely important. A pond that contains a depth of at least four feet provides enough room for the colorful Koi to thrive. The health of the fish depends a lot upon the amount of space that Koi fish owners provide their fish with. Koi can be kept outside in the winter. As the winter temperatures begin to drop, the colorful Koi fish will begin their winter hibernation, and their digestive systems will slow almost to a halt. However, undigested food in their stomachs can grow rancid and could cause the fish to become sick. Because of this, Koi should not be feed in weather less the fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Outdoor ponds can be relaxing when the sounds of the rippling water flows through the yard but, no pond is complete without a gorgeous ornamental fish like the Colorful Koi

Many Koi owners consider themselves lucky to be able to have these fish touch their lives and brighten up their worlds.

About the Author

Don Miller has been breeding Koi for over 25 years. If you found the article on Koi Care of interest, you will also find further information and articles at the Koi Guide website http://www.go-to1.com/koi

However, they are not goldfish, but a different variety of carp that can be found in virtually every Chinese and Japanese garden where there is a pond.

This beautifully coloured fish originates from the common carp ‘cyprinus carpio’, that were originally cultivated by Chinese rice growers thousands of year ago, in small pond fisheries purely as a cheap food source.

With cross border travel with its neighbours, the cultivation of koi carp flourished under the Chinese Qing Dynasty and Japanese Edo period. It was during this period that the Japanese began to breed Koi fish, not as a food source, but specifically for both their colour and form.

In the 1800’s, with the widespread popularity of owning these colourful fish, the incentive for the refinement of existing varieties of Koi grew even stronger in Japan, with the development of new colours and patterns

In Japanese mythology, koi carp are thought to swim up stream against the current, symbolizing strength and individualism. According to Japanese legend if a koi succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called Dragon Gate on the Yellow River it would be transformed into a dragon.

Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.

Dragon Carp, Butterfly Koi, or Long fin Koi, are a type of ornamental koi fish notable for their elongated finnage. However, they all originate from the ‘cyprinus Carp (which includes numerous wild carp species as well as the domesticated variety called ‘Nishikigoi’)

Nishikigoi’ are most often referred to as ‘koi’ by those who speak English, probably due to the fact that “koi” is easier to say. Regardless of what we call them, they are still basically the same carp that have been bred for colour rather than food

Colourful Koi fish are now bred all over the world, not only for their aesthetic beauty but also for a great potential as a dollar earner. To date, Koi are considered to be the most expensive ornamental fish in existence. A prize example can be valued in the $100,000 range and live a long time.

As garden ponds become more and more popular in the west, one of the favourites is one containing koi fish. They are considered some of the most beautiful ornamental fish in the world, and are truly living jewels in your garden pond and can really make your garden pond come alive.

To get the most pleasure from your koi fish however, you will need to create the ideal environment for such wonderful tiny creatures to enjoy, with various koi pond plants and other pond animals

Creating a Koi pond is a marvellously satisfying hobby that will not only provide you with years of enjoyment, but can also have a calming affect on you after a hectic day at work.

Your efforts will be rewarded not just with magnificent Koi fish, but you’ll see beauty and tranquillity within you and your home.