So I want to keep Koi, but until I can build my house, I don't really have a pond. I'm thinking about above ground ponds, kiddie pools, perhaps, or any other smaller sized pond that could house a few koi.

I'm wanting to keep maybe two or three in a nice little set up in the front yard. I believe the back yard is too steep to build a pond. The above ground set up will have a wood frame built all the way around with plywood sides to hide the filtration equipment and keep it from getting rained on, etc.

What do you guys think? What's the best way to go about building this, and what's the best filtration for it?

I have a RENA XP2 that I guess I could use, but I'm not sure. I don't know if it's made to handle the extremes of outdoor weather.

The rule is 1000 gallons for 1 koi and then after that i ususally add 500 gallons per koi. So if you want 3 koi, you should get at least a 2000 gallon pond. They may be little when you buy them but you have to remember they get 3 feet? and are very active.

So, a kiddie pool wont cut it for koi, not even babies ;) .

Wow. I guess the kiddie pools we're just for viewing them, then? 2000 gallons... I'm just wondering exactly how big of a pond that is.... Know any dimensions to get a pond that size off the top of your head?

Hmm, not really. My pond is around 20 feet long, 10 feet wide, and mostly 40 inches deep(1/3 of the pond is 2 feet). Thats 2500 gallons. But, i think you should do a several 100 gallon pond with goldfish, koi really need a larger pond.

I would love to see a fully grown koi in real life.

TJTommy...the rule is that the pond shouldnt be overcrowded. I have seen many people keep koi in aquariums. Many people do not have the space for a huge pond. Being a Koi keeper I do not follow the 1fish to 1000gal rule...seriously when then grow larger yes...but when still small...i dont think so. I got a 4X2X1 tank with like 60 or so koi in it...seems ok IMHO....



Im going to put half those fish in a 1000litre pond because I just placed the plants in the tank and not enough room for them. But many have kept koi in kiddie pools. So IMHO they are ok MAZZA, If one can keep them in a pond...why cant you keep em in the kiddie pool. Just when they are bigger you got to put them in something more big.

O bte TJTommy...in Japan...breeders got a rule for larger koi....jumbo koi....1koi per 16tons of water. 36 koi in a 100m X 100m X 3m mud pond...so are you saying that I have to make a huge mud pond for my koi in the future? Hmmm...I got i feeling 80% of koi keepers would quit after awhile in this hobby.

Not to tell you off or anything, but i certainly doesnt believe in those rules, I.e. if i got 100 fry...sound I get a 100,000gallon pond for them?

Anyways...Mazza...I recommend you start off with say 2-4inch kois and about 100-200gal per fish for now. Kiddie pond you can prob put 20 or so small koi, but later on you have to reduce in numbers.

Sry for the late reply
Mango :)

"TJTommy...the rule is that the pond shouldnt be overcrowded. I have seen many people keep koi in aquariums. Many people do not have the space for a huge pond. Being a Koi keeper I do not follow the 1fish to 1000gal rule...seriously when then grow larger yes...but when still small...i dont think so. I got a 4X2X1 tank with like 60 or so koi in it...seems ok IMHO...."

Why keep fish if you cant house them properly?!! No point in that.. Sure, he can keep some smaller koi in a several 100 gallon pond for a year(Maybe) but they WILL need a bigger pond in a short time as they are fast growers. If you disagree with me that they ARENT fast growers then you have been STUNTING them. Koi in there second year should almost double size.

"O bte TJTommy...in Japan...breeders got a rule for larger koi....jumbo koi....1koi per 16tons of water. 36 koi in a 100m X 100m X 3m mud pond...so are you saying that I have to make a huge mud pond for my koi in the future? Hmmm...I got i feeling 80% of koi keepers would quit after awhile in this hobby."

Also, breeders and LFS dont house fish properly obviously becuase they are sold quick and dont need to spend even more money.

"Anyways...Mazza...I recommend you start off with say 2-4inch kois and about 100-200gal per fish for now. Kiddie pond you can prob put 20 or so small koi, but later on you have to reduce in numbers."
hmm, 2 4 inch koi in a 100-200 gallon pond.. ok. But 20 in a what, 40-50 gallon kiddie pool? How is he going to "reduce the numbers?"

Wow. You must know alot about koi. :D . Im going to be building a pond soon too. Ima make it a 20 by 20 feet and 5 foot deep :D . This is gonna take alot of time though.

No reason to hang our hearts out on our sleeves. I believe both of you are right. Of course, when the Koi are over 2 feet long, a bigger pond is going to be a must. If I have too many, some will have to be sold. It takes awhile for them to grow though, and while small, they can certainly be housed in smaller quarters. 1000 gallons for a 6 inch fish is a little overkill.

I thought about growing a few out in a kiddie pool, and then transfering them to my pond. The pond will probably be about 10 ft x 5 ft x 4 ft deep. I don't want it to be too big, but not too small. I want to house at least 405 koi in there so it at least looks active. I might even go a little bigger, but it's hard to say right now. I haven't even gotten plans for building it done yet. ;)

WOW. 405 kois :o I think it's better to start with 100. It will reduce less ammonia build up. Kois and goldfish are really ammonia machines you know.

TJTommy....your right too. I thought kiddie pool are those 2-3000gal pools >.< Sry for the mixup.

I don't think mazza meant 405 kois I think he might have meant 45 or something.

LOL Bartier, you are right. I actually meant 4 TO 5 kois. I missed the hypen and put a 0 instead, hahaha! 405 koi in a kiddie pool.

hahaha. I was about to say. 405 koi :P Well I guess 4 or 5 would be better than 100 or 405 :D

That seems like a nice started for a koi pond(10, 5, 4) When then 4-5 koi grow up, you should maybe upgrade to a 2500 gallon pond. I currently have 4 koi in a 2500, they are fine.

Good work how big of a kiddie pool are you talking about mazza because it is easy enough to get a kiddie pool that is around 1000 gallons we have one that is close to that big.