If you want a Koi pond, you should know it is very important to have lots of plants in the pond, to provide shade and shelter for your Koi. There are also plants that your Koi will eat, plus it is important to understand that Koi are bottom feeders, so they will root around the plants. For this reason gravel is a superb substrate, so you should add a top layer of gravel to your Koi pond.
It is recommended to take the plants out of the pot and rinse all the dirt off of the roots before plants in the gravel as this adds to the natural beauty of the Koi pond. You can use plants such as the Water Hyacinth and Watercress for your Koi`s diet and plant them close to the waterfall, so it can splash on them.
Another plant that enjoys the splashing water is Pickerel Rush and you can plant these below the waterfall. These plants are excellent at filtering the water and therefore, keeps the water crystal clear. as per http://rcmoore.articlealley.com
For the best kind of gravel, try River Gravel instead of Pea or Pebble Stone because it usually looks much more natural. For the waterfall, use some larger stones, to break up the look and the water flow. Put 1 to 2 feet of gravel on each side.
An absolute must for your Koi pond are two bottom drains as they will prove to be invaluable if you need to drain the pond or fix a leak. Remember as a general rule of thumb, it`s 1 inch of fish per 10 gallons of water, for example, if you have a 350 gallon pond, you can only have a 36 inch Koi. as per http://.juliabryan.articlealley.com
Young Koi can grow a rapid 4 to 6 inches the first year and within 2 years they can reach 12 to 14 inches long. Ideal depth for a Koi pond is 4 to 6 feet, so they have somewhere to winter. Once it gets cold, depending on how cold it gets in your area, you may want to get a stock tank heater, but keep a hole punched in the ice so the toxic gases can escape. For more info, you can visit: www.ilovekoi.blogspot.com
Image source en.wikipedia.org used with permission
Related posts:
- Here`s Some Beneficial Plants For Your Koi Pond!
- Have You Ever Thought Of Bringing Your Koi Pond Indoors?
- The Five Types Of Koi Pond Plants; Keeps Your Pond Healthy!
- The Importance Of Oxygen In Your Koi Pond, Part 1
- The Importance Of Oxygen In Your Koi Pond, Part 2!
Article source: http://www.petanim.com/17754/msutton/plantgravel-info-helping-maintain-koi-pond/