Koi pond???

land_mine · August 2007

I just purchased a brownstone in the Slope, and am looking for advice from other brownstone owners who may have put in their own Koi pond. My fiance and I are thinking of installing a Koi pond in the backyard, and POSSIBLY one in the front as well (but maybe we'll do something like a fountain instead)... If anyone has been through this process before, I'd love to get your advice.

santa · August 2007

can I rent out the basement if I build the pond for you?

land_mine · August 2007

Sorry. I'm using the basement as my private practice office. I may have some space left in the attic (but may put in a sauna/darkroom)...

whyfi · August 2007

I've never installed one, but an old acquaintance built and maintained high end ponds and (of course) sold Koi in MN. Hugely expensive to do it right, between aeration, filtration, heating and the fish themselves. If you're going to invest in some real deal Koi, have a pro work with you - the last thing that you want to see when you go in to the yard is a $1200 fish belly up.

My $.02

livetotravel · August 2007

Go to 5th Avenue and ask the manager at Nana Restaurant who built their koi pond.

schmoppa · August 2007

I'd keep the stuff in the backyard. You might have restrictions on what you can put in the front, plus your taste in ....fountains....might not go over so well with the neighbors....plus you risk vandalism or people messing with/stealing the fish

johnife · August 2007

I have a small pond in my back yard that I built. It's about 4' 0" x 2' 6" in plan and 3' 6" deep or so. The depth is important because if you want the fish to survive the winter you have to give them enough depth to stay below the ice and near freezing water. I'm using a biological filter with a dedicated pump and the pool also has a waterfall at one end powered by a seperate pump.

When I first built the pond I stocked it with three koi. They survived 2 or three years but it was a constant battle testing and maintaining the correct chemical balance of the water for those sensitive creatures. When I poisoned them by injudicious application of caulk to attempt to stop water migrating in the wrong direction through the pieces of slate forming the waterfall (I'm such a BAD caregiver!) I was kind of relieved and decided to go with regular big goldfish. I was told by the pet store that they're known as American Pond Fish but I prefer to affectionately call them American Pond Scum. They don't keel over at minor changes in water quality and can tolerate (for a limited time) such inevitable occurrences as pumps shutting down when rain triggers the GFI switch. What's more, this summer they produced what looks like about 15 to 20 babies. If you can lower your requirements from "designer" fish to "mutt" fish, you're welcome to take some of the babies when you've built the pool. If you want see my pool and get tips on the construction, drop me a line at johnife at panix dot com. I'll be away this weekend but will return the middle of next week.

John Ife

pitu · August 2007

My friend builds them out of old home satellite dishes - but he lives in the country where people have trashed alot of those monsters. And yeah, big goldfish, not $$$ koi. He uses a solar power'd filter.

The community garden on 6th St (Ave B and C) in the East Village has an excellent fish pond . . . they dug it deep and winter over the fish.

wtgirl · August 2007

We've been thinking of putting one in but we have a lot of raccoons in the yard and I don't feel like setting up a Sushi bar for them.

rebmarel · August 2007

start with goldfish from the pet store--- they are just as interesting, much less expensive, and good way to test (or have as pets in general)

land_mine · August 2007

Thanks so much everyone for the advice. And you're right about the fountain in the backyard, but as it is a bronze family of deer I doubt anyone would have issues with it. It's not something offensive or obnoxious. It's a modest, 6 foot fountain.
Thanks again everyone. I'll start with goldfish.

Koi pond???

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