This time I pay a visit to a hobbyist, that I believe, has a smaller system with all the makings of a great koi pond. It's a lovely looking setup with an excellent filtration system, not only offering its inhabitants conditions to thrive but also acting as a great attribute to the house and garden.

 

The owner, Martin, I met a few years ago when he had recently finished the construction of the pond. It's been tweaked and tampered with since, whilst on his quest to find the right balance of filtration, but I think now he's finally happy with the way it performs. 

​

In an ideal world our pond would be 'spot on' from the get go, but that's easier said than done. Sometimes the addition of a shower, a protein skimmer or a larger biological chamber further down the line, is just what is needed to elevate our ponds to the next level. Remember, every pond performs differently and so a willingness to remain open minded, not to give up or 'make do,' are important approaches when looking to create an environment our koi can thrive in. 

 

I've also witnessed the development of Martin's 'eye' over the last few years. He's a keen fisherman and initially I think he just looked to see if new purchases had all fins present and correct! I jest...sort of! Like all of us, our tastes change as our eye for koi appreciation develops and before long it's a case of:

 

"That's got to go"

"What was I thinking?"

"It definitely wasn't bent when I purchased it...?"

​

It's worth remembering that with a smaller setup space is at a premium, so it's important to avoid buying merely for the sake of it. After a few years, Martin now has a lovely collection of koi in the making. He has also purchased a few koi in particular that I was very fond of, so this was a great opportunity to catch up with their development. 

​

Specifications

Gallonage: ​2200

Bottom drain: one aerated.

Waterproofing: Fibreglass 

Skimmer: one wide mouth skimmer

Mechanical Filter: AEM Drum 

Biological Filter: BBF5 (bead filter), 500ltrs fluidised k1, Shower filter 

Uv: Built into the Drum 

Pumps: Aqua forte 30,000 + Aqua forte 20,000

Heating: Hydro Pro 7kw air source heat pump 

Koi: 14 pieces from 30-65cm

Food: Saki Hikari and JPD Shogun  

 

The pond is geared towards the growing and development of its residents and Martin has definitely tried to reduce the running costs of owning such a system. The 'koi house' that sits over the pond does a great job of keeping the water nice and warm. On the day I visited the air temp inside was 31c and the pond sat comfortably at 23c...not bad at all! This way of keeping koi, sort of 'semi-indoors,' is becoming very popular here in the UK. Building the pond inside a koi house with removable side/sides allows you to enjoy the pond as part of the garden in the summer months, but also keep it nice and toasty come winter and spring, without heating the atmosphere and all the associated costs! Martin is very happy he made such a choice and the pond seems to reap the rewards.

 

It's all about creating stable environments and having an enclosed/partially enclosed pond certainly helps a great deal. 

​

Martin is not shy when it comes to feeding his koi and this shows in the growth rates he is achieving. To support this and to keep good water, Martin has pieced together a filtration system that can cope more than adequately. This didn't happen over night however, it has been the result of much tweaking and testing and furthermore financial investment, but I think the time and effort has paid off. Whilst chatting we talked about the importance of 'balance' and not relying on one type of filter or media to do the job. Variety is the spice of life and I for one believe that a balance and blend of biological filtration and media is required for optimal results, as long as it is executed with simplicity. Martin, like many nowadays, uses a shower, a fluidised chamber and a bead filter and produces fantastic water. He states that he wouldn't be without any of them...