Koi ponds are ponds used for holding koi

Koi

or more specifically , are ornamental varieties of domesticated common carp that are kept for decorative purposes in outdoor koi ponds or water gardens....

, usually as part of a landscape. Koi ponds can be designed specifically to promote health and growth of the Nishkigoi or Japanese Ornamental Carp.

The architecture of the koi pond can have a great effect on the health and wellbeing of the koi. The practice of keeping koi often revolves around "finishing" a koi at the right time. The concept of finishing means that the fish has reached is highest potential. Koi clubs hold shows where koi keepers bring their fish for judging.

Components

Skimmer

The skimmer allows water to be drawn from the surface of the pond. It collects leaves, pollen, twigs, uneaten food and all other kinds of floating debris. The skimmer usually has a clean out basket that can be quickly emptied on a regular basis to allow the skimmer to run properly. Most floating skimmers will also have a foam that sits underneath the basket to filter out the finer particles.

Bottom drain

Bottom drains are not required in water gardens but are very beneficial for Koi Ponds. When used in a pond that does not have rocks on the bottom, a bottom drain allows the heavy solids to be carried to the mechanical filter.

Mechanical filter

Mechanical filtration can be accomplished many different ways. The job of this filter is to trap solids, preventing them from clogging the Biological filter. The mechanical filter should be backwashed or cleaned out often. Types of mechanical filters include Vortex, brushes, matting, sand and gravel, sieve screen, and settlement chamber.

Biological filter

Biological filters convert the nitrogenous wastes from the fish. This cycle is called the nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen cycle

The nitrogen cycle is the process by which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms. This transformation can be carried out by both biological and non-biological processes. Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include fixation, mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification...

. A biofilter

Biofilter

Biofiltration is a pollution control technique using living material to capture and biologically degrade process pollutants. Common uses include processing waste water, capturing harmful chemicals or silt from surface runoff, and microbiotic oxidation of contaminants in air...

 can be constructed many different ways. It is important for the koi keeper to understand how the filter is to be cleaned before they install one. Proper and regular cleaning of the mechanical and biological filters is critical for the health and quality of the koi. Bio-filters are sometimes divided into sub groups such as aerated or non-aerated. Types of bio-filters include:

• Moving bed filter - aerated
• Bakki shower
  Bakki shower
  Bakki showers are a type of trickle filtration.- Origins :First developed by the Momotaro Japanese Koi farm, the bakki shower attempts to simulate natures way of filtering water. Similar to a mountain stream where water cascades over rocks....
  
   or Trickle filter
  Bakki shower
  Bakki showers are a type of trickle filtration.- Origins :First developed by the Momotaro Japanese Koi farm, the bakki shower attempts to simulate natures way of filtering water. Similar to a mountain stream where water cascades over rocks....
  
   - aerated
• Sand filter
  Sand filter
  Sand filters are used for water purification. There are three main types;# rapid sand filters# upflow sand filters# slow sand filtersAll three methods are used extensively in the water industry throughout the world...
  
   - not aerated
• Cross-flow filter
  Cross-flow filtration
  In chemical engineering, biochemical engineering and protein purification, crossflow filtration is a type of filtration...
  
   - typically not aerated, the ERIC^TM filter is aerated.
• Bead filter

Ultraviolet light

An ultraviolet light is used to make algae

Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...

 flocculate (form into clumps), so that they can be removed by mechanical filtration.

Water and air pumps

Water pumps move water through the filter system and back to the pond in a recirculating manner. The important thing to understand about pumps is that they be sized to the pond and the filter system. When the total back pressure in the system is considered, a pump should be circulating the total volume of water at least once per hour for proper water quality. A pond air pump can be used to increase dissolved oxygen.

External links

• Associated Koi Clubs of America
• Zen Nippon Airinkai