I often wonder if every industry runs the way ours does. Ponds became trendy and so many upstarts became pond experts overnight. But the fact is, you need decades of study, passion and experience to become an expert at anything. The truth is there are not a lot of real koi pond experts out there, despite what the websites claim
And of course, expertise just part of the equation. Being able to do the work physically, being honest, having the right tools and equipment, creative talent and pride are required to create a technically proficient and beautiful pond. This is really a tall order and why we see so many inept jobs in our travels
The scenarios we encounter are sometimes literally beyond belief but in fact true - right in front of us - hence the impetus for this page.
Sadly it is often the fish that pay the ultimate price when the client receives poor advice and an improperly constructed pond
Common Bad Ponding Advice
Don't feed your fish
Your fish will find enough natural food and don't need to be fed. Actually what will happen is they will suffer to hang on, become stunted and in the worst case scenario, perish
UV's Shouldn't be Used
We have had clients tell us that their pond expert told them not to use UV's. Of course, you don't have to use a UV, it is not essential. Be prepared though for your pond to go through a green spell or two, generally in the Spring and there are some negatives to this
I believe this poor advice is rooted in the natural approach and the misguided want for this trophic level. Again, your backyard pond is not natural due to the abundance of apex predators - your fish [mink and herons ignored]. It is much better to be able to see your fish, particularly in the Spring and limit overnight anoxic conditions that an algae bloom can create
Pond Depth
Sure fish can survive in water 2 feet deep - for awhile. This is a testament to their hardiness, not proof that this is all they need. Shallow ponds can overheat and don't provide much Winter protection. Fish do not feel safe either in these smaller environments
I remember doing a consult and seeing a pond that was about 15" deep. Surprisingly the fish were close to 18" and couldn't even go vertical in the water. All the time the lady was insisting that the people who built the pond were experts
paradox ponds
Sadly, these examples of poor workmanship are not the exception. We see so called "professional" work all the time that is just awful. As mentioned, 80% of our work is rebuilds and these are just some of the reasons why
A common sight is undersized plumbing - even by pool companies who do not seem to refer to pipe friction loss charts at all
The picture left illustrates some "professional plumbing" done by a well known koi dealer and pond installer in New York. To me, this is pretty embarrassing