View Full Version : Koi pond depth
I am wondering how deep can a koi pond be? Is 7 feet too deep? I read an article before if a pond is past 5 feet deep and if airation is too high koi may show effects of dropsy or float/sleep side ways
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Josh H
02-13-2016, 03:45 PM
Hopefully the mods will move this for you to the pond and construction thread... but my pond is almost 9' deep, the only reason is that is as deep as the excavator would go... I don't believe any of your concerns would happen, I have not had any issues... there are multiple benefits to a deep pond... The fish can swim vertically to exercise and you get more water volume in the same footprint...
Good catch Josh! I saw "Construction" and missed the rest! I'll move it right now.
And ditto to Josh's thoughts on depth... I've seen them 11' deep and nothing but beneficial as far as I could tell.
koiman1950
02-13-2016, 04:53 PM
Well, on the "other side" of the issue, yes, if you read articles by Mike Snaden of Yumi Koi, he feels a pond deeper than 2 meters can cause swim bladder issues with larger koi. While there have been ponds built that are deeper, as mentioned, they're far and few between compared to the total number of ponds in this country alone. Depending on the overall width/length size of the pond design in question, IMHO, would dictate to some degree, the overall depth that works well and doesn't become a nightmare to deal with. Also, I would think your location would be a consideration to some degree as well.
Mark Anderson
02-13-2016, 04:59 PM
I have seen ponds here in Vt. over 20' deep with no issues.
koiman1950
02-13-2016, 05:01 PM
I have seen ponds here in Vt. over 20' deep with no issues.
Are these man-made private concrete/liner ponds? Would love to see pics and know overall size dimensions. I don't think the conversation is about mud ponds or natural earth ponds here!?!
ricshaw
02-13-2016, 09:20 PM
The thinking use to be bigger and deeper is better. Hobbyist built 10,000 gallon and 8 feet deep ponds.
There is now some hobbyists thinking a "more manageable" size pond is better. A trend towards 5,000 gallon and 5 - 6 feet deep ponds.
DragonFireSG
02-13-2016, 11:23 PM
You know you're overdoing it when you need SCUBA equipment to perform casual maintenance :)
I think that depth should be a function of surface area. Too much depth relative to surface area will probably compromise oxygenation levels unless some form active circulation is used.
Mark Anderson
02-14-2016, 08:38 AM
These ponds are all man made natural bottom ponds. Most are built on springs. There are not too many outdoor concrete or liner ponds up here, just too cold. Most have aeration with pumps and fountains, but issues involving depth and health are usually related to not keeping an air hole for gas exchange. Many also keep trout along with koi and they coexist. I will take pics this spring of some.
koiman1950
02-14-2016, 04:23 PM
You know you're overdoing it when you need SCUBA equipment to perform casual maintenance :)
I think that depth should be a function of surface area. Too much depth relative to surface area will probably compromise oxygenation levels unless some form active circulation is used.
This has ALWAYS been my personal/professional opinion on the matter. Most average/larger KOI ponds are about 5000-7500gal and based on length/width, are roughly between 4-6' deep. Again, location and local weather conditions can also play a part in this to control temps more efficiently as well.
Yeah, Mark, I don't think there's a real comparison of hobbyist built garden ponds with natural bottom reservoirs and such with no filtration, etc.
MCAsan
02-14-2016, 04:56 PM
I am wondering how deep can a koi pond be? Is 7 feet too deep? I read an article before if a pond is past 5 feet deep and if airation is too high koi may show effects of dropsy or float/sleep side ways
Ours is 8' deep. I would never build a koi pond shallower than that. No sign of dropsy in the past 13 years. One of the best koi ponds I ever say was just north of Ft. Worth and was 12' deep. Carp are riverine fish that can and do routinely live in water much deeper than 10 feet.
Ours is 8' deep. I would never build a koi pond shallower than that. No sign of dropsy in the past 13 years. One of the best koi ponds I ever say was just north of Ft. Worth and was 12' deep. Carp are riverine fish that can and do routinely live in water much deeper than 10 feet.
What well happen if you went shallower ?
MCAsan
02-14-2016, 08:01 PM
The pond would have less water (negative) and less temp stability do to lesser ground effect (negative). My previous pond was only 4' deep in Dallas,TX. Never again.
johnhubbs
02-15-2016, 11:13 AM
Greetings,
My pond is 8 feet deep, masonry construction. While it is new and going through first winter, I have a few friends with ponds 6 feet and deeper. No negative issues except catching the koi when needed. Siene nets are needed so the koi can be brought to surface and removed with koi sock.
MCAsan
02-15-2016, 11:59 AM
So all those that believe that water deeper than 6ft/2m.....please provide info on how carp survive in rivers and lakes in far deeper water? Relative to what wild carp can experience in nature, 6ft/2m is shallow.
ricshaw
02-15-2016, 12:58 PM
Ours is 8' deep. I would never build a koi pond shallower than that. No sign of dropsy in the past 13 years. One of the best koi ponds I ever say was just north of Ft. Worth and was 12' deep. Carp are riverine fish that can and do routinely live in water much deeper than 10 feet.
I can only imagine the trouble it would be to try and catch a nisai by yourself.
johnhubbs
02-15-2016, 01:03 PM
So all those that believe that water deeper than 6ft/2m.....please provide info on how carp survive in rivers and lakes in far deeper water? Relative to what wild carp can experience in nature, 6ft/2m is shallow.
Forgive me for asking, but do you want responses for or against deeper water habitats for koi?
Your response seems ambiguous. I am for deeper water...
Regards, John...
MCAsan
02-15-2016, 01:55 PM
I can only imagine the trouble it would be to try and catch a nisai by yourself.
I do it without problem by myself for the club's spring auction and for the fall koi show. I use my long handled 32" herding net to bring the targeted fish to the corner where I have a wet sock net ready to go. The koi are moved to a show tank on my patio where they will be kept unit the next morning when they head to an auction or show. The next morning I bag, oxygenate the bags, put the bags into coolers, hand truck the coolers to the SUV in the driveway and away we go.
koiman1950
02-15-2016, 06:19 PM
Ours is 8' deep. I would never build a koi pond shallower than that. No sign of dropsy in the past 13 years. One of the best koi ponds I ever say was just north of Ft. Worth and was 12' deep. Carp are riverine fish that can and do routinely live in water much deeper than 10 feet.
So all those that believe that water deeper than 6ft/2m.....please provide info on how carp survive in rivers and lakes in far deeper water? Relative to what wild carp can experience in nature, 6ft/2m is shallow.
You keep mentioning "wild carp" and trying to compare their wild environment with a species that is now, based on over 100 years of in-breeding and human intervention, no longer resembling their wild counterparts other than shape, overall. Personally, my earlier post mentioned that a professional dealer, with years of experience, has noted that he finds more mature aged fish kept in ponds over 6' in depth seem to suffer a higher rate of swim bladder issues than those kept in ponds with a max of 2 meters. Folks can do whatever they please, but without long term study of the effects of a certain parameter with regards to "koi" not "wild carp" should not be recognized as "wise".
It has also been stated that depth is something that should be considered as part of length and width. A 6'x10' pond should not be considered a good candidate for 8' of depth. Now, a pond that's 12'x25' or so, that might be a different story. Also, yes, a 4' deep pond, in the wrong temperature zone could be a catastrophic mistake as well. Folks should do their research before just taking a shovel to soil thinking they "know" how to build a pond. There's an old saying, "ponds/boats are holes in the ground/water that men throw money into"! How many times you throw money into it kinda defines how many times you need to be kicked in the head before you realize you need to stop spending money on the "hole" and invest in the inhabitants living in that hole!LOL