need help with pond!

[Roryf]

okay, so at the moment I am in the process of building a pond in my garden. I used to be a fish maniac, but the hobby died down and then ended due to sports. But now im keen on getting back into it all. but this time not tropical but a pond!! (I cant wait)

I know things shouldn't be rushed so i have planned it all out and have dug the foundations for the cement as i am building the pond 2 feet above ground and 2 and a half feet below ground.

The pond is roughly 8 feet long and 5 feet wide, but im completely new to all this so i was wondering about different things i should take into account such as Best types of liner, heater mat (as i live in england i am guessing some kind of heating will be required of my pond)

Also The main question i wanted to ask was how to breed these fish. I know they will only breed if there is enough space to do so, so i will probably only get a few koi, and see what happens. but if you could give me a list of things i might need to breed koi.

Also here are a few other questions on my thread i posted on the breeding page, but i soon realised not many koi people were viewing....

Is my pond big enough?

How many koi should i put in my pond if i want to leave room for breeding to take place?

how many young will they spawn?

I live in England, is the conditions too cold?

what are the best conditions?

What species of koi are best suggested for me to breed?

Many thanks, hope i get some great feedback

 

[Muske]

Is the foundation already done? It is dug, but is concrete poured?

8x5x4=1200 gals.

A little small for more than a couple of Koi. If you can lengthen it by 4' and add 3' in width, you will more than double the volume. That will also allow for larger pumps and filters which will help keep water quality up increasing chances of breeding.

 

[Roryf]

i have not yet poured in the concrete, ive dug the trenches for the concrete but its probably 10 feet long 5 feet wide and i can alter the depth to what i want.Bascially what i have done is dug a trentch 1 foot wide around my pond and 1 and a half foot deep, i am going to concrete that so i have a steady hase for the wall i am building, then i am going to let it harden, dig out the middle, build the ball with breeze blocks, lay the liner. then put my top bricks on but the middle will not be concreted, it will just be mud inderneath the pond. but the base will be reallt steady. i have sean people with quite a few koi in a pond of this size.

 

[Duncan6618]

Just make it as big as you can manage. You never see anyone complaining that their pond is too big.

And get some smaller species of sturgeon, they'll love your cool England weather.

 

[Roryf]

Yeah man i was hoping for a couple biggens in there, problem is i wouldnt complain is i turned my whole garden into an underwarter paradise but im only 17, and my parents want the pond to fit in well with the surroundings. but it looks pritty big. i cant wait