Dad's 6000 gallon pond

[fishb0ne]

Well, an estimate 6k gallon anyway, we suspect it's closer to 7k actually. I set-up a Picasa Slideshow for this, as I figured it'd be easier to share all photos that way.

The first set of 5 pics show off the pond my dad set up while we were living in Minnesota, before moving to Nebraska some years ago and setting up the new one. During that time the koi had to be housed indoors during winter as the water would freeze all the way to the bottom. That pond was up and running for about 3 years. The new pond is older than 5 years by now. The bigger koi are over 7 years old now, they are the first generation my dad had. They're nice, big and healthy [they look a lot smaller in the pics]. Also, since these pictures have been taken I think our population has almost doubled. We definitely have to start selling or giving them away As you can probably notice the pond starts off shallow, about a foot deep and goes all the way slightly up above one's waist in depth. The koi are in the pond year round, during winter they sit at the bottom in the deep point where temp at the absolute lowest is around 4*C/38*F and the water never freezes. Dad uses a heater/de-icer to keep a hole going to allow proper gas exchanges. Most of the plants come indoors during winter except for the water lilly.

My dad's pond, his pride and joy.

[Zagz]

Both ponds are gorgeous. The new pond must be easier to maintain over the winter months than the old pond. I'm sure the fish are happy there. Koi can live 30-50 years, but I can't say that would be a normal life expectancy for most koi that are kept by aquarists.

[fishb0ne]

The new pond is a lot easier to maintain. Dad usually takes care of everything but whenever I happen to be around I do as well. Not having to move the koi indoors in the winter is a big plus, the entire pond was designed with this in mind. He is considering the possibility of extending it and creating a second one about the same size with a small stream between them, deep enough to allow the koi to easily go from one part to the other.

[Zagz]

It certainly seems as though you have the space for it.n That sounds like a really cool idea. Did he use any lining for the bottom or just the dirt?

[fishb0ne]

He used lining and that was one of the things I helped him with. Too bad we don't have any pics but trust me, it was a LARGE piece and it was a pain to lay it just right.
The pond is about 28 feet long, 17 wide and 3.5 deep at the deepest point, right where the waterfall is.

[Zagz]

I want to build a pond this summer in the back yard. I would love to have 2 levels, the bottom level for the fish and the upper level housing a waterfall. LOL, I may end up bugging you for advice.

[fishb0ne]

I'd be more than happy to help.
I can tell you right off the bat that most of that hole was done with a bobcat, not all of it by hand Neighbor had a crew over to pave his driveway, dad spotted the bobcat, gave the guy some money and had him go as deep as he could into the ground

[paul_219]

Really gr8.

[fishb0ne]

I've updated the album, if anybody cares at all.

[black hills tj]

Looks great. The pics of the frozen surface with the koi underneat are really neat.