Don’t be coy about koi

Fish ponds are becoming an additional earner for some pool builders. In the February-March 2011 issue of SPLASH! we looked at some of the similarities - and differences - between ponds and pools, and how builders can add this new revenue stream to their business. 

Koi ponds have been popular in Asia for centuries. Not only are they decorative on their own, but they attract all sorts of wildlife to a garden. 

Matthew Lai is the principal of The Fish Works, a water garden specialist located in Sydney’s Terrey Hills. His company specialises in the building, filtration and maintenance of koi ponds. They also breed and sell quality koi. 

Although they mainly build ponds, they have also consulted for pool/pond conversions, which the pool builder would then undertake under The Fish Works’ guidance. 

“People build ponds in their backyards for many different reasons,” says Lai. “Ponds attract birds, lizards and insects, and can provide a home for fish, tadpoles, frogs and yabbies.  

“And of course, some people who build large ponds often choose to keep koi carp, which the Japanese have selectively bred for hundreds of years to produce many different colour varieties, often with their own mythology surrounding them. 

“Koi swim with grace, and add to the aesthetic qualities of the pond; but they need space to thrive and be healthy. A pond of at least 1000 litres is necessary and a quality filtration system is essential to ensure that the water they live in remains crystal clear.”

For more information on The Fish Works click here.

There is more on Koi Ponds and how pool builders can use them to improve their range of offerings in the February March issue of SPLASH!