Pond essentials
Your first pond: start with the system
Plan for the fish as adults and for the person who has to maintain the pond.
Before you dig
Write down the fish you hope to keep, their adult space needs and the equipment’s running costs. Allow safe access to valves, filter drains and electrical isolation. A pond that is difficult to clean is difficult to keep stable.
Build a useful checklist
Confirm water volume, average and maximum depth, filtration, aeration, protected electrics and a safe overflow. Keep fertilisers, sprays and runoff away from the pond. Include a way for wildlife to escape without compromising the fish’s space.
Before the first fish
Fill and dechlorinate appropriately, run the system and establish biological filtration. Clear water and a running pump do not demonstrate that a new filter can process fish waste. Keep records of ammonia and nitrite. Buy fish gradually only after the setup is ready.
What to bring to WakeyKoi
A drawing, measurements and the filter/pump model numbers make a useful starting point. Tell us what already lives in the pond and whether it gets strong afternoon sun.
Make a shopping brief
Write down the space you have, the species you want and the equipment already chosen. Keep fish, construction and running costs in separate budget lines. The planner and species guides below help you turn that brief into a practical list.
Sources & further reading
Original WakeyKoi wording, informed by the references below. Linked clinical resources explain the evidence and their scope; they have not reviewed or endorsed this website.
Related guides
Educational guidance cannot diagnose an individual fish. Breathing distress, severe injury or unexplained losses need prompt professional assessment.