A Pond of Cure
When Phil Rulloda comes home from a hectic day, the first thing he sees is his koi pond. The tranquil sound of water and the colorful koi swimming around immediately put the floral designer in a relaxed state of mind.
“The waterfall and the fish can be very therapeutic,” says Rulloda, who lives in Fullerton.
Koi ponds and water gardens add a sense of tranquillity and beauty to the landscape and have become popular in recent years, says Marilyn Daly, owner of the Billabong Gardens Inc. Her Pasadena nursery carries water plants and provides waterscape and landscape services. Daly and many other water garden and koi specialists are attending the Fullerton Arboretum’s 27th annual Green Scene Garden Show today and Sunday.
Though sometimes confused as one in the same, koi ponds and water gardens are different. Koi ponds may have some water plants, but the emphasis is on the fish. Water gardens, on the other hand, focus on water plants, such as water lilies. These gardens might have goldfish and/or mosquito fish.
Having a koi pond is a lot like having a giant outdoor aquarium, says Mark Fanizza, shop coordinator of Laguna Koi Ponds, a Laguna Beach company specializing in koi ponds and water gardens that will also be at the Green Scene. “Koi are big, muscular fish that eat a lot and produce a lot of waste, so the ponds require regular maintenance,” he says.
Koi ponds tend to be somewhat large because it is important to give koi adequate room, which generally means at least 1,000 gallons of water and a depth of about 3 feet or more.
“Contrary to popular opinion, koi don’t grow to the size of the pond,” Fanizza says. “If they’re in a tight space, they will grow more slowly, but they will eventually outgrow their system if it isn’t big enough.”
Koi also need adequate filtration, says Bob Burtscher, who put a koi pond in his Fullerton backyard six years ago. “Koi are big fish. I have some that are 3 feet long and weigh 25 to 30 pounds. To be successful with a koi pond, it’s important to find out how much filtration you need before putting the pond in.”
Planning before you start digging is critical, Fanizza says. “In general, a filter should be able to pump the entire pond volume in one hour,” he says. “People tend to have their ponds under-filtered, which causes them a lot of unnecessary time and money trying to achieve a balance. The filtration requirements also change as the fish grow.”
In addition, a pond needs water circulation or areas can stagnate, which can be toxic to the fish. There are air-circulation devices, such as decorative fountains, for smaller ponds. Larger ponds sometimes require underwater jets.
Koi can be long-lived fish. In ideal situations, they will live in excess of 15 to 25 years. They can, however, fall victim to a variety of problems, including predators such as raccoons and herons, diseases and chlorine.
Some gardeners are able to successfully have a koi and water garden combination, but many find that the koi are rough on plants, Fanizza says. He suggests a few plants tough enough to stand up to koi such as Egyptian papyrus, iris, umbrella plant and established water lilies.
Billabong’s Daly says water plants can live with koi if you plant the pond with large plants when the koi are young.
Keep in mind that if koi need treatment for parasites, bacteria or fungal diseases, plants may suffer, Fanizza says.
“Salt is often used as a treatment tool, and few plants can tolerate high amounts of salt.”
Koi usually run $10 to $20 for standard fish, to thousands of dollars for unusual or rare koi.
Smaller Gardens
Plants are the focal point of a water garden, and unlike koi ponds that require a lot of space, you can put a water garden in a whiskey barrel.
Good fish for water gardens are small ones such as goldfish and mosquito fish. Vector control ([714] 971-2421) will provide them free of charge.
When planning a water garden, location is very important. The area should be bright, but cool. Most plants, especially those that flower, require at least five hours of sun a day, but the pond shouldn’t be set in an area that will receive scorching sun. If an area is somewhat shady, choose foliage plants rather than those that flower.
The container should be at least 18 inches deep and covered 60% to 75% with plants. This will keep the water cool and cut down on sunlight, which will help prevent an overgrowth of algae. Algae is common in new ponds, but if left to grow unchecked, will choke out all other plants.
One other important element of a healthy, attractive water garden is keeping it clean.
“A water garden will get messy and overgrown,” Daly says. “Ponds need to be periodically cleaned, and the water plants should be trimmed back.”
A water garden should be planted with a good mix of plants. In general, there are three categories of pond plants:
* Bog plants that can live submerged in the water. Bog plants add some shade to the water, but are mostly ornamental.
* Oxygenators add oxygen to the water and help balance the pond and prevent algae buildup.
* Floating plants such as water lilies and water hyacinths are also balancers because they keep out sunlight, which also keeps algae in check.
Oxygenators and floaters are the best competitors for algae, which can be a problem when you’re trying to establish the pond, and can choke out all plants if it grows unchecked. It’s a good idea to start a pond with 60% to 70% coverage to prevent algae from getting a hold through lots of sunlight and access to lots of nutrients.
Some experts say that if a water garden is well-planned and balanced with the right amount and kinds of plants, it can be self-sustaining and not need any filtration. Others suggest a small filtration system.
“In nature, ponds have an outflow and an inflow, so we suggests adding a small filter to keep up with the solids that accumulate,” Fanizza says. “Circulation produced by things like water falls is also a good idea.”
Resources
* Laguna Koi Ponds, Laguna Beach, (949) 494-5107.
* Billabong Gardens Inc., open by appointment only, (626) 583-8776.
Koi clubs are a great place to obtain information about building and maintaining a koi pond:
* The Zen Nippon Airinkai Koi Club is holding a tutoring session for people new to koi May 7. Call (714) 731-5610 for more information.
* Nishiki Koi Club, (714) 544-6588.
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Water Plants
These water plants do well in this area and are readily available through water plant specialists.
Anacharis
Azolla
Canna
Cattail
Elephant’s Ear/Taro
Houttuynia cordata
Iris
Papyrus
Parrot’s feather
Pickerel
Umbrella plant
Vallisneria
Water lily
Watercress
