Keep Your Koi Safe From Predators

As we all look forward to enjoying Central Florida's cooler temperatures in the months ahead we need to be proactive when it comes to protecting our koi fish from predators.

A few simple additions to your backyard pond can save your beloved koi.

 Know your enemies
While there are many predators that love to eat fish we really only have a few that cause problems in the Central Florida area.

For the raccoon, you have to first remember he doesn’t mind getting his hands wet, however he does not want to get his entire body wet so it is not likely swim to catch a fish. The design of the pond plays a big role in the safety of your koi. A plant shelf that is too shallow will help him snag a fish every time.

The Florida Great White Egret and the Blue Heron are much more of a challenge to deal with. They are very crafty and smart birds and you should not underestimate them.
These two birds tend to be more of a concern in our winter months. As the lake fish swim deeper in the cooler months it becomes more difficult to get fish from the lakes. They then often find their way into our backyard ponds.

How to protect your koi

There are many methods available to keep them or scare them away from your pond – from plastic heron statue replicas to floating alligator decoys and motion-activated sprinkler. Often ponds are netted to prevent the unwanted predator from entering the pond.
These options all offer varying levels of success for every water garden hobbyist.  

How Decoys Work
Your first defense is to use a decoy of some sort, whether it is heron or alligator decoy. They work better if you keep moving them around the pond to fool the heron into thinking they are real. Herons would rather not feed in the same water as an alligator, and if they see that another bird has staked out your backyard already, they are more likely to move on to the next available spot. The trick is to move the decoy about every three days in the winter and spring and every couple of weeks in the summer.

Fingers Crossed

The most important thing to remember is to have fun with your fish, and to remember that all of these occurrences are case specific. You may never see a heron or raccoon in your backyard.

Pondtastic Water Gardens of Orlando Installs the Aquascape Pond Ecosystem

Ecosystem Ponds

Ecosystem ponds can be easy to understand, At Pondtastic Water Gardens, we have complete knowledge of what components go into a basic, or advanced functioning ecosystem. An ecosystem pond works with Mother Nature to provide food, shelter, and safety to the wildlife around it. It also provides you with an all-natural, low-maintenance piece of paradise. It’s important to remember, however, that every piece of the ecosystem puzzle must be present in order for a true ecosystem to be in place. Eliminate one of these elements and you’ve got an unbalanced ecosystem that won’t be so low-maintenance anymore. Check out the things you’ll need to get your ecosystem pond fired up:

Circulation System is really just a fancy way of saying “pumps and plumbing.” The proper size pump and pipe diameter are extremely important for the aesthetics of a water feature. More importantly, an efficient circulation system keeps the water moving and provides the necessary oxygen levels for healthy fish and plants.

Proper Filtration System includes the use of both a biological and a mechanical filter. A biological filter provides surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize and remove excess nutrients from the water. A mechanical filter will not only pre-filter the water and house the pump; it will also skim debris from the water’s surface to prevent the accumulation of organic materials on the pond floor.

Fish are an integral part of any ecosystem. Unfortunately, fish are often seen as creating a maintenance nightmare. Contrary to popular belief, fish will actually reduce pond maintenance, as they graze on string algae and bottom feed from the pond floor.

Aquatic Plants are Mother Nature’s true filters. Plants are great for adding character to a pond by providing color and texture, but from a filtration perspective, they’re second to none. Thriving from the excess nutrients in a pond and depriving algae of its food source, the aquatic plants in a water garden, given proper coverage, are critical for the overall health of the ecosystem.


Rocks, Gravel, and Bacteria have been a controversial element in the hobby for many years. Many enthusiasts have steered away from rocks and gravel out of fear that their system will become a maintenance nightmare. On the contrary, rocks and gravel will not only make your pond look more natural, they will also protect pond liners from UV light degradation and they provide tremendous surface area for beneficial bacteria to break down excess nutrients in the water and dissolved organic debris on the pond floor.

Having all these things in place makes all the difference in the health and success of your water garden. Use them and work with Mother Nature, not against her, for a chemical-free wonderland of water! The truth is that most people opt for the ecosystem way of water gardening because it’s easier and it just makes sense. A low-maintenance ecosystem pond provides you with more free time to enjoy friends and family … while gathered around your pond, of course!

Holy Heatwave Batman...

Well not really but as the summer months approach we can expect a warm summer here in Central Florida. Our outdoor ponds are going to face a tough year if we don't take some preventative steps now.

In Orlando we had the worst winter we have experienced in 13 years (that's what the weatherman said anyways)and that means that most of us have lost a great deal of the aquatic plants we have nurtured for years.

These plants are important to the health of your pond and we need to replace them as soon as possible.

Why are they so important?
Aquatic plants play a vitial role in the nitrogen cycle of your pond.
They provide shelter for your fish.
They compete with algae for nutrients in the water.
They filter the water by converting fish waste into plant food.

Get the idea why they are important?  And I haven't even started talking about the beneficial oxygen they provide and what that means to your pond.

Have more questions about aquatic plants?  Come see us on April 9th and 10th for Water Garden Weekend,  100s of aquatic plants available ... over 30 varieties.


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Next Blog........ Beneficial Bacteria and what it means to your pond !