For years, keeping a koi pond was considered a status symbol; a sure sign that you could afford to indulge in other luxuries. However, the proliferation of cheap electronics and gadgets has reduced the appeal of this traditional Japanese art form. In today’s world, a koi pond is more of a financial burden than an aesthetic pleasure.
The good news is that there are inexpensive and easy ways to keep a koi pond that don’t require as much effort as you’d think. With proper feeding and care, you can keep your decorative fish alive for years, making it a sustainable source of protein for your family and friends. In this article, we’ll discuss the various costs and benefits of keeping a koi pond.
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Koi Pond Cost
The main cost associated with keeping a koi pond comes from the food. Freshwater koi fish are relatively inexpensive, but the cost quickly escalates when you consider that you’ll need to feed them regularly. A 50-gallon tank will set you back around $400–$500, and you’ll spend around $50 per month on food for just two adults and two kids.
You might be tempted to feed your fish cheaper products such as bread, pasta, and potato flakes, but these foods are low in nutritional value and can cause serious damage to your fish. If you want to avoid this, you should stick to foods such as fish eggs, which are highly prized among fish keepers and have a high protein content. You’ll find a wide variety of fish eggs at your local market, and you can use the protein in your baking to help support your family’s health.
Koi Pond Maintenance
The costs associated with maintaining a koi pond are quite high. Aside from the food, you’ll need to consider the water change. Each month, you’ll need to replace around 10% of the total amount of water in your tank. The best option for this is a water heater with an accurate tank scale, which will make maintaining your pond much cheaper and more convenient.
Depending on how much fresh water you have in your tank, you’ll need to perform the routine water change a little differently. For example, if you have 10 gallons of fresh water, you’ll need to perform the water change every four weeks.
The Advantages Of Having A Koi Pond
While the main attraction of a koi pond may be the beautiful fish that you can admire from above, there are a number of other advantages to having one. Freshwater fishing is a very relaxing pastime and is a great way to spend a day away from the hustle and bustle of the world. This hobby provides you and your family with a cheap and cheerful source of protein that doesn’t require too much attention or effort.
A lot of people consider koi fish to be a valuable addition to their aquarium. As we discussed above, these fish are quite popular and are often kept as a status symbol amongst the affluent classes in Japan. The average person in Japan will spend around $600 on a gold koi fish per year, so having one or two gold koi fish in your tank won’t hurt the finances too much.
If you want to keep your fish for a longer period of time, you’ll need to make sure that you feed them appropriately. Certainty in your finances is a great way to go, as well as proper food and water quality controls. An experienced fish keeper can set you back around $120,000 over the course of 10 years (conservatively), making this a not-so-cheap way to indulge in your hobby of choice.
Choosing to keep fish is a very personal thing and each person’s situation is a little different. If you decide that this is something that interests you, then the above information should provide you with the basics of setting up your tank and what types of foods your fish will need to eat. If you want to learn more, then contact your local pet store or fish tank supply store and see if they can help you out. Good luck out there.