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When deciding whether or not to turn off your pump, you should consider your area’s climate and the aquatic life in your pond. If you live in an area with freezing winter temperatures and don’t have any wildlife, keeping your pump on could damage it. If you have aquatic life but live in a colder climate, you might consider keeping your pump running and adding a pond heater.

When deep cleaning your koi pond, transfer fish to a clean, uncontaminated container at least one foot deep, like a large bucket, tub, or kiddie pond. Fill the container with their existing pond water to avoid shocking them, and place the container in full or partial shade. When it’s time to reintroduce them into the pond, slowly add the new water to the container before adding the fish and container water back into the pond.

How many fish can call your pond home depends on the volume of the pond and the fish size. Your pond's filtration system also influences the number of fish that will thrive in a pond. A general rule of thumb is to have 1 inch of fish for every square foot in a pond that's 2 feet deep. Another rule of thumb you can follow is to have one koi fish for every 200 gallons of water or two goldfish for every 200 gallons.

Lifespans vary by material and manufacturer, but pond liners last anywhere from 10 to 75 years. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pond liners have a life expectancy of up to 20 years. Other types of pond liners, including those made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), can last 40 to 50 years.