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A good rule of thumb is to change 5% to 15% of your koi pon’s water every week. Partial water changes help keep your koi healthy, and replacing small amounts at a time prevents causing stress for the fish.

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.

Koi fish should be in the shade and can’t be directly exposed to the sun. Consider building your koi pond in a shaded spot or hanging an awning over the top to control the amount of sunlight coming in. Learn how to design a landscape properly.

While they’re popular and have a lot of pros, the cons of river rocks include the following:

• River rocks don’t break down or provide nutrients to plants. 

• These stones can get hot and scorch nearby plants. 

• River stones may heat the surrounding soil to inhospitable temperatures. 

• Rocks can block rainwater from seeping into the ground if installations are too thick or tightly packed.

Most downsides occur when using river rock as mulch in gardens and flower beds. However, you can still incorporate river rocks into your landscape as long as you use them in the correct ways.