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A water garden has the primary purpose of growing aquatic and marginal plants, with any fish being accents. A koi pond has the primary purpose of raising koi to their maximum potential.
Let's look at what is needed for the water garden to thrive. The water should be relatively shallow, say 24"-30". This is because most aquatic plants do best in shallow water. There are very few that can take a depth of 3' over the substrate. The pond should be in full sun. A minimum of 6 hours of sun is generally recommended... 8 hours of sun is better. The plants should be planted in a rich soil. It is generally recommended that waterlilies be fertilized monthly during the growing season. The water in the lily pond should be relatively still. Currents are disruptive of plant growth. High nutient levels in the pond water are a good thing. It can lead to an algae bloom, but if the waterlilies' leaves spread over the surface, the reduction in light will keep the algae under control. Marginal plants, such as rushes, iris and the like, prefer to have their roots spread, with the top 4" or so of the substrate being the preferred root zone. Several can do well with their roots forced to grow downward 12", but it is the top zone of the substrate that is most biologically active.
Now, does any of that sound optimal for koi?
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