It’s been 10 years already since we built this dream project at home – our tiny but well-manicured indoor koi pond. It’s great seeing the koi around us through thick & thin & the positivity they bring us at home especially during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. So let me just share our creation to our kind viewers especially to avid koi enthusiasts.

It never ceases to amaze us that the koi still thrive after a decade though only a handful of them now survive from the original 50 (we do not buy new fish to replenish). Interestingly, the remaining ones are all white, of the purest color, universally a symbol of purity, innocence & divine grace & also perseverance, determination & courage. Our existing koi already reached their growth ceiling which depends on pond size, depth, age & genetics among other factors.

Koi carps are a very popular freshwater fish throughout the whole world. Koi is a homophone for love & affection in Japan where it originated in the early 19th century (though it is believed carp domestication begun in China as far back as the 4th century). In Japanese culture, they bring good luck, prosperity & fortune to those who keep them.

The therapeutic benefits of just observing these fish create a melodic & relaxing ambiance reverberating in any household. No wonder koi captures the hearts of people everywhere that creating koi ponds in one’s backyards have become the coolest & quirky hobbies. In the Philippines, they’re instant attractions in shopping malls like Greenbelt, in parks like Nuvali, restaurants, offices & other tourist destinations.

Koi pond’s popularity even surged during the pandemic when everybody frantically locked down at home. So it doesn’t have to be in outdoor spaces. In fact, installing it indoor like in corridors or hallways is one of the most amazing pond or aquarium ideas of all. Our koi pond is located in a former lanai we dubbed as a “nature’s corner”.

The experience with these colorful fish when put them indoor will be totally unique. Aside from aesthetics & serenity, you can feed them anytime you want & they’re trained to eat out of your hands. It would be a treat once you heard them sucking down food.

Because koi are a cold-blooded fish, an indoor habitat keeps a consistent, warm temperature & that’s an already added comfort. Plus you don’t have to worry about predators against your favorite pets. In fact, it’s this ornamental fish that preys on public enemy no. 1 – the mosquito larvae & they’re a healthy diet for koi, too.

Though installing a really charming koi pond is expensive, maintaining it is easy & a breeze. You just need an effective filtration system & some other affordable aeration like a water fountain that enhances the beauty of the pond as well as circulating & adding oxygen to the water to keep the koi healthy & active.

A water fountain also creates a constant flow of water on the pond helping to reduce the viable mosquito breeding environment. A waterfall adds an amazing aesthetic appeal but this would be draining to one's pocket. As for the water change, we just drain the pond once a week about 3 pails of water & refill it direct from a water faucet.

Koi food doesn’t have to be costly, too. But if you want premium, there’s a color & growth-enhancing granule floating pellets (not sinking, it’s boring, you can’t see koi on a frenzy devouring food). Before, it was difficult to buy koi food from only a handful of pet stores. Now, they’re everywhere in e-commerce Shopee & Lazada to be delivered right on your doorsteps even the washable sponge cotton filter pad on filtration system. Speaking of filter tank, we purchased it from Bio Research 10 years ago & it still works 24/7.

You might wonder, how come our koi population dropped from 50 to 7 after 10 years? Despite all the efforts, why most of them died (not instantly but over the course of a decade). Over excitement came into play when at the beginning we tried to maintain as many koi as possible on a small pond which is a no-no. Some of them, the overzealous ones, also jumped out of the pond & it's a case of too late the hero. Further, others got injured in one way or another & when left un-treated will lead to eventual death.

As for our pirate-themed decors, we have 2 pirate ships docked on the pond like they’re on a warfront - a Revell ship that we meticulously assembled for weeks & a collectible Black Pearl that we bought in Greenbelt 5. These 2 ship models turned out the priciest items here. On board are diecast hero & villains from The Pirates of the Carribean movie - Jack Sparrow, Hector Barbossa & Davy Jones & an octopus. We also have battery-operated chirping birds & talk-back parrot toy on an artificial tree.

That's it for the meantime. Keep in mind that these beautiful & magnificent creatures hold deeper meaning & symbolism to provoke your senses & inspire everyday life. In fact, it is a piece of jewelry with a purpose. Happy koi keeping!