I spent a rainy Sunday afternoon at the library and quickly read though a copy of “The World of Koi” written by Nick Fletcher, Tony Pitham, and Keith Holmes. Though the book was written in 2005, most of the information was very good. Some of the filters they mention have had their short comings revealed and some of the newer technologies were not listed. The first part of the book deals with pond building and all the related parts and theories and why they work. It strongly encourages gravity filled filtration vs pump fed systems. It shows a couple of different building styles from Liner to concrete. Like an encyclopedia it covers all stages of filtration including mechanical and biological filters, UV sterilizers, heating, aeration, Reverse Osmosis, Ozone, water replacement, and maintenance schedules. I was surprised that the water dumps for vortex filters were encouraged daily and major mat cleanings weekly. This falls in-line with high end koi keeping guidelines to maintain the best water quality possible.
The second part of the book deals with Koi and the standard definitions of each type. It touches on some common illnesses, parasites, and pond condition ailments, but is not much more than what can readily be found on the internet today. It lightly discusses koi shows as well. The book is filled with pictures and diagrams of all the topics covered. It is a good resource to have around for planning your first or next pond. However do read up on more modern filter methods like RDF and ERIC. You can purchase this book used at amazon by clicking the link at the right.
If you have read this book and have any feedback please feel free to leave a comment below.
