homeandgarden.whatitcosts.com — Koi is the Japanese word for carp. Koi are bred and domesticated in many different colors and patterns. Koi are a cold water fish so man-made Koi ponds should be at least 5 feet deep to allow the fish to thrive in the summer in warm weather climates and to make sure the pond doesn’t freeze solid in cold weather climates. Koi ponds can be...