Watching the Time-Lapse of this Heart-Shaped Koi Pond Being Built in Someone's Tropical Backyard is Thoroughly Addicting

Written by Guest Writer:
Jessy Kessely is too old to be TikTok famous, too young to own a house, but just the right age to have spent $.99 cents on a ringtone. She’s a writer who grew up with AOL Instant Messenger, a dying Neopet, and unsupervised internet time—and she’s got the sardonic humor to prove it. Maybe not getting murdered on Chat Roullette means that Jessy can live another day to write about stuff.

There was a time in internet history that boasted the genesis of a series of viral videos of Cambodian men in the jungle building extraordinary buildings, pools, and underground mansions. For some reason, these were always the videos everyone would stumble upon at 3AM, entranced by the ingenuity, speed, and hard work of two strangers. Oftentimes, they would use nothing but hand tools, wood, and cement to construct a miniature wilderness oasis, inspiring a generation of resourceful and innovative DIYers to follow in their footsteps. This guy found inspiration in that era and took his own little spin on it.
 

I love pet fish just as much as the next person, but people who are koi enthusiasts are on another level. Not only are koi an expensive and time consuming pet, they also are symbolic of love and friendship, earning them the top spot as a pet favorite in many countries. Not only that, but a koi can live for almost 35 years! That’s a lifelong friendship. 

So what can any self-respecting koi lover do for their best friend? They can build them the best home. TikToker John, aka @olle418 found someone who did just this for their scaly, big lipped homies by building a creative and clever water feature for his pets in the backyard. We’re joined at the beginning of the video with no explanation of what this random guy is building, but it is impossible to look away as the pieces of his larger build come into fruition. He starts with a simple heart-shaped base (aww), setting the foundation for a waterproof, fountain-like structure. Next, he carefully places and smooths rows of brick to his desired height, adding details like a water feature, drainage, and cute little windows for viewing his fish. Then as the final details come together, like the rims, a tiny set of water stairs, and the final water pump apparatus, it starts to become clear that this is no ordinary fountain, but a haven for his illustrious koi collection. He then plops his little fishies into the filled and ready koi pond, tossing in pond lilies and a bit of decor to finish his project. His craftsmanship is simply addicting to watch. 

Handmade Koi Pond

Now, throughout the duration of the time-lapse, it becomes pretty clear that this was not a one-day build. This koi pond required dedication, skill, and days of elbow grease; my back hurts just watching. That sort of commitment is what you can expect from an experienced fish-lover who maybe spent too many late nights death-scrolling videos of home builds in the jungles of Cambodia. Either way, those are some lucky fish.