Koi Fish Care in Ponds

 

Koi Fish Care in Ponds

   
        Got a pond? Think it’s perfect for koi? You might be right. Just remember that koi need not only a large area, but an area with enough depth as well. And there’s really no reason that if your pond is alredy dense with pond plants, you can’t make your koi feel right at home there.

        These fish, even though they are social animals, will do their best if the total population is kept small, with lots of room to roam. You’ve heard the phrase “a big fish in a little pond.” Well, these guys like to be big fish in a big pond  and the fewer their neighbors, the better.

        In fact, as you decide on how many koi your pond can hold, keep the following rule of thumb in mind: You shouldn’t stock more than one inch of fish for every square foot of pond surface area you have. The other crucial item every koi owner should know, especially new keepers, pertains to the ammonia level. Monitor your water  closely and keep a watchful eye on the amount of ammonia in your water.
                                                                                     

                                                                                    

Koi Fish Care in Ponds: Algae Alert

        Ah, algae! The potential nightmare of every pond owner. But it really doesn’t have to be. Controlling the buildup of algae in your pond is much easier than you think. You have two different approaches from which to choose. You can go the natural route or you can choose to control the algae through chemical means.

        Most pond owners use a combination of the two methods. Of course, because you’re trying to maintain the quality of your fish as well as of your plants, your ultimate goal is for a natural balance.

After all, your pond is a natural ecosystem in and of itself. In order to keep it running smoothly, several guidelines need to be maintained.

        First, when I talk of chemical control (or other koi parents talk about it), I’m referring to the use of algaecides. This is a class of chemicals that kills or at the very least inhibits – all types of algae to some degree. These chemicals normally include a variety of ingredients, not the least of which are simazine, chelated copper, and potassium permanganate.

        You don’t need to worry about the chelated copper. This doesn’t harm vascular plants. It may, however, inhibit the growth of hyacinths or of plants that get their nutrients straight from the water.

If you use too much of any product containing chelated copper, you may end up killing your fish unintentionally. Products with simazine will inhibit the growth of most water plants as well.

Koi Fish Care in Ponds: Dying Algae and Ammonia

        These chemicals are used by many of us as a preventive measure. It’s much better never to have algae at all than to have it grow and have to kill it. And I’m just not talking about the time and effort expending on eliminating the algae. There’s one more factor to take into consideration when killing off the algae: the increase in ammonia the dying algae create while at the same time depleting the oxygen.

        If you allow the algae to build up and then have a “massive” killing of it, you can set your pond up for disaster. While the algae is decomposing, ammonia is being released and the oxygen supply is shrinking. This may ultimately result in dead fish.