Archive for the ‘koi information’ Category
Koi ponds have become a popular hobby all over the world, and the reasons are clear as to why. Koi are beautiful, vibrant fish that can literally brighten your day. Koi come in many colors, varieties, and kinds, so it is likely that anyone in the world can find at least one type of Koi that would suit their likes. While Koi may be a welcomed beauty to your pond, they also have an interesting history attached to them.
In Chinese culture, Koi ponds are said to be good luck to their owners. Koi ponds are used as an overall plan to fulfill their lives. Other parts of the world consider Koi ponds a form of relaxation and serenity. Here in the United States, more and more people seem to find Koi ponds to be more fun than anything else. No matter what the reason you find to have a Koi pond, they are sure to brighten your life.
However, Koi keeping should not be taken lightly. Koi, like any other animal, require time and money to maintain. The majority of first time Koi owners fail because they get the idea that keeping Koi is easy. There are many things to consider. Do not let this discourage you though, as educating yourself will greatly improve your chances of succeeding.
It is important for you to learn all you can before you begin obtaining the things you need for Koi keeping. This way, you will not slip up and have to replace the things that you have already bought or have to redo things you’ve already done. Planning ahead will not only save you money, but it will potentially save your sanity, along with saving the lives of your fish.
Koi Do Have Personalities
You would not believe that Koi actually have personalities similar to other animals. They are social, and can even be trained to eat directly from their owners hands. The more time you spend with your Koi, the more you will notice each Koi has individual characteristics and traits.
Koi have been known to live for up to 200 years at a time, but generally the average lifespan of a healthy Koi is about 30 years. So if you are looking for a long time pet companion, Koi may be a good choice. If not, you may want to reconsider your options.
Building Your Koi Habitat
Before ever buying Koi, you must create a proper habitat for them. This is where information from your pond builder and supplier will come in handy. However, you should not rely on the opinions of just one person. It may be a good idea to do research on your own, before you purchase the materials needed for you pond. Because of it’s popularity, an unlimited supply of resources can be found on the topic of Koi keeping. Visit your local library, fishery center, or research online. There are quite a few things needed to sustain a healthy pond.
When it comes to pond size, bigger is always better. Koi have a habit of growing rather fast, so you have to consider pond size at the same time you are considering how many Koi you are going to put it in. Rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish to every 10 gallons of water to insure suitable pond size for growth.
Your filtration system is extremely important. There are 2 types of filtration, mechanical and biological. Mechanical filtration relieves the pond of solids such as dead algae, insects, and Koi waste. It is important to have enough filtration to sustain the size of the pond, and the amount and size of your Koi. Biological filtration causes a nitrogen cycle, which is what removes dissolved waste from your pond. Without biological filtration, built up waste will turn into ammonia and kill your Koi within just a few days.
Besides the technical aspects of your pond, you will also have the ability to create a visually appealing area as well. Waterfalls, fountains, and other water features will not only add a visual show to your pond, but it will also create movement and sound. A variety of plants and flowers are also available for your pond they will add to the beauty and also help keep the water clear.
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My experiment is now into its third week and slightly disappointingly there’s still no sign of any algae. Last weeks weather was very dull and grey though, not ideal for growing algae. So far all I’ve added is a total of 4 koi pellets. They take on average 2 days to sink and so far only the first one has finally broken up. Earlier in the week the water did become a little milky in colour, which
The most basic conditions of your koi pond water chemistry are the pH factor (which stands for potential Hydrogen) and water hardness. These factors alone can determine the life or death of your koi pond’s inhabitants (I call them the “Fam Fam”).
The pH of the koi pond water is measured on a scale of 1-14, with a reading of 7 considered “neutral.” Any reading above 7 is alkaline; anything below 7 is acidic. Most fish prefer a pH value of 7.2 to 7.6, or just slightly on the alkaline side of the scale. However, koi and goldfish can adjust to gradual changes in pH from as low as 7 to as high as 8.5 and still remain healthy and flourish.
Hardness or buffers in the koi pond water can raise the pH levels. Even though hardness is a separate measure from pH, the two respond to each other chemically. Pure or “distilled” water has a pH of 7 and an absence of buffers or hardness. Neutral pH is unstable, however, and if it has no buffers or hardness, it can quickly drop to the lower (acidic) end of the pH scale – as low as 4.2 to 4.8. At this level of acidity the fish’s gills become burned and eventually become unable to extract oxygen from the water, ultimately suffocating.
Should the pH in your koi pond ever drop to these levels, never try to raise the pH too quickly. By placing coral gravel, dolomite, or oyster shell gravel in a nylon filter bag inside your filter or directly in the waterfall, moving water can pass through it and the pH will rise to 7.0 or 7.3 in less than two days.
To prevent the drastic fluctuation in hardness buffers affecting pH, you should include one or more of these gravels in your filter system at all times – especially if you are replenishing your pond with soft water. The gravel should be replaced every 9 to 12 months since all the buffers will be leached out by that time. If the buffers are used up and the pH level drops to 6.0 or lower, the nitrifying bacteria that break down the toxic fish waste, ammonia, and nitrite will stop functioning. At a low pH, highly toxic ammonia chemically changes to relatively non-toxic ammonium. If you raise the pH rapidly, the ammonium will also quickly return to ammonia, which could be fatal to your fish.
Please invest in the health of your fish. Purchase a koi pond test kit from any pet or pond store. Invest the time to read the directions and start regularly testing your koi pond. Remember, clear water does not mean clean! As in the water we drink, just because the water looks clear, smells good, and tastes good does not mean it is clean.
Most of the most toxic, cancer-causing priority pollutants listed by the E.P.A are colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Do not ever forget the simple facts: You have a toilet in a separate room of your house. Your scaly friend’s living room is their toilet, and they have to swim in it. Keep it flushed and clean.
If you do not presently have a bio-filter, please purchase one, or at no cost to you, download instructions and a parts list of simple items you can purchase from any home improvement store for less then $65 and build one yourself using an electric drill and a hand saw. download with no oblication or log in required at – http://www.askdoughoover.com
Happy koi, peace and joy.
Doug Hoover
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/koi-pond-water-chemistry-94792.html
Related Blogs
- Related Blogs on Koi Pond: Water Chemistry
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What do butterfly koi fish require to live. Please detail the type of food, whether it’s fresh or saltwater, pond salt, e.t.c. for a pond enviroment.
I have two koi fish in a 29 gallon tank with a 50 gallon filter. I have a pond outside that i can put them in when it gets too big. i know you can tame koi to eat from your hand or even let you stroke them but how do you do it? I can put a pellet in the water with my finger on it, so the surface rpessure keeps it there and one will eat it after a few minutes then quickly swim away. But the other won’t. the one that comes to me is around 3.5 inches and the other is 4.5 inches. Can someone help?
P.S. Are there any special treats that they love that might intice them to come?
South Africa Koi Industry Forum