Hand feeding the jumbo Koi fish in the pond. Hope they don’t take my fingers off!!

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As a new Koi pond owner, you may be overwhelmed with the amount of supplies needed to properly maintain your Koi pond. While most of these items are considered a necessity, the feeling of being overwhelmed can b e avoided and you can relax. How? Simply knowing the function of each item helps you understand why they are necessary.

You have to become familiar with your tools in order to do a good job.

There are certain items that you need to have on hand at all times. Because your pond is outdoors, emergency situations do occur. Nature is simply unpredictable at times, and you do not want to be caught in a situation where an item is needed, and with no way to obtain it.

The Tools

Pump- A pump is essential to the health of your pond. If your water is not moving, there is no way the system can process the water. Moving water can also be from waterfalls, fountains, and other water features, but in no way should completely replace your pump.

Filters- Having a working filter is essential for removing unwanted pollutants, and maintaining proper water quality. If you do not have a proper filter, water quality issues can occur, which in turn will cause your fish to have health issues.

Dechlorinator- Tap water contains chemicals that can potentially harm your fish. When adding new water for any reason, you must add dechlorinator or a conditioner to eliminate these chemicals.

Pond Salt and Baking Soda- Pond salt and baking soda are used to regulate kH and Nitrate levels in the event that you find a change. Pay close attention to the amounts you are suppose to add to your pond, which depends on size and the issues you are currently having.

Test Kits- You will need to have ammonia and nitrite test kits on hand at all times. You will need to perform weekly water tests on your water to ensure proper water quality. Emergency tests may also be needed in the event that you notice changes in your Koi behavior or changes in the water.

Bags- You must have the proper bags on hand to transport Koi. Do not attempt to transport your Koi in trash bags or regular plastic bags, as they are not designed for this, and may cause damage to your Koi. Unless you remembered to keep the bags you brought your Koi home in originally, you will have to make a trip to your local pet store. Make sure to get bags sizable enough to hold your Koi.

Rubber Bands- You will need quite a few rubber bands for each bag you buy. Make sure that your rubber bands are good quality, as you do not want the pressure from the water to snap the rubber band in the middle of the transport.

Net- You will need to have a net sizeable enough to compete with your Koi. You will never need the net to pull the Koi out of the water with, but you will need it to lead and direct your Koi into the direction you want them. Nets can potentially damage your Koi, especially as the larger they get.

Paint Bucket- A paint bucket is a better option for catching your Koi, as they cannot hurt your Koi like a net can. Make sure that your bucket is clean and sizable enough to hold your Koi.

Koi Staple Food- Unlike other pets Koi do not need to be fed daily. They can go days without eating, they will feed on algae in between feedings.  The more you feed them the faster they will grow. Talk with your local pet store or Koi dealer when picking foods for your Koi, as different seasons may dictate the type of food you need to be feeding. Koi have even been known to eat out of their owner’s hand, so make sure to get food in which you are able to do this with.

Koi Treats and Snacks- Like other animals, Koi delight in treats, and will respond in a playful manner to them. Specific Koi treats are available at your local pet store. If you do not mind feeding “human” food to your pets, you may even consider feeding your Koi veggies, fruit, and bread.

Now that you have the tools you need you can focus on enjoying your pond and collecting this beautiful fish. For more great tools and links to pod supplies check out the suppliers listed on our blog and click the links you find.

PS. Have I missed anything? I know this is a very basic overview so leave me a comment if you think I left out anything important.

Talk to you soon.

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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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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

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How To stack rock in your pond and install a koi fish tunnel from The Pond Digger Pond Design & Construction Team. Learn how to get the job done efficiently to save time and energy. How to move large rocks with ease. How to interlock the rock for stability and look appealing. How to install a koi fish tunnel in the pond to protect your koi from Predators.

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Bio mechanical water filtration system for Koi, fish ponds, and water gardens. Simple to setup & run. Cleaning filter via backwash takes 5 minutes once a month. With 870 sq.ft of surface area per cubic foot of bio media, it’s four times better than bead filter. Manufactured by SeaGateFilters, Inc.- Alexandria, VA. USA. Please subscribe: more of Xtreme Bio Filters performance, setup, cleaning, retro-fitting sand filters, bead filter, etc… to Xtreme Bio Filters.

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An Introduction To Koi Population Control

Population control is typically easy with the majority of domesticated pets. It is usually as simple as removing the possibility of conception until the time in which the opportunity has passed. Unfortunately, this is not the case with Koi fish. Koi, no matter whether you want them to or not, will constantly spawn and lay eggs, and other Koi will fertilize them. It is nature in action, and there is little you can do. Since contraceptive methods are not available for small fish hobbyists, population control really comes down to removing the unwanted babies after they are already born.

As a new comer to this hobby, you may at first choose to disregard this information. For whatever reason, whether it is that you feel removing unwanted babies is cruel, or if you believe that the more fish the merrier, you will quickly realize that keeping all the babies that are born could be a potentially harmful situation to both your pond, and the original parent fish.

Why Are The Babies Harmful?

What is so harmful about having more fish than what you originally started with? A number of harmful situations can happen or develop over time.

First, Koi can and will grow to us to three feet in length. Koi, unlike some other fish, will grow, no matter what their habitat size is. This will turn a beautiful pond in a wasteful, extremely overpopulated pond. Not only will too many fish cause damage to a smaller pond, but they will not be comfortable in their habitat and starve.

When you originally setup your pond, you create the filtration system for a specific amount of fish. Adding extra fish without adding more filtration to your system will ultimately cause a surge in unwanted gases and chemicals levels in the water that is dangerous to your Koi’s health.

Getting Rid Of The Babies

There are several ways of removing babies from your pond.

One way is to stop feeding your Koi the minute you realize that spawning has occurred. You should stop feeding you Koi for no less then three weeks. Do not worry about your Koi starving, as they will focus more on natural foods if you are not feeding them daily. This “natural” diet includes their young. Koi are not cannibalistic animals by any means, but they will eat their young when they are still eggs or if they are small and resemble insects. Once the baby Koi actually resemble real fish, and the adult fish recognize this, they will no longer see them as food, so it is important to start this process as soon as you notice spawning or babies.

While this is a process of nature, you may still find this method to be cruel or unusual. Another way of removing unwanted babies from your pond is to give them away.

First, check with your local pet store. Many pet stores have programs in which they will accept unwanted animals and give them good homes. Some may even pay a certain amount for each fish since they sell them, but do not count of this. Local zoos may also have programs.

If you know of a local Koi society, you may let them know that you have unwanted babies. Alternatively, you can find a message board or group online and post messages there. Who knows, you may even start another person on a Koi keeping hobby.

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This FREE Koi pond construction was provided by RePoBrain.com
If you missed the first video please watch it here Koi Pond Construction Video #1

Many people left feedback and requested more details on this project. In this video they cover topics such as solid wood construction, and proper bolting and lining of the Koi pond. If you are thinking about buying Koi fish in the near future, please think of the home you will build for them first. -Fred

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