Koi Food Guide

Archive for the ‘Ponds’ Category

The best way to promote the health of your fish is to promote the health of your water.

Pond water that is kept free from toxins and other pollutants will allow your fish to remain in good health.

Using both a mechanical and biological filter is a good way to keep your water pure and your fish healthy. When it comes to biological filters most Koi pond enthusiasts prefer those that use water plants or bacteria to keep the water clean.

So that the filters can be removed and cleaned without having the remove the Koi most people choose to use biological gravel filters with separate small pods. While many people choose to put their water plants in with the Koi, some choose to use the same strategy with water plant filters. One of the best places to get advice about both biological and mechanical filters is your local Koi dealer.

There are many factors that go into determining the proper size filter for your pond. Some of these factors include your pond’s size, the number of fish you own, and the general climate in your area. Expect to spend between $100 and $300 on a filter. The cost of pumps varies widely depending on the amount of water that needs to be moved and the level of water clarity you are aiming for. Basic pumps can run between $60 and $250.

Each spring you can expect to see algae in your pond for around a month, no matter what kind of filter system you have in place. While algae may cloud the water it is important to keep in mind that it is harmless for the fish.

Early fall is the perfect time to begin preparing your Koi pond for the winter ahead. Here are some helpful tips on winterizing your pond.

Staring in early fall you will want to pay careful attention to water temperature, as this is the indicator that changes will need to be made in your pond. Be sure you are watching water temperature as opposed to air temperature. To help ensure a healthy pond come spring a water thermometer is vital. In order to be able to easily read your thermometer it is best to tie a string to one end of the thermometer then attach it to a rock on the side of your pond.

Fish Care
As the water temperature in your pond drops to the lower 70s it is time to switch your fish food to a wheat germ based food. This food is much more easily digested by your fish, and colder water temperature makes it more difficult for your fish to digest their food. While your fish will need to add some bulk in preparation of winter it is important not to overfeed them.

Whether you feed your fish once or twice a day, never give them more food that they can eat in a three to five minute span. Any left over food should be promptly removed from the pond. A fish processes food using bacteria in its digestive system. These bacteria can no longer do their job once the water temperature drops below 50. Stop feeding your fish entirely as soon as the water hits this temperature.

Plant Care
To prevent debris from building up in the pond any dying plant material should be trimmed and removed. Pots should be divided and replanted in the fall. This should give your plant plenty of time to heal before the onset of cold temperatures. You are likely to get additional blooms from your plant the following summer if your plant is properly potted and fertilized in fall. Your climate will dictate what needs to happen with your plants. In colder climates tropical plants, as well as some surface and submerged plants, will need to be brought inside or discarded when the temperatures drop below 60°. Lilies should be trimmed and bog plants should be removed before your first frost. Plants can be placed on the bottom of the pond if it is sufficiently deep to prevent them from freezing.

Water Change
Fall is an excellent time to change the water in your pond, especially since you are already out there moving plants and fish around. Excess debris that is allowed to stay in your pond will decompose, producing hydrogen sulfide (a toxic gas) and using up valuable oxygen. Use a find weave aquarium net to sift out excess sludge. Be sure to leave a small amount of sludge in your pond for those inhabitants of your pond that prefer to burrow.

While water changes can occur at any time during the fall, they will be less stressful on your fish if conducted before the water temperature drops below 60°. You may want to try a 50 percent water change on one day, and repeat it the next day if your pond is still too murky. Always remember to use a de-chlorinator if your tap water contains chlorine.

Debris Control
As soon as the leaves begin to fall your entire pond should be covered with mesh. Netting out every leave by hand is an almost impossible task, so it is much better to cover the pond with a net. Once it is stretched out across the top of the pond and anchored to the sides it will barely be visible. The netting should always be above the water surface.

Dump the leaves off as they accumulate by removing the anchors from one side and turning the net over. Don’t forget to re-anchor the net when you are finished. If you prefer not to install a net you will need to remove debris daily with a skimmer.

Using a Heater
The net should be left on top of the pool until it begins to freeze over for those in colder climates. A heater can be put in place after you remove the net. Rather than heating up the entire pond a heater simply keeps a small area from freezing. This allows oxygen to enter the pond and toxic gases to escape.

Pumps and aerators will need to be run year round by those in warmer climates where the water does not freeze over. It helps to lift the pump and aerator a few feet from the bottom of the pond if the water temperature drops below 40°.

While there are some challenges to building a high quality Koi pond, it is not impossible.

In order to keep your Koi healthy and happy you want to make sure your pond is well built.

There are some common elements to all successful Koi ponds. A bottom drain is one of those important elements. Healthy Koi produce a lot of waste, so another necessary element is a filter that is capable of handling that waste.

Aeration systems, pumps that re-circulate the water back to header pools, and water skimmers to keep the surface of the water clean are also important elements of a successful pond. Your average backyard Koi pond will probably be very different than the Japanese Koi ponds that you may have seen. Most ordinary Koi ponds do not require the special engineering that goes into Japanese Koi ponds, which are created to be beautiful works of art.

The value of the pond is often determined, however, by the aesthetics. When it comes to overall value the fish in the pond are usually less important than the appearance of the pond. Elements on pond construction to consider when creating an attractive pond include position, shape, edging materials, and construction techniques.

When creating your pond the edging material is particularly important. While the standard gogan pattern and the use of large edge boulders are the most common edging materials, there are several other commonly used edging techniques. You will find a few large rocks featured around the water line in just about every successful Japanese water garden.

The weight of some of these boulders can actually reach several tons. This usually requires the use of special hidden engineering systems to keep them in place. You should be able to find other articles on the Internet that give you advice on how to deal with this and other pond maintenance issues.

You have enough room for a Koi pond in your backyard if you have a pool that is no longer being used or if you have an eight by ten space that is not being used.

You need to have a little bit of knowledge in order to create a proper Koi habitat. Unused swimming pools can be transformed into a Koi pond. It is easy to transform a swimming pool into a Koi pond, and it makes a lot more sense that taking care of a pool that is almost never used.

When transforming a swimming pool into a Koi pond it is a good idea to paint the bottom of the pool a dark color so that you can see the fish easily. The mechanical filter on your swimming should either be replaced or supplemented with a biological one.

If you don’t have an unused swimming pool you can install a prefabricated Koi pond. These ponds should be at least three feet deep, although the original Koi lived in rice paddies with water only a few inches deep. A shallow pond makes your Koi more attractive to predators. Expect to spend between four and five hundred dollars on a prefabricated pond that is seven by ten feet and holds 600 gallons of water. For around $275.00 you can get a pond that is about half that size.

The easiest way to build your own pond is to dig a hole that is three feet deep and at least eight feet by ten feet. Those who live in climates where the winters get very cold will probably want to have their Koi ponds at least five feet deep.

After digging the hole you will use a plastic liner to seal your pond. Expect to spend anywhere from 25 – 50 cents a square foot for the liner. To prevent any rocks from puncturing the liner you should first lay down a layer of sand, old carpet, or landscaping fabric. Check all the pond sides to be sure they are vertical.

Heron can easily wade into your pond and eat your fish if the sides of your pond slope and cause the liner to wrinkle. A layer of pea gravel should be placed on top of the liner. Wood should be placed around the outside edge of the liner to prevent it from breaking down due to exposure to sunlight.

By the end of the project you can expect to spend between $500 and $1000 dollars to create an eight by ten foot Koi pond that is approximately two feet deep, including pump and filters. Some people choose to create a pond by covering the bottom of the hole with concrete. This can be difficult to maintain, however, as hairline cracks that are difficult to locate and repair can develop.

Your garden pond can be brought to life by displaying a beautiful palate of red, orange, yellow, gold, platinum, white, gray, blue, and black Koi fish.

Koi are very actually very good pets that can learn to recognize you, eat from your hand, and even nuzzle your finger.

Koi are always bred to be seen from above, and there are 14 different classes. Many Koi are now bred in the United Sates, while some breeds come from Japan, China, Israel, and Singapore. Baby Koi can be purchased for a local dealer when they are just a few months old and often cost as little as $3.00 each. There are, however, prized Koi specimens that actually sell for upwards of $20,000 each.

You local Koi deal is usually the best place to begin when you are thinking about starting a Koi pond. Your dealer should be able to show you a variety of Koi, steering you toward the ones with the most desirable color and shape. If you are lucky your dealer may even let you take a try at feeding the fish in the shop from your hand.

Almost all high quality dealers are very knowledgeable and can give you advice on building your pond as well as picking the right fish. Many have excellent referrals for landscape professionals who can create your pond. When your pond is built they will be able to offer recommendations for the right fish to match your budget and your experience level.

There are some Koi dealers that allow you to purchase inexpensive Koi (in the $3 -$5 range) and the trade up to more valuable fish as you gain in experience. High quality dealers want your Koi pond to succeed using fish that they sell, although not all will offer the trade in option. Some Koi dealers can actually ship fish to you using overnight delivery by placing the Koi in a container of super oxygenated water.

Using this technique very few fish are lost during the shipping process. You can also purchase other items from dealers, such as commercial Koi food and pond plants. Many dealers also offer helpful advice about water quality and seasonal feeding plans for your particular climate. Dealers can also help you test your water to ensure that it does not contain elements that could be harmful to your fish.

Getting the proper amount of oxygen into your pond water is vital when it comes to the overall health of your Koi.

Rubber Water Stop
These rubber stops span the gap between successive concrete pours with a rubber material that acts like a gasket. These stops can be seen in many different types of concrete containers, from your Koi pond to your local zoo’s polar bear exhibit.

Koi Pond Filters
Usually it takes a combination of several different types of filters to provide the best filtration for our Koi pond.

Catch Basins
Water that is upstream in your pond will naturally flow toward the lowest point in the system when you turn off the water pump. Catch basins provide a place for this water to go which prevents flooding and other unfortunate consequences.

Building a Biological Filter for the Koi Pond
Having different sections of a filter designated to perform different tasks will give you the best overall filtration of your pond.

Concrete Testing
Concrete is the material of choice for almost all high quality water features, including city water systems, swimming pools, and Koi ponds. It is helpful to know, however, that different types of concrete offer different levels of durability.

Water Garden Pumps
The water garden that were built in Japan centuries ago are still the most well known today. They usually consist of streams or canals that feed clay lined ponds. Of course this arrangement would not be practical or possible in most of the backyards of today. Your pond will most likely need to be a self contained unit with pumps and filters.