koi pond maintenance helps you to maintain the proper water quality for your koi.
It is vitally important for the sake of your koi that you keep the quality of the water as pristine as possible.
Water quality has to do with much more than keeping the water clear.
You will need to purchase a water testing kit so you can check the pond water for –
• pH
• Oxygen
• Ammonia
• Nitrates
• Nitrites
You will also want to make use of a pond skimmer to get the leaves, insects, and other organic debris out of your pond.
Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning of your pond is usually done twice a year, in the spring and fall.
There are pond maintenance services that you can hire to do this for you, or you can tackle the job yourself.
It really is not a difficult task. You will need to do the following –
• Remove any debris you can see in the water
• Fertilize and prune any plants that live in the pond
• Remove any algae from the pond
• Do a thorough inspection of your filtering system and your pump.
• Check the hose and connectors of your pond equipment
• Check out any pond lighting or pond vacuums you may have
• Drain the pond and add fresh water
• Check the water chemistry, and then take care of any irregularities that pop up.
Removing the Koi
It is understood that you will remove your fish before this deep cleaning takes place!
All sorts of debris and muck will be floating in the water, and you
do not want your fish to struggle for breath while trying to swim.
Koi quarantine tanks are available for purchase in many places.
What is in the Tap Water?
When first setting up your pond, you will probably use a garden hose to fill it with water.
This is fine, but you will also need to add a chlorine neutralizer to the water.
Chlorine is deadly to fish, and can kill them very quickly.
Chloramines are also in tap water, so make sure the neutralizer you use will take care of them as well.
Use your water testing kit each time you add fresh tap water to your
pond to make sure there is no kind of problem with the water.
About once a month is often enough to change out or add new water to the pond.
You can bump this up to every three weeks if the water looks especially needy.
Parasites, Keep Out!
Keep a close watch on your pond for any type of parasite. You can
purchase chemicals to add to the water that will kill any parasites
that may be there, and will also prevent any new parasites from entering the pond.
To Salt, or Not To Salt?
Many people who keep Koi insist on adding salt to their ponds. It can be a good idea in quarantine ponds, as it can help those fish that are suffering from stress. However, salt may cause more trouble than it is worth in a pond for breeders or young Koi.
When a sufficient quantity of salt is placed in the pond water, the skin of the Koi gets slightly irritated.
This causes them to have to produce an extra thick slime coat. That slime coat helps to protect them from parasites and bacteria, which sounds good.
The reality is that salt kept in a pond all year can cause the parasites
that plague your Koi to slowly but surely build up a resistance to the salt.
This will make it harder than ever to kill off the parasites and rid your fish of them once and for all.
A little salt is fine in the Spring to boost the immune system of
your breeders, but make sure to do your regular water changes in
order to clean all the salt out of your pond when this “spring tonic” is used.
Koi Pond Service
Spring pond cleanings are crucial for Fish & KOI ponds and Pondless waterfalls in the NY & CT Area.
Getting a spring pond cleaning is an important step in regaining
your pond’s beauty and functionality after the winter season.
The experts at BG Marine Services. located in Port Chester, NY will
take the necessary steps to ensure that your water feature is
maintained to the highest standards that you book koi pond service here
How much does it cost to maintain a koi pond?
Professionally installed koi ponds cost up to $50,000, depending on
the pond’s size, the experience of the contractor and the materials used. Koi fish can be bought at pet stores and at online koi retailers.
How do I keep algae out of my koi pond?
- Keep the organic load down by keeping runoff out of the pond and the sludge to a minimum.
- Don’t over feed or keep more fish than your pond will support.
- Install a large biological filter and give it time to work, this could take several months.
- Use enough, and the right type of, aquatic plants.
How do you clean a koi pond?
- Clean the pond in the spring.
- Scoop out debris on the surface of the pond.
- Drain the pond.
- Remove the koi if your pond is small.
- Take out the pond pump and any water accessories.
- Let the sun dry the empty pond for one hour.
How do you maintain a fish pond?
- Remember to continue fertilizing your plants as detailed under “Spring”
- Remove dead foliage from the pond.
- Feed your fish well.
- Continue cleaning filter as needed, making sure not to over-clean
- Maximize your aeration.
- Continue use of bacterial products like Microbe Lift.
- Enjoy!
Does barley straw clear ponds?
In ponds that are frequently muddy or those that have a history of
heavy algae growth, two or three times this recommended dose
may be required for the initial treatment.
However, overdosing the pond with barley straw may cause fish
kills because the straw deoxygenates the water as it decays.
The problem
Excessive algae growth is one of the most common problems
occurring in ponds in Pennsylvania.
Traditional mechanical and chemical control methods are not always efficient or economical.
In recent years, the use of barley straw has become more common
as an alternative method for controlling excessive algae growth.
This method has been extensively studied by Dr. Jonathan
Newman at the Centre for Aquatic Plant Management in Great Britain.
This page summarizes the use of barley straw based on Dr.
Newman’s work and our experiences in Pennsylvania.
When applied at the proper time and rate, barley straw has been a
very successful algae control technique in Pennsylvania ponds.
How does it work?
Barley straw does not kill existing algae, but it inhibits the new growth of algae.
The exact mechanism is poorly understood, but it seems that
barley straw, when exposed to sunlight and in the presence of
oxygen, produces a chemical that inhibits algae growth.
Barley straw does not reduce the growth of other aquatic plants. In
fact, in some cases aquatic plant growth has increased after barley
straw applications because algae are no longer present to compete
with the aquatic plants. learn more here
How do you kill algae in a pond?
Use a long handled brush to pull out the algae at depth. 2.
Treat Water and Kill Off Remaining Algae – Some sources suggest
using a pond algaecide to kill off the remaining algae but we never
recommend unnatural chemicals even if the labels state they are safe for fish and plants.
Can I put hydrogen peroxide in my pond?
Hydrogen peroxide can cause gill damage if applied directly to koi.
Pour peroxide into the pond away from the fish, so it is diluted by the time it reaches them.
Use of hydrogen peroxide to increase oxygen levels is only a temporary solution. Continual use can damage the koi’s gills.
