Many people worry about koi pond maintenance, which can be challenging. Kings Lynn Koi has suggestions and products to keep your koi and pond supplies water healthy.
Fun koi facts
Koi pond maintenance is essential, and they’re worth it. There are dozens of types of koi, and some koi fish can live 100 years or more. The oldest koi on record, Hankou, was born in 1791 and survived until 1977.
Some koi owners have trained their fish to eat from their hands. Omnivore koi adore melons, blueberries, and grapefruit, but don’t overfeed them. Koi also like shrimp and sardines.
Daily Maintenance
Skim leaves and debris off before feeding your koi. Waste in the pond settles to the bottom and forms sludge. This sludge layer lowers oxygen in your koi pond, harming your fish. This straightforward koi pond management technique might improve the pond’s water quality.
Temperature checks are another everyday must. As you’ll see later in this blog, water temperature affects how much food your koi needs. When the water temperature rises, you feed your koi more and when the temperature falls, you provide them with less food. Check the temperature often during the summer to avoid overheating the water. Koi thrive in 65-75-degree water.
Filter and move water
Koi ponds need an automatic filtration system to remove waste. A fountain or waterfall will help agitate the water and make your pond lovelier.
Aerating the water keeps it more relaxed in the heat. In areas where ponds often freeze, you may need a de-icer in the winter. Some koi “parents” keep their koi in a massive tank in a garage or outbuilding during the winter, while others keep them in their pond. Consult a koi expert on how to keep your fish healthy.
Manage population
Koi are gentle, tranquil fish that enjoy socialising. Too many koi can pose difficulties. Too many fish means competition for oxygen and more animal waste. This trash adds to pond muck and decreases oxygen levels.
Your pond’s capacity for koi depends on its size, depth, and fish size. Bigger fish eat and produce waste more. Adult koi can weigh 30 pounds and achieve full length in three years. Before stocking your pond, ask a koi specialist how to introduce your fish and how many you may add safely.
Koi feeding & water temperature
Koi feeding is the trickiest component of koi pond upkeep, yet it depends on water temperature. Dissolved oxygen drops when the water temperature rises. Koi need 7ppm of dissolved oxygen (or more), and the parts per million drop below this amount once the water temperature reaches 77 degrees.
Install shading if your pond gets too heated in the summer. This lowers water temperatures and boosts dissolved oxygen. Water temperature can be reduced via agitation. Water evaporates quickly in warm, sunny weather, so check the pond’s water level.
Feeding frequency depends on water temperature. Koi fish must be provided twice or three times a day in 70 to 77-degree water. If water temps reach 80 degrees, limit feedings.
Conclusion
People recommend speaking with local koi and pond supplies experts to establish the ideal number of feedings and types of food for your koi. Overfeeding koi can create intestinal troubles, so learn how to feed them properly. Koi pond upkeep isn’t hard or time-consuming. Skimming the pond, utilising a filter and aeration system, adding good bacteria, and correct feeding helps ensure your koi’s health.