New to this! Please help!

[Ava]

I bought a home with a Koi pond just over three years ago. Finally, with much trial and error and a lot of money spent we finally figured out how not to kill our poor fish. We’ve now had these koi fish for almost two years and they are going strong. The pond is large. It’s 6,000 gallons and 5 feet deep.

I would like to add some sort of vegetation to the pond but it’s a difficult set up. It’s in a pool enclosure and no grass around it to plant anything. Here is a photo. Any thoughts as to what I could do?

 

[bagsmom]

Wow! That is gorgeous!

 

[audioenvy]

That's an absolutely beautiful koi pond--not a garden pond. My recommendation is to PLEASE PLEASE not put any plants in the water. How about some potted plants around the edges?

 

[Ava]

That's an absolutely beautiful koi pond--not a garden pond. My recommendation is to PLEASE PLEASE not put any plants in the water. How about some potted plants around the edges?

Thank you. I didn’t put it in...the previous owner did. I have finally reached a point where I am happy to have the fish! They were a lot of work for a while.

So I’m not supposed to put plants in the water? I thought it was good for the fish...no?

 

[Ava]

Wow! That is gorgeous!

Thank you!

 

[sissy]

Welcome and you could use window screening to make my plant pockets to hang off the side of the pond .I have been using them for years now .No dirt needed and koi can't destroy them

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our group! That is a beautiful pond!

 

[audioenvy]

So I’m not supposed to put plants in the water? I thought it was good for the fish...no?

Not for a dedicated koi pond, no. I'm not sure what you have for mechanical filtration and bio filtration but well designed right-sized filters are going to be much more efficient than a few plants without the dirt.

 

[Ava]

Not for a dedicated koi pond, no. I'm not sure what you have for mechanical filtration and bio filtration but well designed right-sized filters are going to be much more efficient than a few plants without the dirt.

The reason why I wanted to add plants is because we just went through hurricane Irma and lost power. I was scared that we would lose our fish because the filter and water fall were not working. Thankfully we only lost power for 36 hours so the fish were fine...but I figured if I had plants in there then they would provide oxygen incase we lost power again in the future.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

Beautiful pond! Potted plants around the pond would be nice.

They sell floating planters for use in ponds http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5178+16846&pcatid=16846

If your looking for something that can be left loose to floiat in the pond anacharis is a good choice http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pCatId=819

Hornwort is another good choice http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+1632+2948&pcatid=2948

 

[Faebinder]

The advantage of plants is that they absorb ammonia which protects your fish gills... the disadvantage in this set up is that you have no where to put them and keep them safe from your koi..

 

[Gemma]

Welcome to the Forum!
Very beautiful pond!
If you don't want plants in it, how about purchasing a generator for when you lose power?

 

[Ava]

The advantage of plants is that they absorb ammonia which protects your fish gills... the disadvantage in this set up is that you have no where to put them and keep them safe from your koi..

I had no idea that koi kill plants until I read that on these forums. Thank you.

 

[Ava]

Welcome and you could use window screening to make my plant pockets to hang off the side of the pond .I have been using them for years now .No dirt needed and koi can't destroy them

Could you explain this more to me? You plant in window screens and then put them down to the bottom of the pond? They grow and the fish do not bother them?

 

[Faebinder]

I had no idea that koi kill plants until I read that on these forums. Thank you.

They don't destroy them... They eat them. The bigger they are the more hungry they are.... Water pigs.