Water change

[vertigo72]

Can't argue those facts! Where I differ from the true pond enthusiast is the fact I do not desire crystal clear pond water. I am trying to obtain a natural look. Most pond and lakes I have seen in my life are not crystal clear to the bottom, except in the mtns of Yosemite park. I want clean water, but do not wish to see the sub pump 4 - 5' underwater. I want good plant growth, somewhat healthy fish and a natural look. After Saturdays clean out of the entire pond, we do not like seeing the btm of the liner!
mgeez

Im like you, I dont breed Koi for competition and I dont want an oversized aquarium. I like to be able to see my fish, but not even necessarily the bottom of my pond. If you stock it lightly with fish, can achieve that good plant growth, and you have ample of them, I suspect once your pond matures, you would be fine without water changes at all, but do keep an eye on water quality by running tests now and then to make sure.

FWIW, the pond I inherited had not had a water change in ~30 years and didnt have a filter other than irisses, and those where fed water with a comparatively tiny pump (50.000 liter pond, with a 5000 liter/h pump, pump not even positioned at the bottom of the pond). Im changing that now (adding 2 more powerful pumps, skimmer and bio filter), as it did turn in to a giant mud pool in the end, due to tons of leaves and stuff falling in it for decades, but even then water quality was still pretty good according to my Koi dealer. We did have a parasite infection 2 years ago that wiped out 2/3 of the Koi, and it would be naive not to think almost 1 meter of accumulated dirt played no role in that, but then doing water changes would not likely have prevented that either.

 

[koiguy1969]

myself, no matter what anybody says.. i wouldnt have a pond with out a sufficient mechanical / bio filter,and occassional chemical as well (as far as i'm concerned,theres no such thing as too much filtration..just not enough!)...i can read the paper thru my water at just under 30" deep..it is always "GIN" clear (see any of my pics or videos and you will see) and my paramters are always spot on...and i have a large bioload. my load has actually gone down. and i have 5 16' - 20" koi, a 18" pieco, and 20 5" koi....i like to see my fish as well. this means "open water" as well. not to mention my koi decimated my lilly population last year. perhaps some ponds can exist and prosper with out a filter, but i, as probably most others, like a "WELL" populated pond. i know my filter is not a burden on my system it is a must!!! water changes are a good thing even if you wouldnt consider them a neccessity...they dillute DOCs, reduce pharamones, replenish trace minerals,and dillute any other toxins that may be present, amungst other functions. this year i may set up a continual drip set up.

 

[fishin4cars]

I've been reading other forums and trying to get as much information as possible for my next build. As I have watched video after video of Koi, filter systems, and experimental systems one thing has really become clear to me. The more I watch these video's the more I learn to appreciate crystal clear clean water. I've always appreciated the look of a very natural looking pond, with lilies, plants, fish, waterfalls/streams. But the more I look and read about Koi, ( Which I plan on my next pond(s) being completely dedicated to) The more I see and understand the NEED for perfect water. Watching Koi grow to 30" in less than four years and seeing them displayed in all their majesty. I think good filtering, superb water conditions, water changes, heavy aeration, good water movement, and DOC removal are more necessary for the health of the fish than I ever have. Watching them in crystal clear water is the only way to truly appreciate the Beauty and gracefulness of an adult Koi.

 

[koiguy1969]

exactly right Fishin', and just because fish are surviving in an enviroment doesnt mean theyre flurishing. clear water doesnt neccessarily mean good clean healthy water....good filtration and water changes are a must for a serious koi keeper.i try to provide this and i by no means have show quality fish.

 

[fishin4cars]

exactly right Fishin', and just because fish are surviving in an enviroment doesnt mean theyre flurishing. clear water doesnt neccessarily mean good clean healthy water....good filtration and water changes are a must for a serious koi keeper.i try to provide this and i by no means have show quality fish.

Beg to differ on something in this post, You don't have show winning fish? If you keep koi and you enjoy them and allow others to enjoy your pets then they get shown. They deserve just as good water as any compitition koi. I don't post much if any at all on the actual koi forums. You say you don't have show quality koi, My favorites are butterfly koi so I seem to get hammered very quickly and told they are junk. But I really like long flowing junk fish fins and I will give my junk Koi all the love I can and hopefully I can keep improving the water and home that I give them to show them off.

 

[koiguy1969]

Oh, dont get me wrong..i love my fish..but i bought the cheap ones to start in case i failed in maintaining a healthy enviroment and lost some or all due to disease or what not....grew to love them even tho i originally planned on replacing them with some real nice ones. i rather like butterfly koi myself and always planned to get 1 or 2 just never got around to it....my pond numbers are lower now than ever.and i'm contemplating selling all my big guys after this years spawn and growing out a bunch of this years spawn...i love to watch a highly active pond...60+ little guys vs 5 or so big... it might give my lillies a couple years to recoop as well. i love that, loads of 4" - 6" fish darting all over the place...

 

[fishin4cars]

Over the many years of fish keeping I have kept many fish for 10,12, even 15 years. But these were in an aquarium. Now that I'm keeping Koi I really want to have some get BIG! My oldest Koi right now is four years old. Not a very nice looking koi and way undersize for it's age but Seeing it change over the years and it being one of my oldest he has earned it's place in our pond and I hope to be able to move Big Red to a home where we can really see him get his size and colors really locked in for a better show.
On the Butterfly koi, make sure if and when you do get one get one that has good color on the fins, clear or translucent fins don't show off the fish nearlly as well and long bright colored fins. One of my all time favorites is the Platinum ogon. Snow white and long flowing fins look like a swimming angel.

 

[koiguy1969]

i had 2 perfect platinums...heron got one...the other jumped ship in the basement pond..and no it wasnt because of bad water...it seems platinums have it in their nature to jump..i could watch both of mine "catch air". theres a thread on it here some where..i beleive DrDave and others as well said their platinums are jumpers also.

 

[sissy]

ok know that water changes are important but how do these fish in ponds that have been neglect with no filter no pump running in really tiny ponds and still grow and survive after 2 or 3 years I went to a pond realtor called again geeze I hope this does not keep up and the fish were in 1 of those tiny preformed ponds and the 5 koi were healthy looking and at least 2 feet long and the pond was choked with plants when I took one plant out the water dropped a good foot and was afraid to touch the other plants and I still do not know how they even moved around . She called me after hearing from the other realtor about that pond I took out .I have homes for them already so thats good as a couple contacted me after hearing from there friends about the other fish they got from me .No pump no filter found any where around this pond .This pond by what she said has been like this over 3 years as it was an estate sale and they had to find the heirs first .These koi were not fussy I guess about there surroundings or lack of water to even move around in

 

[fishin4cars]

LOL, I have to agree on standards for sure. I had a pure white 10" platinum standard that jumped out twice before not getting put back in in time, My butterfly the heron got also. I've read that they jumped on other forums as well. Supposedly, Chagoi, Ochiba, and Soragoi are suppose to help calm them from that. My Chagoi since adding has calmed the School down yet it can be the most rambunctious of all the fish in the pond except Big Red They would have a hard time jumping out of mine now, LOL

 

[fishin4cars]

ok know that water changes are important but how do these fish in ponds that have been neglect with no filter no pump running in really tiny ponds and still grow and survive after 2 or 3 years I went to a pond realtor called again geeze I hope this does not keep up and the fish were in 1 of those tiny preformed ponds and the 5 koi were healthy looking and at least 2 feet long and the pond was choked with plants when I took one plant out the water dropped a good foot and was afraid to touch the other plants and I still do not know how they even moved around . She called me after hearing from the other realtor about that pond I took out .I have homes for them already so thats good as a couple contacted me after hearing from there friends about the other fish they got from me .No pump no filter found any where around this pond .This pond by what she said has been like this over 3 years as it was an estate sale and they had to find the heirs first .These koi were not fussy I guess about there surroundings or lack of water to even move around in

Sissy, this goes to show just how hardy these fish truly are. Use caution when moving them, they are very use to that water condition and may not move well at all. I've seen this many times, they adjust to their surroundings, They can carry diseases and not show them so use caution if moving them in with other fish. They may be completely healthy and be fine and move fine just use extra caution. Being kept like that for so long they are very adjusted to their surroundings and may stress easily. This also shows the good of plants in a pond. That may be the key factor that kept them alive all this time, Reduced, Nitrates, helped provide oxygen and food, and served as a filter as sort by forming large surfaces for bacteria to grow on. When moving beware they will stir up the anaerobic bacteria quickly trying to run and get away. have as much clean water from the pond as possible ready for them to go in as that anaerobic bacteria once stirred up will become toxic.

 

[koiguy1969]

my plats were also the friendliest and bravest in the herd tho...first to hand feed first to let me pet them first to allow belly tickles as well....i think i've over socialised my fish tho...i really think the fish that got eaten may have swam right up to the heron...any person or even the dog they will approach.

 

[fishin4cars]

After last winters attack I quit trying to hand feed and touch them, They have learned now to hear my foot steps on the deck to come out. If anyone walks up to the other edges of the pond they all hide and the pond looks completely empty. Tooks some pis a few minutes ago, Here are some of the herd....LOL

 

[addy1]

Nice herd fishin!

 

[sissy]

I put them in a storage tank I have with a portable air pump and keeping an eye on them before I release them into new pond .But since they have no fish in there pond ,I will release them in another hour or so there .The pond is well established where they are going people told me it's been there 2 years and just decided to add fish now that they are retired and have more free time