Koi Care Basics Blog

There are many excellent reasons that you should invest some time and money in Koi pond plants. They do involve a little bit of work but they provide many important benefits.

The first thing you need to know about Koi pond plants is whether or not you really need them. They do involve a bit of work but they provide many benefits.

First of all they help keep your pond clean, balanced and algae free. Pond plants feed on unwanted nutrients like fish waste and nitrogen. These are the same materials that feed algae and allow them to flourish. Since algae and Koi pond plants compete for the same food and pond plants are higher on the food chain, they starve off new algae growth.

The best combination for your Koi pond is: lots of live plants & good filtration & a minimal amount of fish = a healthy ecosystem…AKA a clean pond!

Some other reasons that you need Koi pond plants include:

1. They provide cover for your Koi, thus preventing things like sunburn (yes, Koi can sunburn!) and predation from birds. Birds, with their keen eyesight have no problem locating your colorful Koi and swooping in to scoop them out of your pond.
2. As already stated they help reduce algae problems.
3. Pond plants help lower the water temperature of the pond thereby also lowering the day-night temperature differential of your pond. This helps reduce environmental stress on your Koi.
4. Another benefit of Koi pond plants is that they help lower evaporation rates…
5. And they provide nice, shady areas for your fish to relax in.

6. The plants in your pond help also help keep your fish well fed. They do this in two ways. First, they trap some of the floating fish food, giving your Koi another chance at it before the pond skimmer gets it. Secondly, as Koi are voracious eaters, the plants themselves provide a “fresh food” source for them. No matter what you do you are going to have to plan on periodically replacing some of your plants. Your Koi won’t be able to resist them!
7. Pond plants also provide excellent cover for Koi fry (Koi babies). While you may not plan on raising any babies they will still be born and having pond plants ensures that at least a few will survive.
8. Some of the plants in your pond will (and should be) oxygenator plants. The best plant for fast growth and best water filtration is the water hyacinth. The oxygenator plants are the backbone of what aquaculture is intended for. They filter contaminants out of the water and produce new oxygen.
9. Last but not least, the plant life in your pond creates a beautiful backdrop for your colorful and elegant fish! Don’t underestimate the aesthetic beauty they will add to your Koi experience.

As you can see, there are many excellent reasons that you should invest your time and money in Koi pond plants!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Helpful tips for Spring And Summer Koi Pond Care

It is important that you have a checklist for spring and summer Koi pond care. The helpful tips in this article will ensure that you don’t forget any of the more important Koi pond care components.

Now that spring is here it’s time to begin your Koi pond care program. If you don’t already have a Koi pond care checklist in place you’ll find the important Koi pond care basics in the following paragraphs.

The exact same Koi pond care regime won’t apply to every single Koi pond, however there are many Koi pond care basics that must be adhered to.

As your pond begins to warm in the spring and you see it coming back to life it is time to implement an effective Koi pond care program. This will get your pond going in the right direction for the rest of the year.

The first step in your Koi pond care program is to un-winterize your pond. Anything you did to get your pond ready for freezing weather should be undone when the threat of freezing has passed.

Next on the list for your Koi pond care is to make sure you don’t forget about your Koi! As soon as the water reaches a constant temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit you need to begin feeding your fish. Make sure you feed a cold weather food until the water temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit when as part of your Koi pond care routine you can move them on to a higher protein summer food.

If your pond has accumulated leaves and other debris over the winter the next step in your Koi pond care plan is to remove anything in your pond that might decompose and leave behind waste products that are toxic to your fish. There are both skimming and bottom scooping types of nets that will assist you in this aspect of Koi pond care. There are also other water treatment products available to help accelerate the natural decomposition of any leftover debris.

Another possibility in your Koi pond care program is the use of a vacuum to remove debris from the bottom of the pond. If there are an excessive amount of leaves and sludge then proper Koi pond care may require that you do a complete pond cleaning. This type of Koi pond care should only be done if absolutely necessary since it will mess up the balance of your pond and interfere with your algae control.

Proper Koi pond care includes keeping your filter clean. If you use a skimmer or pre-filter as part of your Koi pond care then you will need to clean those more frequently, possibly as often as once a week. However it will cut down on the frequency of your regular filter cleanings.

If you use a biological filter as part of your Koi pond care then make sure you do NOT over-clean it, and avoid chlorinated water. Koi pond care that includes over-cleaning these types of filters can destroy the helpful bacteria that has colonized on the media in the filter.

Another very important Koi pond care tip is to make sure you do what you can to maximize aeration of your pond. Warm water holds less oxygen. I strongly suggest your Koi pond care include an additional air pump and that it is running all the time.

By following the above tips you should be well on your way to good warm weather Koi pond care.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

The Koi filter is an integral part of any Koi pond. The maintenance of your pond is among the first things you need to consider when planning your Koi garden. If you make sure to educate yourself about the key components of Koi pond maintenance while still in the planning stages you can eliminate becoming overwhelmed and deciding to bail out half way through your project. Or worse yet, acquiring your fish and finding you can’t keep them healthy. The proper maintenance equipment for your pond, mainly the Koi filter and water pump, can hopefully keep bigger troubles and mishaps away for good!

Keep the chemical balance correct in the water by checking it on a weekly basis. Buying your own testing kit is the easiest way to make sure this gets done regularly. Kits can be purchased at almost any pet store. If you don’t feel confident about doing it properly yourself you can always take some of the water into the pet store and have them do the analysis for you.

Koi fish need a quality filtration system in their pond as they are more sensitive to water quality than many other fish. I recommend you buy the best pump and filter that you can find.

A pond filter will keep the environment in the water well balanced. In their natural environment waste produced by the Koi fish is removed in many ways. The volume of water plus the water’s current both make a contribution to the waste removal process in nature.

Your Koi pond filter needs to serve a dual role. You don’t want the ammonia, or Ph, to build up as it is very harmful to Koi fish. The biological function of the filtration system will break the ammonia down to less harmful substances such as nitrates.

You want to keep Ph and nitrates at a low level in your pond or they can become harmful to your fish. The mechanical function of the filter cleans all types of particles from the water. Whoever takes care of your pond will remove these particles as part of it’s regular maintenance.

A quality pond filter will only work with the water circulating through it. This can be attained by properly installing the water pump. Don’t skimp here as this is one of the few working parts in your Koi pond. With a good pump pushing the water and circulating it through the filter your Koi fish will be happy, healthy and content.

A waterfall or fountain not only adds serenity to your Koi garden, it will improve the health of your fish. A constant oxygen supply will be enhanced by these items. They will churn up the water and fold air into it. This process is called aeration.

To keep your Koi fish healthy and give them brilliant color they need a good, clean pond. This objective can be obtained by investing in a quality Koi filter.

To learn more about Koi filters and general Koi care visit KoiCareBasics.com

Alan Deacon

The Black Koi is really only different from other types of koi due to it’s color. The Kumonryue first made a splash on the scene in the 1980′s. Of the many varieties of Black Koi it is the most popular. The inspiration for their name originated with this particular type of Koi’s resemblance to the dragons in paintings of centuries ago in Japan, in fact the literal translation of “Kumonryue” is “dragon fish”. These Koi, along with the Matsukawabe, can change their color.

In fact, one of the main attractions that Koi hold for pond owners is the great variety of colors that they display. An even greater attraction is the idea of owning a fish that can literally change colors right before one’s eyes as the Black Koi can!

Koi pond owners need to be careful since it is quite easy to fall in love with with the wide variety of colors that the Koi offers. That is why many owners will end up purchasing too many fish, thus overcrowding their ponds and negatively affecting their Koi’s environment and health.

The Japanese have been patient in developing the Koi. Over the years their breeding has produced numerous colors and more pattern combinations than can be mentioned in one short article. Using water temperature and diet they turned the common carp, with only one or two colors, into a glorious and diversly hued creature. It was an almost magical transformation!

The first Black Koi species that mutated were called Magoi. They appeared to be black when you stood above them looking down, but they were actually a bronze color. Magoi blood is being sought after for breeding purposes because of the Magoi’s larger size. Breeders are hoping to hasten growth and maximize size of their Koi through these efforts.

Seasonal conditions, diet and water temperature can fluctuate and affect the color of all the Koi species. The Matsukawabake Koi is a Black Koi with white areas on it’s body. This Koi has been known to change back and forth from completely white, to black and back to white depending only on water temperature. This is a thrill to observe as most Koi coloration will only dull or brighten as conditions change.

In Japan “Karasu” means “crow”. The Karasu Koi has a black body and fins and can also have an orange or white belly. It is also one of the most ancient species.

Koi fish are popular in both indoor and outdoor ponds throughout the world. Their life span is generally from 25 to 35 years although some have been recorded to have lived as long as 200 years!

People seek out Koi because of their ease of maintenance, the colors they offer and the relationship that grows over time. The Black Koi is particularly popular primarily because of their ability to change color right in front of your eyes!

To learn more about how to get started with Koi fish visit us at
KoiCareBasics.com

Alan Deacon

There is a wide variety of Koi fish food available. How do you decide what to feed your precious Koi?

For starters Koi are voracious eaters, consuming almost anything that comes their way, so it’s up to you as their caretaker to provide your fish with a balanced and nutritious diet.

You have the option of feeding a commercially available food, live insects, or a combination of both these items. In addition you can (and sometimes should)  feed occasional treats, fresh foods and nutritional supplements.

Koi fish are omnivores, meaning that they will consume both plant and animal matter, and their prefence runs towards larvae and aquatic insects. Many Koi pond owners either minimize or do not include plant life in their ponds because of their desire to have the Koi themselves be the main focal point.

Another reason they leave plants out of the equation is the enthusiasm with which Koi fish devour any edible in sight, often tipping over and destroying aquatic vegetation in the process! So…if you are one of those who leave the plant life out of your pond you MUST provide your Koi with adequate nutrition.

The most common and convenient type of Koi fish food is manufactured dry foods made especially for Koi. They come in many different forms including pellets, granules, tablets, chunks and flakes. These products are easily stored, relatively inexpensive, easy to feed and contain sufficient nutrients.

When deciding which type and size to feed you need to take into consideration the age and size of your fish and even the time of year. The best Koi fish food for the summer months will contain more protein than the foods you feed in the cooler months when your Koi are less active. It should go without saying that you will want to choose smaller size pellets for smaller and younger fish and larger pellets or chunks for larger fish.

Many Koi owners like to use additional supplements to enhance the colors of their fish. In theory this works but take into consideration that the red color pattens in Koi are determined genetically. If the red fades then supplementation will not restore it even though the supplement may contain the raw ingredients necessary for color enhancement.

Supplements do improve the overall health of your Koi and do boost their immune systems. Commercial Koi fish food preparations incorporate some supplementation into their recipes. However new and more effective products have been developed in powder form and can be mixed with your current Koi fish food. Just make sure you do your research and aren’t overfeeding any particular supplement as too much of even a good thing can be toxic to your fish.

For further information about Koi fish food or Koi care in general you can visit the website at KoiCareBasics.com

If anyone’s fish have a special favorite I would love to hear about it!

Alan Deacon

The Koi garden needs to be well planned out in advance. There are many factors to consider whether you are building a Koi garden from scratch, planning one around an existing Koi pond or adding Koi to a garden that is already in place. Your planning will be well worth the effort as a Koi garden offers vast enjoyment to all who experience it!

The three primary elements that make up a Koi garden are:

-the pond

-the Koi

-the plant life

Unknown to many beginners is the fact that Koi fish and plants do not get along well together! When one thinks of a garden they most often think of plants…adding Koi to your garden can increase your enjoyment beyond measure. Mixing the elements properly can give you years and years of pleasure as well as creating a happy, healthy and thriving environment.

The Koi fish is known to enjoy giving their owner a difficult time! Unless your pond is prepared properly the Koi can “dig” into the plant soil and the larger Koi fish have even been known to knock plants over, creating a real mess in the pond, which can lead to real problems for you, the pond owner!

You can use pea gravel with larger stones or netting placed over them to easily eliminate “digging” by your Koi fish and anchoring your pots will prevent them from being tipped over. There’s not a lot you can do, however, to keep your Koi from chewing on some of the foliage as they sometimes consider it as a tasty treat!

Lilies provide an excellent environment and are a quality choice as a plant to be used in your Koi garden. Some lilies thrive in a shallow pond and other varieties like deeper water. Lilies will not help oxygenate the water but the shade and shelter they provide will be enjoyed by the fish.

Beware: even a small amount of lawn chemicals can destroy your Koi fish. This is why placement of your garde is so vital!

The depth and size of the pond must be well thought out. Koi fish thrive in a pond that is at least 4 feet deep. In climates where there are cold winters they need to be able to have unfrozen water to hibernate in at the bottom of the pond.

They also need depth for protection from such predators as fox, racoons and cats. Additionally, if you make the pond large enough you can add more fish as you become more comfortable with your Koi-keeping skills. Koi also can reach a large size and require more room than they did when you first put in your pond so be sure to keep this in mind as well when you are still in the planning stages.

Placing your pond out of direct sunlight is ideal. Using a shade tree also keeps flying predators from eating all your beautiful koi. Not much is more appealing to some birds than a colorful and tasty fish! Netting should be used as protection from leaves, debris and predators.

A carefully thought out “Koi Pond Plan” will provide you with years of enjoyment in your Koi garden!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Keeping Koi supplies close at hand will keep your Koi fish ownership experience more stress free and pleasant. It’s smart to stock up on all supplies even if they are not used on a daily basis.

The water in the pond will need to be replenished from time to time. Tap water is generally what is used. Harming your Koi can be avoided by using a dechlorinator as it will help to rid any harmful chemicals in the tap water. Be sure to read the directions carefully.

It is best to check nitrate and ph levels daily. Koi owners can purchase test kits at almost any quality pet store. You should always keep pond salt and baking soda on hand. These items are used to regulate the nitrate and ph levels whenever the testing shows them to be “off”.

You want to keep the water well oxygenated. This will keep your fish happy and content. There are many ways to oxygenate your Koi pond. Placing a fountain or waterfall in your pond will accomplish this as well as producing a serene and tranquil setting for you, the owner of the Koi pond.

When you install a fountain or waterfall in your pond remember that neither will replace the water pump. Removing unwanted waste and pollutants is necessary and will keep your Koi healthy and happy.

Filters are designed to maintain water quality and require a pump to keep the water moving through them to be effective. A good filtration system is neccesary in the pond you are building to keep the koi healthy. so once again let me emphasize that you should get a high quality water pump.

Let’s talk about the food. There are a wide variety of types and it’s important to always keep a good supply on hand. The koi will learn to eat out of your hand with patience. Snacks and special treats are also good to have on hand as long as you keep them fresh.

You should have a net installed for protection against predators and it should be securely placed over your pond. Koi fish are highly visable with all of their bright colors.

If you’re able to build your koi pond under a tree it will help prevent flying predators like cranes, kingfishers and the dreaded heron from changing your pond from beautiful to empty! Creating overhangs high enough all around the pond will help stop cats, foxes, racoons and badgers from helping themselves to a meal.

A properly placed net will also keep leaves and debris from blowing into your koi pond. Such debris will quickly gum up the works of all the electronic devices and filters used to enhance the environment for your
Koi .

There is considerable effort and thought that needs to go into a Koi pond. With their magnificent colors and calming ways the Koi are magnificient fish. Adding a fountain or waterfall is well worth the effort and should give you years of enjoyment when sitting by your Koi fish pond.

If you would like to sign up for a completely free 10-part e-course about Koi fish visit KoiCareBasics.com

Remember do not run out of the necessary Koi supplies!

Alan Deacon

Koi care is actually fairly simple and can be easily managed by exercising a little forethought. Creating a relaxing environment with your Koi pond can add to your quality of life as well. Their brilliant colors and agreeable maners make the Koi fish very enjoyable and soothing to have around.

It is important to pay attention to how big your Koi get; especially if you decide to start with a smaller pond. They can get to be quite large and thrive best in ponds with 500 gallons or more. If your fish get too large you should either trade them in for smaller fish or create a new pond.

Koi stay healthier in a larger environment and you need to stay aware of how many fish you keep relative to how much water you have in your pond.

Water quality is the most important factor in Koi care. Keep the water moving with a quality pump and have it flowing through a filter to remove the waste produced by the fish.

The Koi is a cold water fish and enjoy water temperatures of between 61 and 75 degrees Farenheit. Year round climate temperatures are also an important consideration.

Koi fish thrive in colder water and can be left outside in the winter. Three feet deep is the minimum depth for any Koi pond. The Koi will start their winter hibernation as the temperatures outside go down. When the hibernation process begins their digestive system comes to a halt. Food left over in their system can become rancid.

Because of, this 50 degrees is the cutoff point. Koi fish should not be fed when the temperature of the water is 50 degrees and below.

The Japanese began breeding the common carp in the early 1800′s. As a matter of fact the word “Koi” comes from the Japanese word for carp.

They found that the environment and diet play an important role in the color of the Koi fish. Silver, black, white, orange, red, green and blue are all colors that have been noted in these fish. They also exhibit many beautiful patterns as well. The Japanese breeders showed extreme patience when developing the breed, taking into account all the factors that affect the Koi.

Koi aren’t necessarily a “schooling” fish although they are very social. They get along well with all breeds as long as the others are big enough not to get eaten! The Koi is an omnivore, meaning that meat,as well as vegetation, is fair game to them.

If the pond is small the Koi may seem to group together, but they will stay by themselves or in small groups if the pond is larger.

Koi can be found swimming in over 1 million ponds worldwide making them one of the most popular freshwater pond fish. The oldest aged Koi fish ever recorded was 226 years old. They can also be trained to eat out of your hand. Because of their brilliant colors, easy care and pleasing disposition the Koi is a quality choice for any outdoor pond!

For more information about Koi care and other aspects of the Koi hobby visit KoiCareBasics.com

I would also love to hear any interesting Koi tips or Koi information if anyone would like to share!

Alan Deacon