Koi Pond Heater Or Koi Pond
De Icer…Which Should You Use?

What should you do when the weather gets colder? Use a koi pond heater or a koi pond de icer? The answer is “it depends”.

As long as your pond is deep enough you can keep your koi outdoors through the winter.

Their metabolism will slow down and you’ll need to switch them to a lower protein food in the fall and then stop feeding them altogether once the temperatures drop below 50 degrees fahrenheit.

At that time they will become very sluggish and hang around at the bottom of tthe pond where the water is warmer.

The reason some people like using a
koi pond heater is because they like to feed their koi through the winter. When the fish are not taking in nutrients and are sluggish their immune systems slow down as well.

Then in the spring when they “come back to life”, other things, like bacteria are coming back to life as well. With their suppressed immune systems your koi are more susceptible to bacterial infections.

Many people prefer being able to feed through the winter to having to treat their fish for a bacterial infection.

If your pond freezes over in winter you will need to make sure to keep an opening in the ice for gases to escape. If gases get trapped beneath the ice you will end up with a pond full of dead koi in the spring!

A de icer will keep a small area open on the surface of your pond, allowing it to “breathe”. You should NEVER open a hole in the ice by breaking it with a hammer or other implement as this will send shock waves through the water that can kill your fish.

If you live in a colder climate you need to decide if you prefer to use a koi pond de icer or a koi pond heater.

Alan Deacon

KoiCareBasics.com

Koi filtration is probably the most important mechanical function in your pond! Without a filter you won’t be able to keep your water clean and we all should know by now that the most critical factor in koi health is water quality!

I just put up a new Squidoo lens about the koi pond filter. It provides information on the basics of koi filters, how they work and what they do.

Different aspects of filtering are reviewed and you will find out where you can go to save money on all your koi pond filtration needs!

Don’t neglect to learn all you can about the koi filter that you may already have, or that you will purchase in the future. Your filter determines, to a degree (along with the size of your pond), how many koi your koi fish pond will be able to sustain, how quickly and large your koi will grow and how healthy they will be.

If you want to learn more about the basics of koi and koi pond care head over to my website and grab a copy of the ebook or audio version of Koi Care Basics

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

What Type Of Koi Fish Food Should You Use?

Have you ever wondered what type of koi fish food you should use? If you’re like most people you probably wonder which brand or type of food will provide the optimum nutritional value at the best possible price.

There are many different types of foods you can feed your koi. I like to use a pelleted food as my mainstay because it is easy to keep track of how much your fish eat.

Plus, it doesn’t sink to the bottom of the pond and decompose. You can see how much they eat and make adjustments accordingly so that you don’t waste food (and therefore money!) and foul your pond water.

I’ve published a new Squidoo Lens comparing several of the more popular brands of koi food.

I lean towards Hikari koi for several reasons.

You can select a high quality, well balanced koi fish food from their Economy, Staple & Gold varieties through their Saki-Hikari varieties, with their special growth formula and color enhancing formula, developed especially for breeders and show koi.

I also love that they have a Saki-Hikari Multi-Season Food so that you don’t have to worry about the temperature…it is specially developed to be fed through all the seasons …except, of course, when temps fall below 50 degrees fahrenheit.

So head on over to my Squidoo Lens and check out the information on some of the industries top brands of koi fish food!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

With fall well under way, and winter fast approaching, I figured it was a good time for a reminder about when and how much koi fish food you should feed.

In the fall when water temperatures fall to 50-60 degrees, you should change your feeding schedule to once every 1-2 days.

A low protein food should be fed. Many companies make special foods for spring and fall, when you are switching from feeding to not feeding.

When the temperatures drop to below 50 degrees you need to stop feeding the fish altogether.

In the colder temperatures the metabolism of your fish slows down and food cannot be properly digested. It can take up to 3-4 days for your koi to fully digest their food.

Don’t be fooled on warm days when your fish may become active and “beg” for food. Stay strong and do not feed!

If your koi really do need a little food, they will find enough growing in the pond. The algae that is still coating the pond liner more than enough. You don’t want to literally kill your koi with kindness!

Koi fish food definitely needs to be fed according to temperature. In many parts of the country, temperature coincides with the season, which is why you hear that koi need to be fed according to season!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

For any pond over 1000 gallons it is wise to use a pressurized biological sand or bead filter that can be back washed. There are pros and cons with either sand or beads.

During the backwash portion of the operation, sand, since it is heavier than water, falls to the bottom of the tank instead of flowing out through the valve with the waste. Plastic beads, since they are lighter than water, float to the top. As they are smaller than the valve-strainer’s holes, they get washed out through the valve into the waste stream. More and more beads are lost during each backwash operation.

Bead filters also have limited efficiency. Smaller beads have more surface area for good bacteria colonization, but tend to get flushed out during the backwash procedure. This doesn’t happen to the larger sized beads, but they have less surface area and thus are unable to filter as efficiently.

By under-loading the sand filters, and backwashing them more frequently with higher pressures and flow rates, you can take advantage of the greater food processing surface areas, while eliminating the chance of plugging, which can be their main fault. Many manufacturers recommendations for loading sand tend to be too high.

This causes the sand to plug the filter which is the main drawback of sand as a filtration medium.

Up-flow and gravity flow filters need to be cleaned regularly and it is a filthy job. The filter media is packed with rotting organic matter and foul odored fish waste .

As you clean and handle all the various parts of these filters you will find small, white feces-eating worms crawling on your hands and arms. Add to this the ambiance of the offensive odor described above and you don’t exactly have nirvana!

The up-flow and gravity flow filters, though inexpensive to make, cost a fortune to purchase. So, in addition to paying a premium price to buy one, you are also spending so much time and labor that you might as well have paid at least twice the price!

If you use a pressurized filter, all it takes is the turn of a handle for 2 to 3 minutes and the filter is clean. Almost like magic! This saves lots of time, inconvenience, labor, mess, and wear and tear on your Koi. It uses slightly more electricity to operate a pressurized pump, but the savings in labor more than make up for it in most pond owner’s eyes!

You can also use the waste water for your plants. It is packed with nitrogen and works even better than many of the fertilizers created especially for this purpose!

As you can see, to find the type that is right for you, you have several decisions to make about Koi pond filtration.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Koi fish need to need to be cared for on a daily basis, but due to their hardy appetites their owners catch a break as to how, and how often they are fed.

It is important to keep feeding time a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Koi feeding is a very interactive part of the day for the Koi owner.

Koi need a well rounded diet, thus their feedings should include a variety of foods to keep nutrients in balance. Koi fish are omnivores which means they will eat meat as well as plant matter.

The environment and their owner are two sources of food for the Koi fish. Voracious eaters, they eat just about anything that comes their way and fits in their mouths! They eat foliage off of the underwater plants and this should be paid attention to as any plants left unprotected may disappear.

Insects getting into their range are also fair game, including worms, snails and crickets. Koi have also been known to pull themselves partly out of the water to gather up fallen acorns and nibble on the grass.

Owners can offer the Koi fish an assortment of delicacies that will be savored and enjoyed. Watermelon, peas, lettuce and corn can be offered as special treats. Getting the right amount of vitamins, minerals, fat, fiber and protein is important to their quality of life and feeding a special pelleted food will ensure that they receive it. The fish will rise to the surface to feed as the store bought pellets float on the surface of the water.

Feeding time is a good opportunity to check on their health. Check them for injuries, irregularities and see that they have good appetites. A healthy diet helps to enhance the coloration of the fish, making them brilliant and beautiful to watch!

Water temperature can also have an effect on their appetite, with 61-75 degrees Fahrenheit being optimal for them. Koi are most active during the summer months and should be fed a high quality diet during this period.

Feeding is not necessary during the winter months because their digestive sustem shuts down in cold water. When water temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit any food left in their stomachs can become rancid. This can cause them to become very sick.

Highly entertaining and gorgeous, the Koi fish is a joy to own. They learn to recognize their feeder and gather round at regular feeding trimes. With patience they can be trained to eat right out of your hand! Never boring to be around, the Koi is a lively creature that will brighten up any backyard pond.

In conclusion, a balanced diet is extremely important, but there can also be plenty of fun and games involved.

Get your FREE 10-part mini-course and learn more about how to take care of Koi at my website KoiCareBasics.com

Alan Deacon

In my opinion all Koi ponds should be at least three feet deep and not have any areas of the pond that are less than two feet deep!

All of the sides of the pond should go almost straight down rather than tapering. The pond just won’t be safe for your Koi otherwise. If you have any spots, particularly near the edge of the pond, that are less than two feet deep it is like sending out an open invitation to dinner to all the raccoons and blue heron in the area.

Even if you think you live in a relatively predator-free area you will find out differently if you don’t construct your pond defensively when it comes to depth. You might think your fish are safe if you have built a deep area with a cave for your Koi to hide in, but it will still be no match for the blue heron.

This Koi predator will simply wade out into your pond and wait patiently for the fish to come out of hiding.

It is much more aesthetically pleasing to build your pond properly than to find out later that it’s necessary to cover it with a net. A deep pond with steep sides is the best defense against Koi predators.

Another thing to know about depth is that Koi get the most exercise by swimming up and down in the pond as opposed to back and forth, thus to raise healthy, large Koi three feet deep is just the bare minimum. You might want to include an area up to six feet in depth to provide for plenty of exercise as well as safety.

There is a little room to play with when figuring depths for your Koi pond but make sure you take the forgoing tips seriously when planing your Koi pond design!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

What is healthy Koi water? This is an extremely important question because the water quality in your Koi pond is the most important factor affecting the health of your fish.

You can determine if the quality of your pond water is sufficient for your koi if the following criteria are met:

1) The water in your pond is free of chlorine and other chemicals such as pesticides, heavy metals, organophosphates, etc.

2) There are undetectable levels of ammonia and nitrite in your pond.

3) Water hardness, pH level, and temperature are correct.

4) There are low levels of particulate organic compounds (POC) and dissolved organic compounds (DOC) in your pond and…

5) Your Koi water stays consistent in it’s stability.

If you use tap water in your pond it has probably been treated with chlorine. Chlorine can be fatal to your Koi. One way to make it safe is by “aging” chlorinated water before placing your Koi in it. How long is long enough? Make sure you wait AT LEAST 24 hours before placing your Koi in tap water.

If you use subsequent additions of tap water in your pond make sure that the amount is a small percentage of the total volume of pond water. Also be sure to test for chlorine levels after each addition.

The next deadliest contaminant in your Koi water would be ammonia. You always have to be careful of ammonia because the main source of the ammonia in your pond is your Koi themselves! Fortunately ammonia can be broken down into it’s less harmful components through the process of biological filtration.

Since certain types of beneficial bacteria break down the ammonia, the highest risk for ammonia contamination is in newer ponds. This is due to the fact that they haven’t yet developed large enough colonies to neutralize the ammonia.

Since the danger from ammonia in new ponds is so serious I recommend that you check ammonia levels every day until they stabilize and make frequent Koi water changes, even daily if necessary. Once your ammonia readings stabilize you will be able to relax a bit!

An acceptable level of ammonia in your pond is actually ZERO!

Even very low ammonia levels (<.1mg./liter) are extremely irritating to Koi fish, especially to their gills, and higher levels can lead to skin and gill hyperplasia. In gill hyperplasia the secondary gill lamellae become swollen leading to breathing difficulties. Serious gill disease and death occur when high levels of ammonia contamination are reached.

As you can see, even in the case of just these two factors of  water quality it is essential that you monitor and maintain your pond so that your fish have healthy Koi water!

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Today I’m posting a letter that I just sent out to my email
list. The content is important so I wanted to make sure that my blog
readers get it too!

“I thought I’d send along an article I came across the other day.

Hopefully you know that you don’t want to place your Koi pond at the
bottom of a slope. That way if there is any pesticide runoff from a
garden or from your lawn it won’t be directed towards your pond.

Koi are fairly hardy but contaminating their water with pesticides
can kill even the hardiest of Koi.

In fact the three most important components of Koi care are:
1. Water Quality
2. Water Quality and
3. Water Quality

It’s that important.

I hope you find the article interesting and that it drives home the
point. You probably won’t ever run into this extreme (hopefully) but
it won’t hurt to keep this in mind.

Here’s the link to the article:
Pesticides Article
More about water quality next time!

Take Care,
Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com

Water Koi, otherwise known as Koi or Nishikigoi, require proper care. Sometimes these vibrant fish become more lethargic and less playful than they usually are. This is when they need extra care.

Water Koi are known as one of the oldest species of fish and they can live to over a hundred years old but they are also considered among most delicate species of fish. These brightly colored creatures need special care. But if you do not know how to care for Koi don’t worry! It is not very difficult. To take proper care of them, you must pay attention to their maintenance.

Also known as Cyprinus Carpio, these ornamental varieties of Common Carp are known as symbols of love and friendship. These native Japanese fish are available in multiple colors including white, black, red, yellow, blue, cream and silver. Koi are slightly bigger than Goldfish and to take care of them, you need to be just as cautious as you are when taking care of Goldfish.

The preliminary steps of caring for your Water Koi include proper cleaning of your pond. In order to know how to properly care for your fish you need to be knowledgeable about Koi pond maintenance.

Your pond should be filled with water at all times and it should be both aerated and filtered.

Any sudden changes in temperature can cause problems for your Koi, thus you should monit\or your water temperature closely. These temperature changes stress your fish and cause suppression of their immune systems.

Debris in your pond must also be removed on a regular basis. You should keep the water as clear as possible. To maintain this clarity the filter should be cleaned daily.

You need to get special pellets to feed your Koi fish. These pellets contain all the essential ingredients that are important to keep the fish healthy, happy and active. They should usually be fed twice a day. (although this depends on temperature/season).

Other measures of  Water Koi care include gentle handling of your fish. These fish are very delicate so you need to be quite attentive and handle them very carefully.

Koi are covered with a protective slime. This slime should not be stripped. It helps protect them from fungus and bacterial diseases.

You must keep your other pets away from the pond, as the bright colors of Koi fish attract dogs and cats. These pets can easily make a meal of your prized Koi. Racoons and herons are also common pond predators that will enjoy making a tasty snack out of your fish!

Nets, motion detectors and even decoys can help to protect your Koi and having pond plants helps by giving them a place to hide.

You must remember that as your Koi grow they need more oxygen. They can get to be quite large so don’t be tempted to fill your pond with too many fish if you purchase them when they are smaller. Overcrowding creates a variety of problems in your pond.

Even though there is much more to learn these are some of the most effective measures of Water Koi care.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com