Koi Care Basics Blog

So you thought you didn’t need to worry about winter koi pond algae? Well, think again!

Algae is able to grow both in and under ice. It flourishes until plants begin competing with it for nutrients again in the spring.

Plants use nutrients and compete with algae. They are higher up on the food chain than algae, so they beat them out in the competition.

In my opinion this is possibly THE best reason to have koi pond plants, although there are many other benefits as well.

In fact, it is suggested that plants should cover 70% of the pond’s surface during the growing season.

One way to discourage algae growth in the winter is to have as many plants as you can find that will also grow in the ice. Two of these are pennywort and watercress.

Both fish and tadpoles eat algae. UV lights, algaecides and bentonite are also methods of koi pond algae control. There is no magic bullet.

It may take a combination of all of the above to get your algae under control. UV is expensive and algaecide can upset the balance and even harm or kill your koi.

Both plants and bentonite work with the natural chemistry and ecosystem of your pond.

If you are experiencing bad algae problems one good solution is to go to the grocery store and buy several clumps of watercress (with the roots on), bring it home and throw it in your pond.

And of course pennywort. If you can find it, buy a large bunch and toss it in the pond.

Both watercress and pennywort are readily available, suck up nutrients quickly and help starve both summer and winter koi pond algae!

These pieces of Koi pond equipment, while not exactly necessities, are well worth the cost and you should acquire them if you can!

ALMOST NEEDS:

Skimmer: Your skimmer draws in surface debris. It is possible to do this manually with a net and by using a pond vacuum to get any debris that makes it’s way to the bottom of your pond. If you can afford to get one it greatly cuts down on your labor!

UV Light: A UV light is especially helpful in newer ponds until beneficial bacteria is established as your pond matures. This piece of Koi pond equipment kills algal blooms that float about suspended in your pond water. Two things to note; you need the proper size for your pond or it won’t be effective and UV lights don’t kill string algae as it’s attached and doesn’t float about in your pond.

Jets: People that have jets in their ponds say that they would never want to do without them. While not a necessity they do provide exercises for your Koi who are river fish and enjoy swimming in a current. If you install them in the right places you can move water out of “dead” areas of your pond and direct it towards the skimmer where debris can be collected. Also if they are installed so the water breaks the surface they can help to oxygenate your pond! As you can see they provide many benefits.

Auto-fills: While far from being a necessity an auto-fill makes maintaining your pond easier. As it’s name implies it always keeps your water at a pre-determined level. As water evaporates it is automatically replaced. This reduces the risk of forgetting to turn off the hose and inadvertently killing your fish by chlorination.

WANTS:

I consider pre-filters, underwater lights and automatic feeders to be in the “wants” category. They may be nice to have but definitely not necessities.

These are the basics, although there are definitely more details to consider when you choose specific pieces of Koi pond equipment.

Alan Deacon
KoiCareBasics.com