Wintering Koi

I have a small back yard pond, over the summer my friend gave me some pond lettuce and to my surprise there were 4 baby Koi entangled in the roots which I did not even notice until about 2 months later!!! The fish have survived wonderfully with no feeding or attention. Now, that winter is approaching I would like to keep my fish in the pond through the winter. What should I do? Last year my pond froze solid, is it even worth the try? -Lisa There are two requirements that need to be met in order for your Koi to survive the winter, how you achieve them is up to you: A hole in the ice, so that fresh Oxygen can get into the water and Carbon Dioxide can escape. Make sure that the bottom 2/3rds of your pond stays un-frozen so your Koi have some water to live in. Most people keep a hole in the ice with a 1,500-Watt Floating Pond De-Icer/Heater, this nifty little piece of technology will maintain a hole in the ice. When you compare this to a heater that heats the entire pond, its pretty cheap to run. Another way to keep a hole in the ice it to agitate the surface of the water, with a good amount of aeration or with a strong aquarium power head. If you live in a region that is farther north, then I would not use this method because water can freeze solid easily when its -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The two worst things that can happen in the winter are (hint, they both involve the pond freezing over): Mechanical Failure - ie. The heater or powerhead fails and the pond freezes over. Power Failure - Your power goes out so your heater or powerhead cannot run (consider yourself lucky if you have a backup generator.) If once of these things happens and your pond starts to freeze over, don't hack away the ice with a pick, the vibrations will greatly distress your Koi. Get some hot, de-chlorinated water, and melt the ice instead of chipping it away (make sure there is no chlorine in the hot water I cannot stress that enough). If the pond starts to freeze due to faulty equipement, replace it right away. Don't forget, you can always set up a tank indoors! Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

PH Level Dropping

Since the weather has turned cold here in Perth Australia over the last month my PH level has dropped continually down from 7 to around 5.5 - 5. I have adjusted it with Bi-Carb soda to bring it back up at a rate of about 1.5 Tsp per 1000 litres but then a week later it will have dropped again. All my other water levels are spot on. Can you tell me why this is happening as during the summer months it was OK. Is Bi-Carb soda the correct way to raise the levels? What can you suggest to maintain a steady level of PH? Thank you, look forward to your suggestions. -William I would do a water change and I would do it regularly. All your Koi are doing right now when they are hibernating is breathing. They breath in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is acidic and will slowly eat away at carbonate levels in the water. As the carbonate levels go down, the water's ability to buffer acid also drops. That is why you pH keeps dropping. Doing a regular water change or adding Bi-Carb soda will keep the carbonate levels in your pond up. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

What is the right water temp for bio filter to start after winter season?

Your bio filter actually never shuts down, it just gets very efficient. This is due to the fact that cold water holds more oxygen, which is required to turn Ammonia into Nitrite and Nitrite into Nitrate. There will be a significant less amount of Nitrifying bacteria in the filter itself, because Koi's metabolism slows down to a crawl in cold water. As the water in your pond gets warmer in the spring, the number Nitrifying bacteria that live in your filter will increase. If you shut your filter system off in the fall, the bacteria would have all completely died off by now. It will take 4 - 6 weeks for Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter to grow back. Make sure to test your water frequently to check that your filter is working properly and there isn't an increase of Ammonia levels. Don't forget to do a large water change in the spring too. The oxidization of Ammonia and Nitrite by Nitrifying bacteria liberates Hydrogen Ions, which will lower you pH. Over time this will diminish the carbonates in the water, which could lead to a pH crash. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit