Ornamental Koi are mainly bred in Japan and delivered to remainder of the world. Several years of selective breeding had actually caused development of different colorful varieties of Koi however all will require the exact same water requirements. They are relatively sturdy fish and can tolerate poor water conditions however not for extended periods. If you are major about Koi keeping, then continual excellent water quality is should to maintain your Koi at their peak condition. A pond for keeping Koi has more strict requirements compared to a regular garden pond.

Pond Size

Many Koi offered are young Koi and averages from 20 cm (yearlings) to about 50 cm, Koi can grow to as big as 1 meter in length. When Koi are evaluated at Koi programs, size and bulk is one requirement. Koi require space to grow and some Koi professionals have claimed that growth rate is proportional to pond size and volume of water per Koi.

Much like in fish tank fish keeping, a larger volume of water or pond would likewise supplies more stability in the water condition. Often, this is restricted by available space for your pond and typically not by expense. I am not exactly sure about other nations, however in Singapore, my pond home builder has informed me that I can have a somewhat bigger (or smaller) pond for the very same price (like purchasing a shirt!). If you are planning to keep 9 Koi (each about 70 cm long), the pond dimensions need to be at least that of a king-size bed. Think me, once you are bitten by the Koi-keeping bug, you would not wish to stop at 9! Hence, you should go for the biggest pond that you can suit the offered area in your garden or house.

Oxygen level

Koi needs oxygen therefore does the bacteria in the biological filter. Dissolved oxygen level of 8 mg/liter in water temperature of about 25 deg C is practically perfect considering that it is almost at saturation point. I used a water test package to measure this. Keep in mind that plants ( consisting of algae) in the water likewise use oxygen at night. Plants take in co2 and produce oxygen only in the day, during photosynthesis. Some kind of aeration in your pond design is a must. Oxygen is taken in by the water when it can be found in contact with air. Any way to increase the user interface area between the pond water and air would be great. This can be achieved through use of a waterfall, fountain, venturi pipeline water return system or air pumps that produce streams of bubbles in your ponds.

Temperature level

There is a requirement to keep the water cool, particularly throughout summertime or if you reside in hot, sunny country like Singapore where the day-to-day temperature ranges from 25 deg C during the night to 34 deg C in the day. Warm water does not carry oxygen along with cool water. In any case, some shade would benefit the Koi. I have checked out about Koi getting sun-burnt from prolong direct exposure to direct sunlight.

Pond Depth

Pond depth ought to ideally be at least 1.2 meter or about 4 feet. Pond area is usually limited by the area readily available in our house or garden. A deeper pond would permit for higher pond volume per unit pond area. A much deeper pond would also help keeps the water cooler in hot, sunny weather condition. For this reason, a much deeper pond benefits the Koi development however one needs to be mindful of the percentage of the depth versus size of the pond.

pH level

pH is a procedure of the fundamental or acidic (alkaline) nature of a service. Normal tap water or fresh water should have pH level of 7. Water with a lower pH level is deemed acidic while alkaline water would have higher pH. Chalk, limestone, coral or seashells dissolved in water will produce higher pH. It is essential to keep the ideal pH level for the best kind of fish. African cichlids which originate from Lake Malawi requires high pH and a rocky environment, while South American tetras and cichlids which stem from the rivers of Amazon need low pH. Low pH or abrupt drop in pH level eliminates Koi and numerous other fishes. It is typically better to have pond water for Koi at with somewhat greater pH (7.4 is ideal. Not more than 8.0). Water test set can be used to measure pH. Many Koi keepers, myself included, put coral and seashells in their filtration system to buffer the water or preserve from unexpected pH level changes in their Koi ponds.

Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate

Fish produces ammonia as a waste item and a excellent filter system need to be provided to remove this ammonia from the water. The germs in the filter will transform the ammonia to nitrite and then from nitrite to nitrate if a biological filter is utilized. Nitrate is fairly less hazardous to fish and Koi than ammonia or nitrite. Perfect levels of ammonia and nitrite must be absolutely no or near zero and this can be accomplished utilizing a good biological filter system. Nitrate level needs to be less than 25 mg/liter. I utilized a water test set to measure nitrite and nitrate levels. The only method to decrease nitrate is through partial water changes. Water plants to soak up the nitrate but may not totally remove all nitrates from your pond. Extreme nitrates might lead to algae bloom and turn your water green. Koi needs to eat regularly and eats a lot to keep their bulk and grow to their fullest capacity. This indicates a great deal of waste matter is produced and have to be processed by the filtering system. A guideline of thumb is that the size of the filter system ought to be one-third of your pond size. Specifically created, all-in-one filter system available commercially might have the ability to accomplish the exact same effect with a lowered size.

A much deeper pond would allow for greater pond volume per unit pond surface location. Whether you have a little yard water garden with only a few goldfish or a big, formal Koi pond filled with massively large Koi fish, proper pond maintenance is definitely vital to accomplishing the crystal clear lagoon that every yard hobbyist dreams about. Aside from the apparent dangers intrinsic in adding brand-new Koi purchases to your pond without adequate quarantine procedures, over time this can result in your pond becoming hazardous to Koi due to bad water quality. A quality pond purification system is probably the most crucial component to ensure sparkling clear pond water which is healthy for Koi fish and other pond residents. Planting mint along the sides of the pond will also help keep the pond clean as the roots spread out into the pond.