Decorative Koi are primarily bred in Japan and delivered to remainder of the world. Many years of selective breeding had actually caused development of numerous colorful ranges of Koi however all will need the exact same water requirements. They are relatively hardy fish and can endure poor water conditions but not for prolonged durations. If you are severe about Koi keeping, then consistent excellent water quality is must to keep your Koi at their peak condition. A pond for keeping Koi has more stringent requirements compared to a typical garden pond.

Pond Size

The majority of Koi sold are young Koi and averages from 20 cm (yearlings) to about 50 cm, Koi can grow to as big as 1 meter in length. Size and bulk is one requirement when Koi are judged at Koi programs. Koi require space to flourish and some Koi specialists have claimed that growth rate is proportional to pond size and volume of water per Koi.

Similar to in tropical fish keeping, a larger volume of water or pond would likewise provides 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, but in Singapore, my pond builder has informed me that I can have a slightly larger (or smaller sized) pond for the very same price (like buying a shirt!). The pond measurements ought to be at least that of a king-size bed if you are planning to keep 9 Koi (each about 70 cm long). Believe me, once you are bitten by the Koi-keeping bug, you would not wish to stop at 9! For this reason, you must go for the biggest pond that you can fit into the available area in your garden or house.

Oxygen level

Koi needs oxygen therefore does the bacteria in the biological filter. Liquified oxygen level of 8 mg/liter in water temperature level of about 25 deg C is nearly perfect considering that it is nearly at saturation point. I utilized a water test package to measure this. Keep in mind that plants ( consisting of algae) in the water also use oxygen at night. Plants take in co2 and produce oxygen just in the day, during photosynthesis. Some form of aeration in your pond style is a must. Oxygen is absorbed by the water when it is available in contact with air. Any way to increase the user interface area in between the pond water and air would be great. This can be accomplished through usage of a waterfall, fountain, venturi pipe water return system or air pumps that develop streams of bubbles in your ponds.

Temperature

There is a requirement to keep the water cool, particularly during summertime or if you live in hot, warm nation like Singapore where the everyday temperature level ranges from 25 deg C in the evening to 34 deg C in the day. Warm water does not bring oxygen along with cool water. In any case, some shade would benefit the Koi. I have actually checked out Koi getting sun-burnt from prolong direct exposure to direct sunshine.

Pond Depth

Pond depth must ideally be at least 1.2 meter or about 4 feet. Pond area is generally limited by the space available in our home or garden. A much deeper pond would enable for higher pond volume per system pond surface location. A deeper pond would also assist keeps the water cooler in hot, bright weather condition. A deeper pond is good for the Koi development but one has to be mindful of the percentage of the depth versus size of the pond.

pH level

pH is a measure of the acidic or basic (alkaline) nature of a service. Typical faucet water or fresh water must have pH level of 7. Water with a lower pH level is considered acidic while alkaline water would have greater pH. Chalk, limestone, coral or seashells liquified in water will produce higher pH. It is very important to maintain the ideal pH level for the ideal kind of fish. For instance, 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 sudden drop in pH level kills Koi and lots of other fishes. It is generally much better to have pond water for Koi at with slightly higher pH (7.4 is ideal. Not more than 8.0). Water test kit can be used to determine pH. Many Koi keepers, myself consisted of, placed coral and seashells in their purification system to preserve or buffer the water from sudden pH level changes in their Koi ponds.

Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate

Fish produces ammonia as a waste product and a excellent filter system should be offered to remove this ammonia from the water. The bacteria in the filter will transform the ammonia to nitrite and then from nitrite to nitrate if a biological filter is utilized. Nitrate is reasonably less damaging to fish and Koi than ammonia or nitrite. Suitable levels of ammonia and nitrite must be no or near no and this can be accomplished using a excellent biological filter system. Nitrate level ought to be less than 25 mg/liter. I used a water test set to determine nitrate and nitrite levels. The only way to decrease nitrate is through partial water changes. Water plants to absorb the nitrate but might not entirely eliminate all nitrates from your pond. Extreme nitrates might cause algae blossom and turn your water green. Koi needs to consume routinely and eats a lot to keep their bulk and grow to their max capacity. This means a great deal of waste matter is produced and need to be processed by the filtering system. A guideline is that the size of the filter system must be one-third of your pond size. Specially developed, all-in-one filter system offered commercially might be able to attain the same impact with a minimized size.

A much deeper pond would allow for greater pond volume per system pond surface area. Whether you have a little yard water garden with only a couple of goldfish or a large, official Koi pond filled with enormously big Koi fish, correct pond maintenance is absolutely vital to accomplishing the crystal clear lagoon that every yard hobbyist dreams about. Aside from the obvious risks fundamental in adding brand-new Koi purchases to your pond without sufficient quarantine procedures, over time this can result in your pond becoming unsafe to Koi due to bad water quality. A quality pond filtering system is perhaps the most important element to guarantee shimmering 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.