Ornamental Koi are mainly bred in Japan and delivered to remainder of the world. Several years of selective breeding had actually resulted in advancement of various colorful ranges of Koi but all will need the exact same water requirements. They are reasonably hardy fish and can endure bad water conditions but not for extended durations. Consistent good water quality is must to keep your Koi at their peak condition if you are severe about Koi keeping. A pond for keeping Koi has more stringent requirements compared to a regular garden pond.

Pond Size

Most 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. Size and bulk is one requirement when Koi are evaluated at Koi shows. Koi require area to grow and some Koi specialists have claimed that development rate is proportional to pond size and volume of water per Koi.

Much like in tropical fish keeping, a bigger volume of water or pond would likewise provides more stability in the water condition. Often, this is limited by offered space for your pond and generally not by cost. I am unsure about other countries, however in Singapore, my pond home builder has told me that I can have a slightly bigger (or smaller sized) pond for the exact same cost (like purchasing a t-shirt!). The pond dimensions need to be at least that of a king-size bed if you are planning to keep 9 Koi (each about 70 cm long). Think me, once you are bitten by the Koi-keeping bug, you would not wish to stop at 9! You should go for the largest pond that you can fit into the readily available space in your garden or home.

Oxygen level

Koi requires 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 ideal given that it is almost at saturation point. I used a water test set to measure this. Note that plants ( consisting of algae) in the water likewise use oxygen in the evening. Plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen only in the day, during photosynthesis. Some type of aeration in your pond style is a must. When it comes in contact with air, oxygen is taken in by the water. Any method to increase the interface location between the pond water and air would be great. This can be accomplished through use of a waterfall, fountain, venturi pipe 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, specifically during summer or if you live in hot, warm nation like Singapore where the day-to-day temperature level varieties from 25 deg C in the evening to 34 deg C in the day. Warm water does not bring oxygen in addition to cool water. In any case, some shade would benefit the Koi. I have actually checked out about Koi getting sun-burnt from extend direct exposure to direct sunshine.

Pond Depth

Pond depth ought to ideally be at least 1.2 meter or about 4 feet. Pond surface area is generally limited by the area readily available in our home or garden. A deeper pond would enable greater pond volume per system pond area. A deeper pond would likewise help keeps the water cooler in hot, sunny weather condition. A much deeper pond is great for the Koi growth but one has to be conscious of the proportion of the depth versus size of the pond.

pH level

pH is a step of the fundamental or acidic (alkaline) nature of a service. Typical faucet water or fresh water ought to 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 greater pH. It is essential to preserve the ideal pH level for the ideal type of fish. For example, African cichlids which stem from Lake Malawi requires high pH and a rocky environment, while South American tetras and cichlids which originate from the rivers of Amazon require low pH. Low pH or unexpected drop in pH level eliminates Koi and lots of other fishes. It is typically much better to have pond water for Koi at with somewhat greater pH (7.4 is perfect. Not more than 8.0). Water test kit can be used to determine pH. Lots of Koi keepers, myself consisted of, put coral and seashells in their filtration system to preserve or buffer the water from abrupt pH level changes in their Koi ponds.

Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate

Fish produces ammonia as a waste item and a good filter system should be supplied 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 fairly less damaging to fish and Koi than ammonia or nitrite. Ideal levels of ammonia and nitrite must be absolutely no or near no and this can be accomplished using a great biological filter system. Nitrate level should be less than 25 mg/liter. I used a water test set to measure nitrite and nitrate levels. The only method to lower nitrate is through partial water changes. Water plants to take in the nitrate however may not completely eliminate all nitrates from your pond. Excessive nitrates may result in algae blossom and turn your water green. Koi requires to eat routinely and eats a lot to maintain their bulk and grow to their maximum capacity. This means a lot of excrement is produced and need to be processed by the purification system. A guideline is that the size of the filter system must be one-third of your pond size. Specifically created, all-in-one filter system available commercially may be able to accomplish the same effect with a reduced size.

A deeper pond would enable for greater pond volume per system pond surface location. Whether you have a small backyard water garden with just a few goldfish or a large, formal Koi pond filled with enormously large Koi fish, appropriate pond upkeep is definitely paramount to attaining the crystal clear lagoon that every backyard enthusiast dreams about. Aside from the apparent risks intrinsic in including new Koi purchases to your pond without sufficient quarantine procedures, over time this can result in your pond becoming harmful to Koi due to bad water quality. A quality pond filtration system is arguably the most essential part to guarantee sparkling clear pond water which is healthy for Koi fish and other pond occupants. Planting mint along the sides of the pond will also help keep the pond tidy as the roots spread into the pond.