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Thread: Tips for new koi keepers
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22-11-2013, 01:19 PM #1
Tips for new koi keepers
In the last couple of years I think I've learnt a lot about koi keeping (I have much, much more to learn though). It appears to me that a lot of people are joining this forum and making the same mistakes that I did so I thought I'd share what I think are majority opinion on a few subjects. Feel free to add / dispute or tell me I'm an idiot.
In no particular order ...
1. A bottom drain / gravity fed filter is by far the best method of getting pond water to your filter
2. Anoxic filtration is probably the cheapest effective filter available
3. Reverse Osmosis water purification is a cheap (if you're not on a water meter) way to improve your water quality and koi growth
4. Having salt in your pond as a precaution at a background level is bad for your fish
5. Join a koi club, you will get a lot of free, useful advice
6. Regular water testing of pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate is essential at least until your pond chemistry is stable. Free chlorine, KH, GH, TDS, phosphate are very useful tests to do too.
7. Topping up with untreated tap water is a bad idea (either use a dechlorinator or chemical treatment)
8. Treating for parasites before you know exactly what parasites you have (ideally by scraping and viewing through a microscope) is a very bad idea
9. Having fish other than koi in your pond will restrict parasite treatments you can use.
10. Not everything you'll be told on forums is true (perhaps including this? )
11. An auto-feeder will make your fish less friendly than hand feeding
12. Regular small water changes is a good way to control nitrates and other pollutants
13. Sun light causes green water / blanket weed to grow if you also have nitrate and / or phosphate present
14. If money is no object a drum filter and Bakki shower is probably the best filtration available.
15. A pond with a depth of less than four feet is generally a bad idea
16. Ball valves tend to be more reliable than slide valves
17. If done well fibre-glassing is probably the best way to water proof a pond
18. A microscope (and taking the time to learn how to use it) is a very good investment
19. If using a skimmer then a guard is a very good idea.
20. Changing water chemistry quickly can be bad for your fish. for example koi will tolerate a wide range of temperatures and pH but won't tolerate quick changes in temperature or pH
21. Visit other people's koi ponds (via a club?). What you see will give you new ideas.
22. Feed more when the water is warmer and little or nothing below about 8 deg C
[edit 23/11/13] removed the temperature one as there is no majority opinion, added joining a club and visiting ponds
[edit 12-02-14] added feeding
This list doesn't cover everything or try to give reasons, every subject above has lots more discussion this forum, the search tool is a very good friend
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Velvetfathead, neiltralphs, andy1966, TheKoiEnthusiast, jasoncambs, Huggsterman, freddyboy, crazyreefer, smartin, Grommett, vyper2012, Marckoi, Ruffers22, Wain, SamuraiJack, guitarbomber, Banny 1, funky1982, Heatpumpgeek79, newboy, ABN67, tiger101 Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-11-2013, 01:46 PM #21630 Gallon raised pond
4" 'Avenue' bottom drain
Estro sieve
Econobead EB60 bead filter
Sequence 18000 pump, 6000 pump on skimmer line
Elecro 2kW in-line heater
Evolution Aqua 70 air pump
Standard wall skimmer
Hozelock Vorton 55watt UV
and some nice koi
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22-11-2013, 01:54 PM #3
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22-11-2013, 02:02 PM #4
Tips for new koi keepers
Great work John, this is simply a great guide for any new koi keeper. Fantastic that you took the time and a little stick for putting this list together WELL DONE BUDDY 👍
7000ltr pear shape pond
Gravity Fed Oasis vortec 20000 filter
Olympus 9000ltr pump
TMC 55w UV
Evolution Aqua 70 air pump
Sent from iPhone using TapTalk
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SamuraiJack Thanked / Liked this Post
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22-11-2013, 02:02 PM #5
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23-11-2013, 09:41 AM #6
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30-11-2013, 09:06 PM #7
Hi John,realy good post but 3 years too late for my pond build.Lots of mistakes made but getting it sorted gradualy.Great sorce of information for anyone coming into the hobby,regards Bob
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11-02-2014, 11:10 PM #8
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11-02-2014, 11:25 PM #9
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12-02-2014, 07:04 AM #101630 Gallon raised pond
4" 'Avenue' bottom drain
Estro sieve
Econobead EB60 bead filter
Sequence 18000 pump, 6000 pump on skimmer line
Elecro 2kW in-line heater
Evolution Aqua 70 air pump
Standard wall skimmer
Hozelock Vorton 55watt UV
and some nice koi
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12-02-2014, 09:47 AM #11
All I would say regarding keeping pond fish everything is a balance get the right balance and your almost there. Some people add salt 1/2 oz per gallon, with salt your are restricted in using chemicals for blanket control. expect minor loses as there is in the wild. What you are trying to achieve is a natural environment for the fish. Feed little and often in the summer, little and less in the winter. But you already know this.
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12-02-2014, 09:56 AM #12
only think i can think of adding is read, learn, and see other peoples ponds. and only pay what you can afford to lose on a fish. and remember even the best koi keepers lose fish. they say a dogs for life not just for xmas and the same is true with your koi they can live up to 50 years. and i think the best did i can add is the only people that make money from selling koi are the dealer, don`t keep koi to make money. it is life changing.
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12-02-2014, 10:43 AM #13
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12-02-2014, 10:46 AM #14
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12-02-2014, 12:48 PM #15
you win John lol but i see what your saying. as far as my wife thinks its an investment lol . think its the only way she can understand what i see in this hobby.
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14-02-2014, 08:47 PM #16
Don't do it
or
move next door to someone who is bang in to their koi so you can see them from your bedroom window lol
I've learnt to never place filters on wood across a pond because in time they rot with the condensation/water and collapse with a loud crack as you watch your filters slowly go in the water and then in a split second you make the decision to run like hell to the kitchen to turn the plug off to stop the filters filling with water - luckily, the lids were on and they floated for a few valuable seconds
and
never be lazy in screwing in the last piece of wood securing your polytunnel because the strong wind will find a way in and blow the back out causing wind chill
and
never leave a filter sock on a filter with only one outlet pipe - it overflows and drains half your pond water
and
if you have a sunken pond that is ground level always make sure you have an overflow fitted because at 4:30am in the winter when its hammering down with rain and you pond is over flowing so your babies could float away and your stripped naked from the top down in a pair of shorts bailing out bucket loads of water when your neighbour is watching and asking 'how did you know your pond was overflowing' and you think 'mmm, if you knew, would you have knocked on my door to let me know' lol
koi keeping is stressful but also rewarding knowing you've managed to keep alive a really tempermental species that can change colour, shape and become ill in a flash!
My name is KoiManMick and I'm addicted to koi carp pmsl
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TheKoiEnthusiast, Keeef Thanked / Liked this Post
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14-02-2014, 09:00 PM #17
But the best tip is to never let your other half see you have a double headed coin when you keep on winning best out of three when it comes to cleaning the pre-filter sponge on your pump at silly-o'clock
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14-02-2014, 09:33 PM #18
Nice work , John . Such a lot for us newbies to take in , at the start of the journey . It definitely pays to spend a long time , researching , planning , and learning off others before taking the plunge !
Colin
2500 Gallon Fibreglass Pond
Draco Solum 16 , 400l Bio Chamber
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15-03-2014, 09:14 AM #19
Hi John,
Something that might be worth adding, everyone needs to learn the Nitrate Cycle to better understand their pond.
Steve
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
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Keeef Thanked / Liked this Post
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15-03-2014, 10:46 PM #20
Brilliant post and reading all the mistakes that if were honest we all make
are the way we learn and even the most experienced koi keepers made
some of these at first, so in my opinion its good to make some mistakes , I know
it doesn't seem like it when things go wrong but you remember it and don't usually
let it happen again.
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