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Thread: Koi Flashing and Going Pink/Red
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08-07-2019, 08:56 PM #1
Koi Flashing and Going Pink/Red
My first post on this forum even though i have kept koi for over 20 years.
Around a week ago i noticed one of my koi on its side, a bit like swim bladder but nothing major, i spoke to my local specailist in Beds and they suggested a water change.
I changed around 30% as i had a lot of green algae in the pond which in itself was something new for my pond. It was tap water.
The temps are around 18 degrees, and the PH around 8/9, amoniia just above zero (always is), nitrite around 0.25 (always is) and Nitrates off the scale (as always).
I always ensure when i change water the filters are cleaned out and then good baterial filter boost added as i know cleaning the filters can sometimes kill the bacteria and do more harm than good.
The next day the koi were on the bottom, still, not feeding.
Day after they started to flash quite a lot.
Day after one of my white and black (sorry i am not an expert onnames of koi colours) started to turn pink, which i believe is related to stress.
This evening, i monitored the koi for a few hours and they were acting very bizzare, flashing, then still, then on bottom, on top hanging etc.
I tested the water again and all readings are the same.
I am at a loss as to what to do, i do not want to change the water again as it could cause further harm and stress to the koi.
I am in Beds, any help, ideas greatly appreciated.
Simon
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09-07-2019, 08:40 PM #2
Nobody able to help ?
Fish are still in a poor state, i really do not know what to do.
Any help appreciated.
Simon
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09-07-2019, 09:06 PM #3
Do you have anyone local that could do a scrape, you will need to know what diseases, bacteria that the fish may have in order to treat it, many things can cause a fish to flash, water parameters (how old is your test kit?) not de-chlorinating the tap water. then you also have things like White Spot, Costia, Trichodina, Fluke and many more, to be honest the symptoms are very similar but without a microscope its impossible for anyone to give you any advise
I've had Chilodonella, Fluke and now White spot in the space of one year and the treatment is different for each one, no one treatment will work for all4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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09-07-2019, 09:12 PM #4
Many thanks for your suggestions. I have asked my local supplier i Beds for any suggestions.
Im at a loss, in so many years never seen this occur before. Feel sorry for the koi.
Simon
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10-07-2019, 08:19 AM #5
Update, did a small water change yesterday, maybe 10%. De chlorinated the water.
Tested the water this morning.
ph 7.4
Amonia nil
Nitrite nil
Nitrates - off scale as always
Fish still on top , very red and not moving a great deal.
If anybody is in the Bedford area and can recommend anybody who can take a scrape or diagnose i would be extremely greatful.
Simon
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10-07-2019, 01:52 PM #6
Simon,
You need to check/monitor pH stability and KH in your pond. Ideally pH should be between 7.5 - 8.5 with less than 0.2 variation per day - slightly lower or higher shouldn’t be a problem provided pH is stable. KH should be between 90 - 125ppm. In your original post a few days ago you said that pH was around 8/9, this morning it was 7.4. This suggests that your pH is or may be fluctuating beyond the safe level for koi (0.2 per day), which might not have caused the problems you’re experiencing but certainly won’t be helping. Arm yourself with accurate test kits and test pH early in the morning and again after dusk on the same day for several days, also test KH in your pond and source water to establish what is going on. If the pH is not stable you will need to adjust the KH in your pond - don’t try to adjust the pH. Nobody explains all this better than Manky Sanke - go to his website and read up on pH, KH and buffering.
Good luck.
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10-07-2019, 08:27 PM #7
Think Roy covered all the bases. Think a scrape would be the best way of knowing whether this is a parasite issue.
Have you added anything at all to the pond in the last month other than water?
Not sure of your set up; are the fish reasonably easy to net?
BTW - Do you measure KH? Always worth doing on both pond and supply as the reading tends to give a sense check on water changes.
Are there any koi clubs local to you? Appreciate its a bit cheeky but maybe give Adam Byer a ring and see if he knows of someone local to you in their club that may be able to help?
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10-07-2019, 10:20 PM #8
Good post LouiseR and well explained.
The thing that jumped out at me was Nitrates being off the scale aligned with the sudden massive PH drop which leads to the question that Dave touched on; Are you doing enough water changes (circa 10% per week)?
What was the PH before the 30% water change?
If you've not been doing regular water changes and Nitrates are off the scale it could be possible you had a PH crash.
If poor water quality can definitely be ruled out the next step would be parasites/bacterial problems and a scrape as suggested by Roy.
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10-07-2019, 10:38 PM #9
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11-07-2019, 01:22 PM #10
Koi Flashing and Going Pink/Red
To add to what LouiseR said, monitor the KH too. Couldn't see that measurement above. I had a PH crash and the guys on here pointed me direct to KH (had gone through the floor!) and to use bicarbonate of soda to help stabilise things and adjust the KH plus to buffer the PH from swinging around.
Last edited by Gray; 11-07-2019 at 10:25 PM.
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14-07-2019, 11:45 PM #11
Best plants to remove Nitrate
pug has a very impressive veg filter on his pond, have a look at some of his his youtube videos....