Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Results 1 to 11 of 11
  1. #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



  2. #2
    Nobody able to help ?

    Fish are still in a poor state, i really do not know what to do.

    Any help appreciated.

    Simon

  3. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion RoyLittle0's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Location
    Derby
    Posts
    2,551
    Thanks / Likes
    4705
    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 all
    4600 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

  4. Thanks freddyboy, Davej, RS2OOO Thanked / Liked this Post
  5. #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

  6. Thanks freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  7. #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

  8. #6
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Yonsai LouiseR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Posts
    158
    Thanks / Likes
    256
    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.

  9. Thanks Ajm, RS2OOO, freddyboy, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  10. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    7,644
    Thanks / Likes
    1630
    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?

  11. Thanks RS2OOO, freddyboy, RoyLittle0 Thanked / Liked this Post
  12. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion RS2OOO's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    South East
    Posts
    5,935
    Thanks / Likes
    13161
    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.

  13. Thanks Davej, LouiseR, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
  14. #9
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Davej's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    7,644
    Thanks / Likes
    1630
    Quote Originally Posted by RS2OOO View Post
    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.
    With a PH crash you would expect to see sky high Ammonia, never easy "down the wire" trying to analyse what the issue is.

    Think it would be good if the actual water results were confirmed, as Guys trying to help are otherwise being led down blind alleys...

  15. Thanks LouiseR, freddyboy, RS2OOO, Gray Thanked / Liked this Post
  16. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai Gray's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Warwickshire
    Posts
    693
    Thanks / Likes
    1116

    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.

  17. Thanks john1, freddyboy, trapper Thanked / Liked this Post
  18. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Gray View Post
    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.
    Just like Gray stated, I hardly test my PH any more but test the KH after a hard rain or large water change and I know my PH is at 8.3-8.4 as I keep the KH at 8-9 deg or drops..

  19. Thanks Gray, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:48 AM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.