01 Oct 5 Tips to Keep Koi Pond Water Clean
Nothing is as satisfying as having a clean, beautiful koi pond in your backyard. Even though koi fish are relatively low-maintenance pets, a koi pond does require a lot of regular maintenance. Please continue reading to learn about our koi pond treatment tips so you can establish and maintain a clean and healthy ecosystem for your koi.
Maintain an Appropriate Population
A rule of thumb is to have one full-sized koi for every 100 gallons of water. An overpopulated pond makes the fish feel cramped and can negatively impact the water quality. Maintaining the pond’s cleanliness with so many mouths to feed is difficult because there will inevitably be a buildup of waste products in the water. Make sure your pond is big enough to house all your fish. Otherwise, you will need to find a new home for some of them.
Avoid Overfeeding
Koi only need to eat small amounts of food once or twice daily. They are enthusiastic eaters, so you will see them swim and eat during their feeding time. Please keep track of how much they consume in five minutes because that is the average time koi will spend eating in one sitting. If you notice a lot of leftover food accumulating after you feed them, you are probably overfeeding them.
Habitual overfeeding can quickly build up a sludge layer in the bottom of your koi pond. Sludge is one of the most challenging pond cleaning tasks, but you can count on Aquatic Gardens whenever you need koi pond muck removal.
Don’t Forget Aquatic Plants
About half of the surface area of your koi pond should be covered or shaded by your aquatic plants. Aquatic plants act as a natural filtration system in the koi pond ecosystem because they consume the nutrients that often lead to algae growth. However, too many aquatic plants can cause oxygen deficiencies in the water, so ensure they do not entirely take over your koi pond. The plant coverage should not be more than 60 percent at the season’s peak, so do not be afraid to cut back a little if you notice excess plant growth in your koi pond.
Invest in a Quality Pump and Filter
Search for a quality pump that is large enough to circulate all your pond water once about every hour or two. This prevents the pond water from becoming stagnant, which you want to avoid since it creates a breeding ground for algae.
On top of installing a quality pump, a filtration system will do wonders for maintaining the cleanliness of your pond. This device means you will not have to pick out leaves and debris by hand all the time. Find a filter that can handle just a little more than your pond’s capacity. That way, you can ensure the water is as clean as possible, even on your busiest days.
Keep the Pond Cool on Hot Days
If your pond is over 75 degrees Fahrenheit for long periods of time, it depletes the dissolved oxygen levels of the water and promotes algae growth. Pay close attention to the temperature, especially on the hottest days of the year. When your koi are gasping for air at the surface, that is your signal. Add an aerator to the pond during those times to help circulate the water and help regulate the temperature levels.
You could also put a temporary sun shade to keep the pond cool in the summer. Remember that adding some aquatic plants is one of the best ways to keep a koi pond cool and provide natural shade for your fish.
Conclusion
We hope these helpful koi pond treatment tips will come in handy and help you maintain the health of your beautiful koi fish. On top of regular maintenance, koi ponds also benefit from professional pond cleaning services to keep them looking as good as new.
Whenever you notice your koi pond is beginning to look murky, we are ready to be your go-to professional fish pond cleaning service. Call us today or visit our website to schedule your next pond cleaning service appointment.
