Koi Pond Maintenance - Need For quarterly Partial Water Changes

Whether it is a pond or an aquarium, quarterly water turn is recommended. Actually, partial water changes and it should preferably not be more than 50% of the water at a time. This is because fish (Koi included) does not like sudden changes to their living environment. This turn could be in terms of temperature, pH and water chemistry.

Firstly, why are water changes necessary? Can I rely on my filtration theory to take off fish waste and other debris like uneaten fish food, dead insects and plant matters?
 
A good filtration theory should be able to trap solid debris straight through mechanical filtration and allows you to take off them verily while quarterly filter maintenance. However, mechanical filtration is not 100% efficient. Some of this debris will remain and located at the bottom of your pond and filter. If not removed, they will obtain over time and pollute the water.
 
A good filtration theory should have a biological filter in increasing to the mechanical filter. The bacteria in biological filter should take off dissolved fish waste like ammonia by converting them to nitrite, and then from nitrite to nitrate. This is done straight through bacteria operation in the biological filter is known as the Nitrification Cycle. Ammonia and nitrite are harmful to fish and must be removed as soon as possible. Although nitrate is relatively safe to fish, inordinate nitrate when allowed to build up in the pond can still harm the fish. inordinate nitrate also leads to inordinate algae growth which is not a pleasant sight although Koi feeds on algae.
 
Evaporation of water does not take off nitrates and other dissolved matters in the pond. quarterly topping up your pond to replace water lost straight through evaporation is not considered a partial water change.
 
Water plants take off nitrates. Even if you have some water plants in your pond, it is unlikely that the plants can take off the nitrates at a adequate rate compared to the estimate of food consumed and waste produced by the Koi. Some developed Koi keepers have explored the use of commercially designed trickle tower theory to take off nitrates. These are quite bulky and not inexpensive. Most Koi keepers will resort to partial water changes to take off nitrates.
 
Besides removal of nitrates and other pollutants, some Koi keepers believe that quarterly water changes allow their Koi to grow better and healthier as minerals and trace elements beneficial for Koi growth are replenished straight through the added water. Koi tends to perk up and become more active after a partial water change.
 
How to do a water change? How oftentimes must it be done?
 
The aim is to say a carport pond environment with good water ability for your Koi. Therefore, frequent and quarterly small estimate of water changes of about 10% are adored over ad hoc and larger water changes. If your filter build allows you to carry out pond and filter maintenance and water changes easily, then a weekly interval should be sufficient. You may want to flush the bottom drains or accomplish other maintenance of your filter theory while carrying out your partial water change.
 
Even with quarterly water changes, you should monitor the nitrate levels in your pond. Nitrate cause a miniature brownish tint to your pond water. Other indication of illness of inordinate nitrates is inordinate algae growth! The most accurate way is to measure nitrate and water ability using a water test kit. Commercially ready water test kits allow you to measure parameters like pH, nitrite, nitrate and oxygen levels.  Nitrate level should be less than 25 mg/litre. Ad hoc water turn is still needed if the water ability if not up to the mark.
 
Water that is removed will have to be replaced. If you are refilling your pond with tap water from the utility company, you will have to consider the additives to the water. The tap water contains chlorine to kill germs and it is also a fish killer. The chlorine will dissipate from the water simply after a few hours. Depending on the water you are getting from the utility company, you could potentially do small ration (less than 20%) of water turn without using dechlorinator and not kill your fish. If you have an choice to growth aeration to your pond like turning on a fountain or venturi pipes, you should do it. Aeration helps take off chlorine. Refilling the pond straight through a spray hose helps provides aeration and dissipation of the chlorine from the water as well. If you have to accomplish larger estimate of water change, a dechlorinator to take off chlorine is strongly recommended. In any case, it is better be safe than be sorry.

Water Filtration

Koi Pond Maintenance - Need For quarterly Partial Water Changes

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