The
popularity and growth of the koi and pond keeping hobby is largely
due to it being accessible to a wide range of aspiring pond owners,
irrespective of their time, budget or space.
Koi keeping
has suffered from the label of being a pastime of the rich and famous
and that a pond full of koi is the privilege of the pop star or tycoon.
In many respects it has been this lure as a status symbol that has
witnessed many image conscious individuals to enter the hobby overnight
by investing 6 figure sums in a pond and its inhabitants, only to
leave the hobby some time later just as quickly.
In contrast,
thousands of people are bitten by the koi bug each year and many
prove how successful and fulfilling koi keeping can be on a sensible
budget. Typically, a few hundred dollars and an aptitude for DIY
are sufficient to start on the road to successful koi keeping. A
lucky few also enter the hobby each year and are able to commission
professionals to design and install their koi pond for them, intent
on achieving koi Nirvana at the first attempt. Neither of the two
scenarios is right or wrong in their approach, but is rather evidence
that koi keeping can be extremely accessible to a range of budgets.
However, the "beginner", "improver" or "ultimate" koi keeper will
have different items on their shopping lists.
Beginner
For those
people planning a koi pond, there are 5 essential items that must
be purchased to achieve a 'no-frills' but successful koi pond. The
beginner is regarded as having a limited budget but one who is willing
to invest in quality equipment that will outlast and outperform some
cheaper alternatives.
1.
Pond liner.
Pond liner
is available in a range of materials or composites of different flexible
materials. The two essentially different types of liner are uPVC
and butyl.
Each of
these materials will carry a similar guarantee of 25 years with uPVC
liners typically being less expensive than the butyl. Liners are
bought off the roll with a wider range of uPVC liners being commonly
available.
Butyl
liner is more flexible and is available in greater thicknesses than
uPVC; however, if the excavated hole were prepared sufficiently well
then either type of liner would suffice. Underlay is available for
pond liner to protect against protrusive stones or roots but sand
and old carpets are useful alternatives.
2.
Filter
A filter
is the means by which your koi are kept alive. It is bought to complement
the size of a pond and installed at the same time as the pond liner.
The simplest and most reliable way of obtaining an effective filter
for a new pond is to buy a pre-fabricated filter. Depending on their
design, a pond filter will either be pump-fed or gravity-fed, the
cheaper and easier to install being the pump-fed type.
Pump-fed
or gravity-fed?
a.
Pump-fed filter. A submersible pump sited in the pond pumps
water from the pond into a filter, which is positioned above the
water level. The water runs through the filter and returns to the
pond under gravity, often feeding a waterfall.
b.
Gravity-fed. The filter sits alongside the pond and is buried
to lie flush with the ground. It is connected to the pond via pipework
(usually from a bottom drain and/or a surface skimmer). A pump
in the final chamber returns the clean water directly into the
pond.
A filter
performs several roles as a life-support system.
a.
Mechanical filtration. Particulate material that is pumped
into a filter is removed by foam, which traps the solid matter,
allowing the cleaned water to flow into the remainder of the filter.
b.
Biological function. A filter also performs a biological function,
detoxifying the poisonous waste products excreted by fish. Beneficial
bacteria colonize the hard surfaces of the filter media, digesting
and breaking down the soluble and invisible ammonia. A first group
of bacteria break the ammonia down into less toxic nitrites which
have a habit of proving to be more difficult to breakdown into
relatively harmless nitrates, which can be removed by a water change,
or through plant growth in the pond.
The biological
function of the filter takes weeks or months to become established
and during this time, the pond is most vulnerable to poor water quality.
Care must be taken to monitor the water quality during this running-in
period as koi stress and fatalities will soon occur during this time.
3.
Test kits.
Test kits
may often be overlooked as an essential piece of koi keeping equipment,
but how else can you accurately determine the quality of your pond
water?
As ammonia
and nitrite are odorless and colorless, we must be able to test the
state of pond water (especially when the pond is new) and address
any problems immediately.
There
are a host of test kits available to the koi keeper and at some considerable
expense. However, there are 2 essential test kits that can provide
a snap shot of the health of the pond.
a.
pH. A desirable range is between 7.5 and 9.0 (maximum). This
range is the slightly alkaline pH that carp prefer and is also
fortunately the pH of most tap water.
b.
Nitrite. This tests the filter's performance. If there is a
nitrite reading, then too much ammonia is being produced relative
to the bacteria's capacity to break it down. This could be due
to overstocking, overfeeding or more likely, an immature filter.
A desirable nitrite reading is zero and if a positive nitrite reading
occurs then carry out a 30% water change and resume feeding when
nitrite returns to zero.
4.
Pond pump.
If the
detoxifying functions of the filter are regarded as the liver and
kidneys of a pond, then the pump must be the heart. The majority
of ponds are recirculated reliably by a submersible pump. Placed
in the pond itself, a submersible pump will circulate water to the
filter. It is run continuously, night and day, servicing the hungry
bacteria in the filter with a regular supply of dirty water and soluble
food.
A pump
must be the most reliable piece of pond equipment as a pump failure
can soon put your koi under real threat. Retailers will recommend
the most suitable and reliable pump (ask them which pumps they use
to circulate their ponds) with many leading pumps offering a 3 year
guarantee.
In a similar
way to the filter, a pump's size is dictated by the capacity of the
pond. Pump selection must take 2 factors into account.
a.
The pond volume
b.
The head the pump is required to pump. (Head = vertical distance
from the surface of the water to the top of the discharge pipe).
The higher
the head, the lower the turnover of the pump and a pond's volume
should be recirculated at least once every 2 hours.
5.
UV clarifier
Perhaps
15 years ago, an UVc would not have been considered an essential
piece of pond equipment. However, pond keepers have received this
innovation with open arms and an UVc is now widely regarded as an
essential piece of pond equipment for guaranteeing clear water.
In a pump-fed
system, an UVc is installed between the pump and the filter. An UVc
is an ultraviolet light, which makes the green water-causing algae
to clump together. These clumps can then be removed by the filter
leading to crystal clear water. The UV bulb will need replacing each
season and is best done in spring time before green water begins
to cause a problem.
The
Improver
What can
a koi keeper, who perhaps started as a beginner 2 or 3 years ago
seek to add or improve to their system?
Filter
improvements.
Filtration
is the most widely debated topic of koi keeping with many different
experiences leading to a diversity of opinions between suppliers,
retailers and koi keepers. Filtration is also one of the most dynamic
areas of the koi keeping hobby, with many innovations in media and
design revealed to the hobby each year. The filter is the most likely
part of a pond one would want to improve. What improvements can be
made and are they justifiable?
1.
Filter type.
Conversion
from a pump-fed to a gravity-fed system. This will allow greater
space for improved filtration, dividing the filter into a number
of different chambers.
This is
a major undertaking and would require the whole pond to be removed,
as a gravity-fed filter is best to be fed via a bottom drain. A bottom
drain involves creating an opening on the pond bottom, which is piped
beneath the pond to the first chamber of the filter. This will also
require the pond bottom to be reinforced with concrete. Quite an
undertaking! The multichamber approach of a gravity-fed filter allows
a great degree of versatility when choosing the function of each
chamber and allows easier filter maintenance.
The majority
of space should be set aside for settlement and entrapment of solids,
perhaps using brushes to slow the water down.
2.
New media
The biological
chambers can be filled with a more efficient combination of media
than simply biofoam. These could include Alfa grog, bio balls, flocor,
bio-home and Japanese matting.
Buffering
material could also be added to the final chamber to ensure that
the pH does not fall below the desirable pH7.5. Buffering materials
include: lime chippings, cockleshell and tufa rock.
3.
Auto Top-up.
A handy
auto top-up device can be installed quite easily to a gravity-fed
filter. Water that is lost from the pond through evaporation or splashing
will not go unnoticed by this easy-to-plumb device. This will even
automatically top-up the remainder of the pond's volume after a partial
water change.
Other
equipment to consider.
A more
experienced and advanced koi keeper should also consider some of
the following, as they will benefit their all-round success by providing
diverse sources of information.
4.
Test Kits
A mature
pond needs to be tested less regularly than when it was first installed
but the parameters that are tested will differ from before. Test
kits for nitrates and phosphates will be useful to detect how rapidly
they collect and how frequently pond water needs to be changed.
5.
Microscope.
A microscope
is an excellent investment and would make a good birthday present
- something that will prove to be useful throughout a koi keeper's
lifetime.
A microscope
is straightforward to use and is the only way of positively identifying
a number of external parasites. This will further your knowledge
on koi diseases and enable you to target the pest more accurately
with medication. It will also allow you to determine the efficacy
of a treatment by taking a skin scrape after a course of medication.
6.
Koi Society Club membership
This is
a must for the dedicated Koi keeper. Membership will provide many
benefits ranging from sharing in the experiences of other koi keepers
to visiting other parts of the country on dealer or show visits.
Regular meetings will also widen the perspective of any koi keeper,
hearing presentations from other enthusiasts.
7.
Subscribe to a magazine
A monthly
subscription to a dedicated magazine will also add to your knowledge
and understanding and keep you informed of the latest trends. Packed
with advice and promotions from dealers and brands, a magazine offers
unrivalled, up-to-the-minute news and comment on the koi keeping
world, home and abroad.
8.
Additives
An extremely
beneficial pond additive is a high quality montmorillonite clay.
It is used by koi keepers who are willing to sacrifice a day or so
of clear water in exchange for the benefits that their koi will receive
from the minerals that are released into the water. This regular
treatment attempts to mimic the ideal conditions of a mud pond, without
sacrificing the crystal clear waters of the koi pond. Ultimately,
clay dosing will lead to clearer water, improved skin quality, color
and vitality.
9.
Handling Equipment.
A floating
basket and inspection bowl are essential for the hands-on koi keeper.
They are necessary for the effective taking of skin scrapes and topical
treatment of wounds or ulcers. A sock net is also useful when handling
or transferring koi between bowls. The finest of these nets will
not only retain the fish, but also the water in which they were netted.
10.
Air Pump
A pond
air pump, capable of blowing air to the pressured depths of ponds
is essential for the vitality of a pond and filter system. If fitted
with suitably sized air diffusers, they will enhance the performance
of a biofilter and the vitality of koi by increasing the dissolved
oxygen content. An air pump also provides a pond with excellent back
up should the water pump fail and is essential in warmer growing
months of summer.
The
Ultimate
The ultimate
koi keeping equipment will lead to the highest quality water management
systems and deliver labor saving features, as well as adding the
finishing touches to the image and appearance of the pond. These
include:
1.
Superior Construction.
The ultimate
pond would be professionally constructed out of block work and fiberglass
with a reinforced concrete base. Only built once, and built to last,
this ultimate koi pond would be designed at least 6 feet deep with
wide, sweeping sides. The blockwork and fiberglass construction will
provide a robust and koi friendly environment that will show koi
off in a stable and stress-free pond for many years to come.
2.
Filtration
Improvements
in koi pond filtration have seen a move towards the unconventional.
Enhanced biological action can be achieved by incorporating a trickle
tower filter. Positioned above the surface of the pond, the trickle
tower provides excellent aerobic conditions for bacteria, which are
fed by a rotating spray bar. This aboveground construction can be
difficult to camouflage.
A sand
pressure filter can also be installed to an existing set up to polish
the pond water even further. Borrowed from the world of swimming
pools, it requires the power of a dedicated surface-mounted pump
to pressurize the filter. It does, however, perform an excellent
role and may prove to be too efficient, requiring regular back washing.
3.
Surface Skimming
Water
quality can be improved further by installing a surface-skimmer,
which skims water from the pond surface, along with any debris or
scum, maintaining a crystal-like surface to the water.
4.
Air Dome
The performance
of the bottom drain can also be enhanced by replacing the conventional
dome with an air dome. The relentless stream of fine bubbles rising
from the pond bottom not only aerates water from the pond bottom,
but also mixes the water, pushing the settled debris into the bottom
drain, adding a turbo action.
5.
Protein Skimmer.
There can
be a tendency for pond water to adopt a yellowish tinge as particular
dissolved organic substances accumulate. Marine aquarists have been tackling
this issue for years, by using protein skimmers, and similar units are
available for the pond market, designed to remove these unsightly proteins
from the water. They can be installed out of sight, and will enhance
the water clarity and stability of any koi pond.
6.
Heating
Perhaps one of
the most sought after luxuries for the ultimate koi pond is a means
of heating the water. This can prolong our interaction with koi through
the harsh winter months, enabling us to monitor their progress rather
than simply hope that they will survive through the winter.
Very briefly, these
can be either gas fired or electric units and can be installed retrospectively.
Being thermostatically controlled, they allow the water to be kept
at temperatures that will allow koi to keep on feeding at a reduced
level over winter, rather than experiencing a completely fallow period.
There is however, the small issue of running costs!
7.
Advanced Water Monitoring
Taking water testing
a stage further, electronic means of water testing open up a further
dimension of control. An electric Dissolved Oxygen meter can be set
up to sound an alarm if levels drop below the desired limit. This
can prove invaluable when wishing to salt or medicate your pond.
An extremely accurate
way of measuring the true salinity of your pond is to use a refractometer.
Highly accurate and easy to use, a refractometer will give a lifetime's
unerring service, even when measuring the very low levels of salt
used in a koi pond.
8.
Autofeeder
A real luxury and
labor saving device for when you're out at work all day is an auto
feeder. Available in a range of specifications from clockwork to
digitally controlled solar powered units, an auto feeder can dispense
food regularly throughout the day. This allows koi to be fed how
they prefer and keeps them active and inquisitive throughout the
day.
9.
Underwater vision
For another angle
on your fish, why not keep tabs on their behavior by installing an
underwater camera. A permanent live link-up can, at the flick of
a switch, provide you with an immediate update on you koi's health,
behavior and activity.
10.
Water Purification.
The quality of
our drinking water seems to constantly be under scrutiny and is acknowledged
as being less than fish-friendly. If possible, a dedicated supply
of purified tap water should be used when filling or topping up a
pond. A number of water purifiers are available and will remove a
range of toxins, such as heavy metals and pesticides. Viewed less
and less as a luxury, water purifiers are useful at guaranteeing
the pond water's suitability for fish.
11.
Koi Software.
For the IT literate
koi keeper, a number of koi management programs allow the logging
of relevant water quality and environmental data and provide the
koi keeper with a first port of call for diagnostic and disease information.
However, like any databased software, it is only as up to date as
its latest entry, and requires regular inputs of information.
12
Tasty treats.
Besides providing
top of the range artificial diets, that provide excellent growth
and color enhancing properties, a gratefully accepted treat is freshly
defrosted mussels and shrimps. Although quite extravagant, they offer
a source of high protein that is ingested whole, and will not cloud
the water. They are an excellent food when conditioning broodstock.
13.
Quarantine.
Behind the scenes,
a precautionary system could be set up for quarantine purposes as
a reception centre for newly acquired or ailing koi. Suitably sized
and filtered to prevent stressing even the largest of koi on your
shopping list, a quarantine facility is both the firewall and back-up
facility required to maintain the ultimate koi collection.
14.
Oriental Visit?
The ultimate koi
keeper, not wishing to skimp on the whole objective of the koi pond
may even consider a trip to Japan to hand pick a number of koi for
their collection. Worth the investment for the opportunity to hand
pick from myriads of top class koi, the visit will also live long
in the memory for the many cultural experiences. It may even inspire
you to create a complete Japanese theme for your garden complete
with Bonsai, granite statues and eastern horticulture. Surely the
finishing touch for the ultimate koi pond.
1.
Best buys for first time koi builder
1. 25
year liner (minimum)
2. A robust,
reliable pump with a 3 year guarantee
Best
budget buys:
1. Purchase
or hire a video on pond installation. This will keep your mistakes
to a minimum and allow superior DIY installation first time.
2. Use
sand or old carpet as underlay for the liner.
3. Invite
friends around for a koi pond digging party!
2.
Best buys of secondary equipment
1. Look
out for cheap filter media for your existing filter at the end of
the pond season.
2. Bottom
drain. Excellent way of providing unrivalled solids removal to a
filter.
3. Auto
top-up - an excellent concealed and laborsaving device, and easy
to install.
Best
Budget Buys:
1. Microscopes
rarely deteriorate with age. Scan the second hand market for a good
working model.
2. Clays.
An inexpensive yet effective way of improving your koi's health and
vigor.
3.Don't
be tempted to buy 'Japanese' kit or consumable when a USA equivalent
product will perform equally as well.
3.
Best Buys at the top end of the budget
1. Air
dome conversion to a bottom drain. Provides excellent aeration and
mixing action.
2. Refractometer.
An excellent investment in a truly accurate and scientific piece
of equipment.
3. Blockwork
and fiberglass construction. Unrivalled in durability and maintenance
Best
buys on a Budget:
1. Look
around DIY centers for alternative materials to use in a Japanese
hard landscape.
2. Keep
your eyes pealed for a self-supporting tank that may work as a quarantine
tank.
How
to avoid making expensive mistakes
Gathering
information is the key to avoiding expensive mistakes. Hire or buy
a video on pond construction and installation or join your local
koi club or society. Members are quite happy to invite you to their
ponds and to discuss the pitfalls and trade secrets when approaching
such a mammoth project.
A reliable,
patient and experienced koi dealer is also invaluable in guiding
you through the practical minefields of plumbing, filtration and
construction. A good rule of thumb is to find a dealer who would
sooner see you leave their premises with good practical advice rather
than a quick and unnecessary sale.
Pond
Shopping List
Most desirable
koi items
1. Suitable
construction material - liner or blockwork/fiberglass
2. Efficient
filter, which is designed to cope with the volume of the pond. Must
incorporate an UVc and auto-top up.
3. A pump
that will perform reliably for a minimum of 3 years with limited
maintenance.
4. A range
of test kits and measuring equipment (including microscope) to monitor
the vital characteristics of the pond environment.
5. An
air pump, capable of pumping to the deepest part of the pond and
operating an air dome.
6. A water
purifier to guarantee a reliable source of high quality water.
7. A quarantine
facility for settling in new koi or treating existing koi.
8. A koi
sock, floating basket and bowl for handling koi safely.
9. An
automatic feeder.
10. A
visit to Japan to educate the mind and inspire the soul!
