Calling Dancing Fire and other Koi experts...

[iluvcarats]

Hi Dancing Fire,
In an earlier thread I remember, you showed us your beautiful Koi pond.
We have a small Koi pond with 14 Koi, and have lost 4 in the last 2 weeks.
Some new fish were introduced about 2 months ago. Could this be the reason?
Also, I see a lot of birds bathing in the pond. Could that introduce illness to the fish?
These were all 6 inch butterfly koi that we bought a couple years ago, and had since grown to about 8 inches.
They had also survived 2 cold NY winters. Any suggestions?

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/13/2008 11:44:12 AM
Author:iluvcarats
Hi Dancing Fire,
In an earlier thread I remember, you showed us your beautiful Koi pond.
We have a small Koi pond with 14 Koi, and have lost 4 in the last 2 weeks.
Some new fish were introduced about 2 months ago. Could this be the reason?
Also, I see a lot of birds bathing in the pond. Could that introduce illness to the fish?
These were all 6 inch butterfly koi that we bought a couple years ago, and had since grown to about 8 inches.
They had also survived 2 cold NY winters. Any suggestions?

how big is your pond? what kind of filter system? do you have a water test kit?

yes, there''s a big possibility that the new fish came with parasite.as the water temp starts to warm up your koi will become more active and so will the parasites. the secret is to keep water in top conditions and don''t over crowd your pond.

 

[iluvcarats]

Thanks for replying.
I am not sure what the filtration system is. I will check on that.
The pond is 3 years old. The first year we planted it with lotus and lillies, and we could not crontrol the algea.
The folling summer (last year) the pond people suggested that we use Pond Blocker, which keeps the pond clean, but kills the lillies and the lotus.
We were trying to keep it easy to maintain, and had no problems last year.
We really don''t know much about maintaining a koi pond.
I will call tomorrow so that they can check the ph levels.
Here is a pic - I don''t think it is to small for 14, do you?

 

[Dancing Fire]

my pond is 12,000 gal 8.5 ft deep,i only plan on keepping 20 koi.

 

[iluvcarats]

Ours is about 4 ft deep, I don''t know how many gallons though.
I''ll keep it at 10 ,and see how it goes, and what the pond people say.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Dancing Fire]

Date: 7/13/2008 1:08:41 PM
Author: iluvcarats
Thanks for replying.
I am not sure what the filtration system is. I will check on that.
The pond is 3 years old. The first year we planted it with lotus and lillies, and we could not crontrol the algea.
The folling summer (last year) the pond people suggested that we use Pond Blocker, which keeps the pond clean, but kills the lillies and the lotus.
We were trying to keep it easy to maintain, and had no problems last year.
We really don't know much about maintaining a koi pond.
I will call tomorrow so that they can check the ph levels.
Here is a pic - I don't think it is to small for 14, do you?

never use chemicals in a pond. most koi hobbyist don't keep plants in their pond b/c koi will dug up plant soils and just make a mess. you can buy a master water test kit at any Pets Mart.

let me tell you the truth right now....a koi pond and water garden pond are completly different types of pond. i wouldn't built a koi pond of less than 6,000 gals. the bigger the better,koi can grow very big

 

[iluvcarats]

Thanks DF!
Hopefully the survivors will be ok. I''ll keep you posted.