When raising Koi fish, the most important point to keep in mind is
that they should be placed in a pond that has appropriate filtration. Koi fish are actually a lot more sensitive about the quality of water in comparison to other types of fish. It is for this reason that serious thought should be given about setting up the proper filters for your Koi pond.
Responsible for ensuring that the waste products of the fish are managed and eliminated, the pond filter is fundamental in how to maintain the water quality of your Koi pond. Of course, fish which thrive in natural ponds have no need for filters, as the water currents would take care of their wastes. But fish that are kept in a controlled environment do not have this luxury, which would necessitate the use of a suitable filtration device.
The pond filter cleans up the water through both a mechanical and a biological function. Its mechanical filtration function removes wastes particles in the water, utilizing the force of gravity and the flow of the water to drag solid waste matter out from the Koi pond. Since the particles will eventually accumulate in the filter, one will need to clean them off afterwards. One should allot a particular time of the week for maintaining the filter.
The biological function of the pond filter utilizes the bacteria pH (ammonia) in order to break down poisonous waste materials into nitrates. While they are usually not harmful to Koi fish, nitrates can be dangerous in large quantities. Continuous use of pH in low levels is fine. But if the pH levels are allowed to rise and remain unprocessed, it would be detrimental to the fish.
As effective as the pond filter may be in cleaning up wastes in the Koi pond, it is still not capable of circulating the water on its own. To do this, the pond should have a pump to circulate and force water through the filter so that it can perform its task well. One may also want to add in a fountain or waterfall or any kind of water mechanism. The function of such devices is to stir the pond water and allow a constant supply of oxygen from the air to blend into it.
To make certain that the pond has been successfully treated, its water’s chemical structure should be tested weekly. This can be done either by taking a water sample to the pet store to be examined, or a testing kit can be purchased to perform the tests at home. As with owning any kind of pet, taking care of Koi fish entails a lot of responsibility. Knowing how to maintain the quality of your Koi pond ensures that they will flourish in a clean, healthy contained habitat just as well as they would in natural waters.
