Don’t Let Your Koi Die in the Winter – Koi fishpond Winterizing Points

 guest writer  No Responses »
Oct 122010
 
by guest writer Frank Froggatt

Winter is on the way, and if you have just built your Koi pond this will be the first time that your Koi have had to make it through those long winter months.

Think of Winter as a down period for your fishpond, as less events happen during Winter than any other time. If you wish to make certain that your pond and your fish survive through the winter, you are going to need to take some special precautions though.

Koi Pond Clean Up.

Take about a weekend to go over your fishpond. If it has any unwanted bulk material in it or around it, you need to clean it up. Inside your fishpond, clean up all leaves, silt, and other material from the bottom. Also, remove any plants or flowers that will not make it through the winter.

If there is any rubbish around your fishpond that could blow into it, clean that up as well as you are not likely to notice any of this stuff until spring arrives. Taking the time to make sure that as much debris is removed as possible will prevent potentially harmful bacteria and parasites in the future.

Stop Feeding your pond fish.

This is a very vital thing, then do not forget that you must not give food to your Koi during the winter. When your water temperatures get around 55 or sixtyF, you should only give your Koi food one time daily. When the outside air temperature reaches the 50 mark, you need to wholly stop feeding your Koi.

You might think that it’s okay to feed your fish when the temperature rises above 50 again, but don’t. Koi in general, take about four days to entirely digest their food at temperatures above fifty mark. If you mistakenly give food to your fish to late the food will not digest and will end up killing your fish.

You also need to realize that when a Koi is opening its mouth to you it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is hungry. This is just something that they do out of habit and reflex more than hunger. If you are worried about not feeding them, remember that fish eat other things besides the food you provide them, in particular if your fishpond contains a large amount of natural plant life. Your Koi will fill up on this other stuff if they get hungry and you’re not feeding them.

Check on your pond regularly.

Doing a regular check up on your pond equipment is vital.This includes everything from your filtration system to your store of preventable medications. During those extensive winter months it can be a little more difficult to come up with these pond supplies as a lot of carriers don’t keep them on their shelves during this time.

You also need to make sure that you have an crisis kit ready and up-to-date. This kit needs to include your water testing kits, bags, nets, and any of the medications required.

Get Ready for Cold Weather.

You need to make sure that you are ready for the cold weather, by investing in the required items while it is still summer. Koi have been known to withstand constant temperatures as low 39 degrees, and temperatures slightly lower then 39 degrees, for short periods of time.

If the area that you living gets extremely cold, it is going to be required for you to buy a pond heater. If you do not your pond can freeze over which will potentially trap dangerous amounts of gas inside the water. If the area that you have drops into the extremely low temperatures, you might really want to think about having an crisis tank available inside your home.

Turn Off All Water Sources.

When temperatures get really low, your heater is going to have to toil extra hard in order to keep the water temperature at a point that will allow your fish to remain alive.

If you have water features such as waterfalls, streams, or constant moving fountains, make sure to turn them off during Winter. The circulating action will only labor to thwart your pains at maintaining a warm temperature your pond. With these switched off, the only water that your heater will be responsible for is the standing water in your fishpond.

About the Author:
With this information now on hand, I hope that you can understand how vital it is that you make preparations for your small garden pond now before winter hits. Read more information on Koi Pond Care by visiting gardenpondtips.com.
Posted by Denise at 12:49 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

The Fall Koi Pond

 koi fish  No Responses »
Sep 082010
 

Every part of the backyard is affected by the seasons. Fall as beautiful as it is signifies a time when growth slows down and everything slows down. This also includes the Koi pond and your Koi.

Koi add to the enjoyment of your backyard oasis and give the yard a more festive tropical feel. But they do need special care and depending on your climate the care will vary.

Project in the Koi pond in the fall are to cut back on the food your Koi get. They will need less in fall and winter months. Its also a good time to check the plats, remove any overgrowth and dead plants. Also check your Koi to see if they are healthy.

A Koi pond will add to the feel of the backyard so keep it healthy and well maintained.

Posted by Denise at 11:29 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Small Space Koi Pond

 koi fish  No Responses »
Sep 022010
 

I have wanted to add a Koi pond to my yard for quite some time. But there are other projects that need to be completed first and it takes time and planning to set up a Koi pond properly. So I am hoping next year I can move a Koi project to the top of the “to do” list.

I like this pond because it made use of a small space in a backyard that more than likely was not used.

This small pond creates a relaxing feel to the home, adds color and interest and fills a corner in such a way to add personality to the backyard.

I could see a patio table nearby with night lights and a small fountain to turn this space into a real oasis.

Posted by Denise at 10:30 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Details On Koi History And Future

 koi fish  No Responses »
Jun 122009
 
by Mikel Mcsuche

Koi, or Nishikigoi, are quickly becoming popular in the United States. However, few know of their origins. Pez muerto (maldita sea).
Creative Commons License photo credit: zigiella

The first Koi ever were grown by breeding carp fish such as the Asian and German Carp. After years of selective breeding, distinct color mutations started showing up.

It is at 1805 that the first design of koi fish is registered. Today, there are actually a lot of of color variations available. The popular colors we can find today are white, silver, yellow, orange, red, black, blue and green. Combined with the designs available, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Every noticeable pattern and color have their own names, which are actually as unique as the color they are referring to. Yet the preferred design are diversified by people in varied countries.

It is already known that people most often produce Koi in wamer American nations, Japan and Singapore. Koi can be bought at most local pet stores.

People can order koi fish, if the stores do not have stock on hand Ordering Koi has its rewards and disadvantages. You have more selections if you order Koi, since you do not have to pick from the stock on hand, but the disfavor lies in the fact that you will not be able to pick specific Koi. HIKARI UTSURI
Creative Commons License photo credit: sarniebill1

Koi, unlike most other fish, will continue to grow until they reach their breeds dictated size, no matter the environment that they are in. Baby Koi can be found as small as 3 inches. Jumbo Koi have even been know to reach lengths of three feet or more. The most common size found is around two feet in length.

Koi are omnivorous fish, which means they will eat both meat and plants. This means that they have very versatile diet. Koi will eat pretty much about that you throw in the pond with them, doesn’t matter if it is good for them or not.

As Koi do not know what is bad and good for them, so you need to control their diet. Another possible problem is over feeding them.Again, Koi do not know when to stop eating, and weight issues may occur from overfeeding none nutritional foods.

The safest foods for Koi are what they can find in their ponds naturally, such as earthworms, but it doesn’t hurt to feed Koi treats such as Lettuce, bread, fruit, and veggies.

You should pay special care to the particular foods such as corn, beans, and grapes, as they contain an outer shell, that cannot be properly digested if swallowed by Koi. If you must feed this type of foods to your Koi, always remember to completely remove the outer casings before giving it to your Koi.

Koi are none-aggressive fish. This means that they are suitable to live with other fish such as goldfish or comets. The only issue you may find is smaller, less able fish may suffer from lack of food, as Koi are quick eaters.

Koi are so mellow that they have even been known to be trained to eat out of their owners hand. Koi do not have teeth, so you will not get bit if you decide to attempt to feed your Koi out of your hand.

Koi have been known to live up to 30 years under the appropriate conditions, so you buy a Koi, you must consider this. The oldest Koi ever known to history is a Japabese Koi, who was 233 years old when he died.

About the Author:
To find out more about healthy koi pond supplies, head over to http://koifishpondkeeping.com/koi-supplies/.
Posted by mohd kamil aliff abdul razak at 9:32 am  Tagged with: , ,

An Introduction To Koi Ponds

 guest writer  No Responses »
Apr 272009
 
by Mikel Mcsuche

Today more and more people are discovering the great joy of keeping a Koi pond and are learning as much as they can about these fascinating fish. Thought to be one of the most beautiful types of fish of all, Koi can be found in a wide variety of interesting colors, patterns, and markings, which is why they appeal to so many people all over the world. big fish
Creative Commons License photo credit: debaird™

Keeping and taking care of Koi is something that should be taken seriously. The fish, much like any other living thing, requires a certain amount of care as well as time and money in order to be as healthy as possible. Unfortunately, many first time Koi owners fail to have a successful pond full of healthy fish as they underestimate what is needed to properly care for them. But don’t be discouraged as the more you learn about the subject the greater your chances are of having a thriving Koi pond of your own.

It is important for you to learn all you can BEFORE you begin obtaining the things you need for Koi keeping. This way, you will not slip up and have to replace anything that you have already done or bought. Planning ahead will not only save your money, but it will potentially save your sanity as well.

Instead of merely relying on the knowledge of others, take the time to do the research yourself about Koi and what’s needed for their habitat. Vendors and manufacturers of ponds and their accessories may have limited knowledge and may even be a bit biased toward their own products. Also, few of them will be accessible when you’re back at home with your new pond and Koi and questions or problems arise.

Building Your Koi Habitat

Before ever buying Koi, you must create a proper habitat for them. This is where information from your pond builder and supplier will come in handy. However, you should not rely on the opinions of just one person. It may be a god idea to do research on your own, before you go to purchase the materials needed for you pond. Because of it’s popularity, an unlimited supply of resources can be found on the topic of Koi keeping. Visit your local library, fishery center, or research online. There are quite a few things needed to sustain a habitable pond.

When it comes to pond size, bigger is always better. Koi have a habit of growing rather fast, so you have to consider pond size at the same time you are considering how many Koi you are going to put it in.

The filtration system is another extremely important aspect of keeping a Koi pond with two separate types to learn about, biological or mechanical. Mechanical filtration systems will remove large pieces of solid waste such as insects, tree branches, or dead algae while the biological filtration causes an increase in nitrogen helping to dissolve waste within the water. Without a biological filtration system the water will quickly become inhabitable for the fish as waste will turn to ammonia, which is deadly to Koi within just a few short days.

In addition to all of the things you’ll need to do in order to keep your Koi happy and healthy in their home you will also want to consider adding some landscaping touches to make the area even more visually appealing. Choose from a wide array of shrubs, trees, flowers, and plants for adding both color and interest to your Koi pond.

About the Author:
If you would like more information on keeping koi fish especially on
koi diseases , please visit koifishpondkeeping.com.
Posted by Mikel Mcsuche at 12:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
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