Cloudy Koi Pond and FishPond Water ... Algae
More Top Pond Keeping Tips: Click image right for UK pond products. Measuring pond volume in USA .... Burt Ballou pointed out that in USA most homes have a water metre which can be accessed readily. This makes pond volume measurement simple if you start with an empty system. Just make sure that while filling the pond nobody uses then toilet, takes a shower does the washing up etc. All you have to do is then record the start and finish readings from the metre to get a very accurate indication of pond volume.
Many fish keepers have encountered the problem of intermittent cloudy water which flares up on sunny days. Sometimes the cause of a water clarity problem is obvious, but on other occasions it’s a mystery. Perhaps you have encountered the same setbacks, and you’re frustrated for the lack of a solution – especially because it means that you can’t properly admire your beautiful koi and goldfish.
When water tests fail to indicate a problem with water quality and your fish appear perfectly healthy on inspection, what else should you consider? Most often, when all else appears to be functioning well, water clarity problems are caused by algae.
Algae Problems: Possible Causes
When a pond is well-stocked with growing gold fish and koi that are being fed on a regular basis, phosphates and nitrates will gradually build up and provide a source of nutrients for pesky algae. A nutrient rich environment combined with sunny, warm conditions will most likely cause a daily bloom of algae. This will only be aggravated if your pond has no plants, because pond plants draw heavily on available nutrients, leaving very little for algae to flourish.
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Testing
pond water can in itself become an intriguing and interesting hobby.
Get a
reliable test kit however.
Solving the Problem of Green Water
- UV maintenance – a UV bulb will function optimally for six months to a year, and then it’s best that you replace it. A glowing bulb does not necessarily mean that its output of germicidal UV rays is strong enough to get rid of algae. If you’re struggling with cloudy water and your UV bulb hasn’t been replaced in the last year, it’s best to just go ahead and replace it for good measure. Also check that the quartz sleeve is clean and free from build up, as this will impair the effectiveness of your UV light.
- Adjust flow rate – sometimes it’s the flow rate that is causing a greenwater problem in your koi pond. For instance, as a hypothetical example, perhaps the volume of your pond is 2000 gallons, and your turnover rate is close to 2500 gallons per hour – this is an incredibly high turnover rate for an average 15 watt UV bulb. A good turnover rate for a 2000 gallon pond is approximately 900 gallons per hour. This is because a UV light works by irradiating any algae cells floating in the pond water, making them stick together in bigger clusters that are more easily filtered. However, this process works best if the contact time between the pond water and the UV unit is prolonged. If you suspect that your flow rate may be too high, try reducing it to see whether there is any improvement in water clarity.
If you’ve ruled out all other causes of murky pond water, you’ll most likely find that you’re having a problem with algae. A planted koi or goldfish pond can improve this situation, but if you perform some UV maintenance and reduce your flow rate – you’ll almost certainly see an improvement in no time at all.
You'll be amazed at how simple it can be to breed fish with the help
of
spawning brushes.
You'll
need one mature female and at least two males.
Put the brushes one above the other at the edge of the pond. Spawning usually occurs in the early morning after a night of flurried activity and can take several hours. Most of the eggs will stick to the brushes which can then be taken out of the pond and put in filtered water of the same temperature. If the eggs are not separated from the adult fish they may be eaten.
