Koi Pond Care: Garden Fish Ponds in Spring
More Top Pond Keeping Tips: Click image right for UK pond products. To determine an approximate average depth of your gold fish or koi pond whose depth is not constant take a stick and mark it in intervals of say 3 inches with an indelible ink pen. At 10 different places in the pond insert the stick and record the depths (10 numbers). Add the numbers together and divide by 10. Use this answer as the average depth of the pond. Of course the units depend upon the ruler used. This method of estimating depth is a precursor to calculating pond volume since average depth multiplied by surface area = volume of pond water.
My Koi Pond in Spring:
The sooner you examine and assess your koi pond in spring the better, as this will help you to ascertain how your koi faired during the winter months.
Take advantage of the period during which your koi are not yet actively feeding to test the pond water.
The pH and nitrate levels are the primary factors that should be assessed. However please note testing of pH is difficult and the results obtained should be plotted to see trends over time rather than rely upon any single result.
- pH – rain and snow during the winter months has a diluting effect which can cause the pH to go down to around 7. To return your pond to the preferred pH of approximately 8, simply top up with some treated tap water or throw in a source of calcium carbonate.
- Nitrate – due to the disintegration of organic matter and the slow production of fish metabolism during winter, it is to be expected that the nitrate levels in the fishpond will have risen slightly. It is only necessary to carry out a pond water change if the nitrate level has exceeded 50ppm.
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How do I Keep my Koi Pond Clear and Sparkling in Spring?
Springtime’s longer days and warmer weather have their benefits, but they also present a unique set of fishkeeping challenges. After enjoying months of beautiful pond water clarity thanks to cold temperatures and reduced flow rate, you might now find yourself with an algae-laden fishpond in only a few short weeks.
It is vitally important that you act swiftly to counteract the effects of nutrient build up in the koi pond and intensive sunlight combined with the churning action of increased koi activity. The most advantageous time to take preventative measures is when the water temperature is still below 10 degrees Celsius and the koi or gold fish are not yet active – this will allow a clear view of the fish pond’s bottom.
It is highly recommended that you make use of a pond-vac, which can be purchased or hired from an aquatic store. Using a pond-vac, you should make a thorough effort to get rid of the silt that has settled on the bottom of the fishpond. Any silt that is left will provide a source of nutrients for pond algae to flourish, so a scrupulous clean up of the fishpond will certainly be rewarding in the long-run.
The temperature of your koi pond in spring will continue to rise steadily above 10 degrees Celsius, and this is when the changes in your koi and their fish pond environment will become more evident. The sub-10 degrees Celsius temperature, however, should be regarded as a window of opportunity to perform aesthetic and biological maintenance in preparation for the summer months and increased koi activity.
For me there's a golden rule in koi keeping and it's a rule that applies generally... whenever you're told something which sounds like it's straight from the koi gospel ask why and then test the reply by using a chunk of common sense. My favourite bit of koi bunkum is that a bio filter must be 1/3rd the pond volume.
You know what's important for readers of my articles... it's not the size of the koi or how big the koi will grow. It's much simpler. Are you enjoying your fish and are you learning about ponds and pond keeping for the pure pleasure of it? Let's face it we're not going to set any world records for the biggest koi and who wants to anyway?
