Maintainence

Water changes - 10% weekly, normally after you have stopped feeding. If possible use a water conditioner to top up the pond water.

Keep your pond and filters clean. Remove mulm, leaves or any uneaten food on a regular basis.

 

During humid summer weather and particularly sultry nights ensure adequate aeration is provided by Make sure you change 5% to 10% pond water daily during the summer. In winter this can be decreased means of air pump or water pump activity.

Never allow blanket weed to build up until it could impair the efficient running of your filter system, such as the blocking of bottom drains and filter feeds. As a last resort consider the use of the chemical Clarosan, which is available from our Club Supplies.

Make sure that a small surface area remains ice free during winter.

Never break ice - melt a small area using boiling water from a kettle.

Regular inspection of your koi is essential; feeding time is a good time to do this as the fish are often distracted by their interest in food. Get to know their habits, very often unusual behaviour is a sign of impending problems.

Remove any suspect fish from the pond, try to diagnose the problem or possible cause in a methodical fashion - then do the necessary treatment.

Always disinfect nets after use. Keep nets secure so that they can't be used by any undesirables that may visit your pond unwelcomed!!

Never use the same net in your pond as you use in your quarantine system.

Never use insecticides, fertilisers or toxic paints near your pond. Check that any product you need to use near your pond is koi safe.

Back flush filter chambers below media level - don't allow mulm and anaerobic conditions to build up and create health problems.

Keep a diary of your water testing during maintenance and then you can check back to refer to something that may help in the event of a problem occurring.

AND FINALLY!

Don't turn off your filters for long periods of time, your biological filters are a 'living mass' and need to run continuously. For maintenance purposes short periods are okay.
When cleaning filter media never rinse or flush with raw tap water, it effectively kills off the bacteria that are essential to the biological cycle. Always use good mature pond water.
If possible try not to treat koi in isolation, they are social creatures and hate being alone, the stress this causes can make a poorly koi even worse. At a pinch let your koi share a treatment vat or quarantine system with a healthy goldfish, the added benefit is that the goldfish can continue to reside in the vat as a waste producer, then the filter in such a system remains viable.
Learn to net and bowl your koi correctly, an experienced member can instruct you. Never stress your fish by needless chasing with a net, be composed and organised. Often two people both with nets make the whole procedure a dawdle. Consider the purchase of a good modular net system, with one handle and inter-changeable heads.

'LOOK AFTER THE WATER - YOUR KOI WILL LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES'