Inherited pond with Koi at new house

12 years ago

As my title suggests I recently moved into my house that has a 12'x6' pond with an average depth of ~1.8 feet. Some parts are about 3' deep. Using a pond calculator it is approximately 960 gallons.

There are 4 koi (10", 6" , 2 that are about 4" and 1 comet goldfish and one small silver with black spot goldfish...maybe a shubunkin?? Cant really tell on that guy.

I think the pond is overstocked with fish from what I've read but I think the kois have been in the pond for several years...maybe that small goldfish was released in the pond since its so tiny.

I moved in November and threw a deicer in the pond so it didn't freeze over and now that it is spring I have some questions about the pond.

The fish seem to stay on the bottom of the pond most of the times except early morning and late evening. Is that normal? When I see videos of other ponds I see the fish actively swimming, enjoying the pond. Do they act like this because the water is cold? It is around 55 degrees. I feed them every other day, using small quantity using a "spring feed (more carbs, less protein I am told)". They get spooked quite easily when I walk out to the pond to feed them. I am using a feeding ring so I can get them to associate it with food, but when I feed them they tend to stay on the bottom. Only when I leave and observe them from the windows that the comet take food from thereone in a blue moon. I leave the food and ring overnight and the food is gone by the morning, but I do not know if the fish ate it or if the food sank.

I am wondering if the fish will act like this all the time or will my pond fish become more active and "enjoy the pond" and be friendly when I feed them. I am hoping this is because the water is cold and their appetites are not as voracious as they are when the water temp is warmer.

I am reading more about keeping koi and realize water quality is important so I've bought some test strips to measure nitrate, nitrite, ph, hardness, etc.

Nitrite 0

Nitrate 0

Hardness 250

Alkalinity 80

Ph 7.6

Filtration is just a small fountain pump with two filter media (one that is course and one finer foam) and some bio balls. It looks like it is doing a good job, unless I am reading the info wrong....

How often do you change the water? I have a shopvac that looks like I can use to suck up all the muck at the bottom.

sorry for the long winded post, but I guess you all need all that info to help give advice.

Thank you in advance!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

sleeplessinftwayne
12 years ago
At 55oF the fish may still be in winter phase. They may take a while to get used to you. Be patient. There may have been predators that made them wary. Fish do recognize individuals so at this point you are still a stranger.

If you have an aerator they may get more active and the additional oxygen is good for their health. The pump sounds a bit small especially with that many fish.

Test strips are not very reliable. A pond water test kit is a much better investment.

Welcome to ponding.
buyorsell888
12 years ago
If there is no plant cover, all open clear water, they may be staying low to avoid predators. Having no cover can make them nervous and stressed. The former owner may not have fed them much nor interacted with them and they may not associate people with good things yet.
Related Discussions
new to "pond life and maintence with intro to koi" help me please
Q
Comments (4)
You have about 470 gallons of water in your pond, if I figured it right, for healthy fish you can have only a certain amount of fish because of ammonia and waste production. (I have just gone thru this quandry this spring and rehomed all of my koi because they grew out of their space in 2 years. They were butterfly koi and the most beautiful fish babies but they could not remain healthy in the pond I had.) See this article- http://splendorkoipond.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-many-fish-can-i-have-in-my-pond.html The koi will grow quickly and are big waste producers. You will need to buy a kit and test the water for their health. I installed a trickle filter to help with cleaning up their water but it was only adequate for 1 year and could not keep up with their size/waste production. I now have comets, shubunkins and 2 yellow gold fish. They are satisfying my need for color and are very friendly like the koi. I wish you luck with your fish and know how attached you can get to them and the sadness of having to rehome them. Many other fish lovers on this site will help you with information on caring for your new babies.
...See More
Selling my house with my koi pond
Q
Comments (19)
With reference to the new home, you need to use a product called BIN Pigminted Shellac. It's sort of expensive, but well worth the cost. During application it smells like a bottle of rubbing alchol was spilled, and it is advisable to wear a respirator while applying. Because it's a shellac (white) it's a permanant seal for the nicotine (brown color) as well as the odors. It is suitable for use on both the walls and the floor underlayment. DO NOT use a water-based product REGARDLESS of what the salesman tells you. I spent 9 years running a Sherwin Williams paint store, and know what I'm talking about. Waterbased primers that advertise as odor blocker/nicotine blockers require at minimum 2 coats, but offer no guarantee against bleeding from the nicotine, and very little odor blockage. Secondly, although the tempation is to use 'cheap' rollers, DON'T. The alcohol in the BIN will dissolve it shortly (the glue) leaving a terrible mess. Use rollers in the $5-7 range. The product tries odor free within an hour or 2, and unlike oil based products there isn't a lingering odor afterwards. You can paint with latex over the primer after it dries. Carpet/tile over the floor. Good luck!
...See More
Selling a House with a Koi Pond- Update
Q
Comments (7)
I think each market is different. In a winter climate a pond and even a bog is a lot more work and you get less prime time in return. I was expecting my ponds at my San Jose CA house to be a big problem for selling but was surprised they turned out to be an asset. For a few buyers the pond was the key feature. A did tear down some of the ponds and filled in others with gravel converting them to bogs. It was easy to show buyers the lush plants in the bogs and that it required zero weeding and adding water once a month was all that was needed. They all seem to see the low maintenance feature of bogs. From there is was an easy sell to say if they didn't like the remaining ponds in the future they could also be filled in with pea gravel and converted into bogs. They liked having an option. A lot of people wonder what they would do with pond if they didn't like it and think it's a huge deal to remove. Also I explained to families with small kids that the pond could be filled with gravel and then gravel removed as kids got older. Add to that a few "ponds are such great ways for kids to learn about nature" and they were sold. The house did end up selling to people with small kids and they wanted the ponds to stay. I had offered to convert all ponds to bogs to all buyers. People love the lush look... But worry about maintenance. Once they see the gravel and the pots they seemed to understand it was low maintenance. I also think not having a bunch of complex looking filters helped. These ponds only had a skimmer and UV which was off and had been off for more than a year. I also had a vacuuming system which was easy for people to relate to, they understood vacuuming.
...See More
Ideas for new pond, pros and cons of koi
Q
Comments (4)
THANK YOU for thinking of the health and happiness of your fish, and being honest about what you can manage. I wish more people would! (And yes, I do think there must be a fishy equivalent of "happiness" that they experience.) There are discussions all the time here about minimum gallons per koi to allow etc. and yes it may be true that you can technically keep them healthy with not a lot of space, if the filtration is adequate.... but I always wonder WHY BOTHER if there's not enough room for them to move freely. To see a group of koi moving together in a school across a large pond is an AMAZING sight. You don't see that when they are cramped. Without enough space they just kind of dart around aimlessly or don't move much at all. Which brings me to goldfish. There are some bred especially for ponds with bright colors and long fins - some look exactly like koi - only they stay small 10-12 inches maybe. You can get that same schooling behavior in a lot less space.
...See More
ponder630
Original Author
12 years ago
There were no plants in the pond at all. I have added one water hyacinth and one water lettuce about a week ago. I was told that they will multiply pretty rapidly once the weather gets warmer. I may buy a few more bunches of each so they have more cover.

I have an aquarium pump and have added a 5" round airstone to the pond last night.

Would adding some type of hiding spot help ease the fish? Perhaps a large PVC pipe of some sort around 8-10inches in diameter or a flower pot?
kalevi
12 years ago
Get a hardy water lily in put it in a pot. This will provide lots of cover once the leaves come out. For your size of pond, 2 pots are probably the maximum you can have before they start to compete with each other for surface area.

The fish have to get used to you. It won't take long before they associate your presence with feeding and they will eagerly come up to the surface expecting to be fed.
jan2
12 years ago
Ponder630, so where do you live? I am guess in the 630 area code of the Chicago area. Temps here are no where near ready for the fish to be really active. I agree about the lily but koi and plants do not usually mix well. Goldfish will be no problem with potted plants.

Jan
Calamity_J
12 years ago
Just wanted to say Welcome to the Forum, I have been helped so much by everyone here! I have about the same temp here and am waiting for the weather to warm up just a bit more before feeding the fish. My fish are mostly hiding/staying near the bottom right now too, it's what they do in the winter.
ponder630
Original Author
12 years ago
Jan, I live in the western suburbs of Chicago. I've read that kois like to eat the roots and will destroy a potted plants. Are there any suitable options for pond covering that is "koi friendly"

Thanks for the warm welcome. I am learning a lot by reading past postings as well!
mckool
12 years ago
Make a couple of floating islands with lots f annuals or perenials that wil provde filtration, cover, and enjoyment.
I tak e lighting grids from the box sotre, cut to fit the area, cut holes for the plant pots. cover the bottom with great stuff for floatation, when dry do the top, but add dirts, pea gravel, sand,push into the grat stuff as it sets, tip if necessary, a little time in the sum andvthe great stuff will be orange/brown Rhe flowers, especially inpatiens will cover the great stuff
realsis
12 years ago
Hi I raise koi fish, I'm a member of a Alcatel koi club I'm also currently studying to be a koi health advisor. One thing to look for in koi is if their fins are clamped to their body, as opposed straight out like wings. If they are clamped this indicates distress. If your koi are in a cold area, and their fins are not clamped they could just be slowed down for the winter.when the water temp reaches about 55 to 60 resume feeding and see if they become more active. I will be happy to answer any questions you have.
jan2
12 years ago
Ponder630,

I've been told that after you plant your lilies in tubs to cover the tubs with a wire so the koi can't get into the soil to uproot the plants. I would guess working with a larger, already established lily, would be the way to go.
If you want, send me your email and I will see if I have any to spare this spring.

Jan
madlmmdl@aol.com
Shinz
11 years ago
Hi, I have also gained fish and ponds with a house purchase. I have 3 small ponds with one fish in each, I'm concerned about them all. We're in New Zealand, I live in a small town with no specialist shops and I've never owned a fish before. All ponds have quickly turned brown, are over grown and have both types of algae. The smallest pond I decided to empty, scrub and refill (yes, now I know I've caused my problems) The lillies had created a matt so I broke them down, repotted added a spike and put back in my clear pond, I added water ager and have a conditioner tablet dissolving at the bottom and yes I put the fish back in. The lillies leaves are dying but I can see new shoots. The fish hides doesn't eat the fish food left by the previous owners and I'm so afraid I've removed all it's food by trying to deal with the algae growth quickly. Plus I have the other ponds to solve and obviously don't want to make the same mistake again. Any advice for a novice?

Inherited pond with Koi at new house

Comments (11)

sleeplessinftwayne

buyorsell888

Related Discussions

ponder630
Original Author

kalevi

jan2

Calamity_J

ponder630
Original Author

mckool

realsis

jan2

Shinz

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Inherited pond with Koi at new house

Comments (11)

Related Discussions

ponder630Original Author

ponder630Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

ponder630
Original Author

ponder630
Original Author