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Ponds & Aquatic Plants

help, Koi are dying and not happy!!!

13 years ago

10 year old pond which has never had many problems. 14,000 gallons, lots of waterfalls, Zap-20 UV, bead filter, 1,000 gallon containment filter, etc. all high end equipment. Fish are dying one by one, very lifeless. I had the UV light off except for the last week and half while I had to purchase a new pump. Water is still very green. I noticed bubbles coming in from my bead filter since last summer and suspected an air leak. I'm wondering if this is causing 'gas-bubble disease'? I've turned off the 1/3 HP Artersian pump running the bead filter and just running the other (2) 1/4 HP Sequence pumps running the other filter & UV light to see if the fish perk up. pH is a normal 7.8 range, Ammonia and nitrites are both 0. Water comes from our well - should be good! Salt treatment is not helping at all.. Thanks for any help!!

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Comments (5)

goodkarma_
13 years ago
Michael you would do better to visit Koi.....vet or Koi....phen (remove the .... ) to get some advice about your Koi. They have alot of experience with these things. Your water sounds good so perhaps it is a parasitic infection, bacterial or viral infection your fish are experiencing. Wish I could be of more help. Good luck.

Lisa
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mike_il
13 years ago
Michael 2259,
With the 1/3 hp a Artesian you can't pressurize the air bubbles so that is not a problem. How many fish are in the pond? How many have you lost? What is the salt level? How often have you changed the water? I am guessing either parasites or something in your well water. When was the last time that your put a new fish in the pond?
Mike
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annedickinson
13 years ago
This may be an off-the-wall suggestion but it came to mind while reading your post. A co-worker was experiencing a problem with fish dying one by one, very listless etc. It wasn't until she stuck her hand in the water and felt an electric tingle that she realized there was some kind of an electrical short that was killing them.
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mike_il
13 years ago
Pashta 2006,

I not assure what effect a small amount of electricity leaking into a pond would have on the fish. The fish are not grounded as your friend was. I can see all kind of effects that it would have on the pond itself. And some of those might effect the fish. It might be a good guess. If I had some idea where the electricity was getting was getting into the water. The pumps are external. If the UV quartz sleeve was broken the ballast most likely would short out and even if it didn't it puts out high voltage low amperage with no way of getting more power. But I like your thinking. We just don't have enough information to give more then just guesses. But I like your out of the box thinking.
Mike
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buyorsell888
13 years ago
You have pea soup algae and your pumps were off?

If the largest fish died first, could be lack of oxygen.

check the pond early in the morning, if the fish are gasping at the surface frantically, low oxygen is a problem.
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