| It can mean the difference between life and | | | | ordecrease in buffering agents can create drastic |
| death of your koi fish! | | | | fluctuation in pH. |
| Alkaline Koi Ponds | | | | - There may be high levels of humic acid or other |
| Generally speaking, alkaline conditions are more | | | | organic acids producedby build-up of decomposing |
| common than acidic in ponds, especially the newer | | | | plants and leaves. |
| ones. If the pH remains over 8.5 for any length of | | | | Solutions |
| time, the koi fish will become stressed or | | | | - Regular partial water changes |
| diseased. Here are some helpful examples: | | | | - Adding buffers to pond by placing a mesh bag |
| Symptoms | | | | of oyster shell gravel,dolomite or crushed coral |
| - Lethargic or listless fish due to damaged mucus | | | | gravel in filter or waterfall. Water passingthrough |
| coating; prone to fungalinfection and other disease | | | | the material will pull out the calcium carbonate and |
| - Plants chalky in appearance due to calcium | | | | raise pH. |
| deposits | | | | - Using pond-buffer salts (sold in pond supply |
| - Prominence of waste chemicals which harm | | | | stores) |
| pond life | | | | Partial Water Changes |
| - Biological filter loses effectiveness | | | | Wastes and toxins tend to build up in most ponds, |
| Reasons | | | | despite use of a biological filter. As water |
| - Introducing fish too soon into a newly | | | | evaporates, pollutants remain and build up over |
| constructed pond that was not properly sealed; | | | | time, becoming dangerously concentrated. For this |
| the lime or alkali from the cement will raise the pH | | | | reason it is highly recommended for smaller koi |
| to the top of the scale. Even a shovel full of | | | | ponds that you drain and replace 20 percent of |
| concrete or mortar can cause serious problems. | | | | the koi pond a couple of times a year. Larger koi |
| - Lime leaching from cement products such as | | | | ponds are generally much more stable and the |
| blocks, stepping stones andsimilar materials over a | | | | water chemistry does not fluctuate radically. This |
| period of time. | | | | water should be siphoned or pumped from the |
| - Lime in stone products subject to erosion | | | | bottom of the koi pond, where the majority of |
| - Excessive growth of algae. | | | | pollutants collect. |
| Solutions | | | | No more than 20 percent should be replaced since |
| - If the pond alkalinity is from the koi pond being | | | | larger amounts could easily upset the balance of |
| new, allow adequate time for the pond to age. To | | | | the koi pond. This is especially true if the |
| speed up this process introduce bacteria found in | | | | replacement water is softer or contains high levels |
| a koi pond starter solution. | | | | of chlorine or chloramines. It would also be |
| - Institute a partial pond water change to dilute | | | | advantageous to keep most of the rotting debris |
| the alkalis | | | | cleared from the bottom. Decaying fish and pond |
| - If high alkalinity is due to an over-abundance of | | | | waste produce ammonia, methane and other |
| algae, remove excessive growths of thread algae. | | | | toxins which can be fatal to the koi pond family. |
| - If these steps do not result in a lower pH, use | | | | If you are adding water with a garden hose, it is |
| acidifying compounds or pondpH buffers. | | | | best to adjust to low volume and a mist that |
| Acidic Koi Ponds | | | | sprays gently through the air before entering the |
| Low pH conditions occur less often than alkalinity | | | | pond. This will allow some of the chlorine to |
| in koi ponds. | | | | evaporate. If you add the water quickly, add a |
| Symptoms | | | | dechlorinating product to the koi pond to neutralize |
| - Fish become stressed, resulting in sickness; they | | | | the chlorine and chloramines. Unless you are |
| may start dying off. | | | | adding water to your koi pond by means of an |
| - Oxygenating plants such as hyacinths, water | | | | electronic aquafill water leveling system, always |
| lettuce, Elodea and Anacharisbecome discolored | | | | use some type of a timer or alarm to remind you |
| and wilted. | | | | to turn off the water! If left unattended for an |
| - Biological filtration ceases to operate correctly. | | | | extended period of time, you could find your pond |
| Reasons | | | | overflowing and your koi fish dying from chlorine |
| - Pond water may have lost its buffers due to | | | | poisoning. It happened to me... several hundred |
| excessive amounts of rain,which is soft and very | | | | dollars worth! |
| acidic in many areas due to pollution. Loss | | | | Happy koi, peace & joy. |