| The most basic conditions of your koi pond water | | | | more of these gravels in your filter system at all |
| chemistry are the pH factor (which stands for | | | | times – especially if you are replenishing your |
| potential Hydrogen) and water hardness. These | | | | pond with soft water. The gravel should be |
| factors alone can determine the life or death of | | | | replaced every 9 to 12 months since all the |
| your koi pond’s inhabitants (I call them the | | | | buffers will be leached out by that time. If the |
| “Fam Fam”). | | | | buffers are used up and the pH level drops to 6.0 |
| The pH of the koi pond water is measured on a | | | | or lower, the nitrifying bacteria that break down |
| scale of 1-14, with a reading of 7 considered | | | | the toxic fish waste, ammonia, and nitrite will stop |
| “neutral.” Any reading above 7 is alkaline; | | | | functioning. At a low pH, highly toxic ammonia |
| anything below 7 is acidic. Most fish prefer a pH | | | | chemically changes to relatively non-toxic |
| value of 7.2 to 7.6, or just slightly on the alkaline | | | | ammonium. If you raise the pH rapidly, the |
| side of the scale. However, koi and goldfish can | | | | ammonium will also quickly return to ammonia, |
| adjust to gradual changes in pH from as low as 7 | | | | which could be fatal to your fish. |
| to as high as 8.5 and still remain healthy and | | | | Please invest in the health of your fish. Purchase a |
| flourish. | | | | koi pond test kit from any pet or pond store. |
| Hardness or buffers in the koi pond water can | | | | Invest the time to read the directions and start |
| raise the pH levels. Even though hardness is a | | | | regularly testing your koi pond. Remember, clear |
| separate measure from pH, the two respond to | | | | water does not mean clean! As in the water we |
| each other chemically. Pure or “distilled” | | | | drink, just because the water looks clear, smells |
| water has a pH of 7 and an absence of buffers | | | | good, and tastes good does not mean it is clean. |
| or hardness. Neutral pH is unstable, however, and | | | | Most of the most toxic, cancer-causing priority |
| if it has no buffers or hardness, it can quickly | | | | pollutants listed by the E.P.A are colorless, |
| drop to the lower (acidic) end of the pH scale | | | | odorless, and tasteless. Do not ever forget the |
| – as low as 4.2 to 4.8. At this level of acidity | | | | simple facts: You have a toilet in a separate room |
| the fish’s gills become burned and eventually | | | | of your house. Your scaly friend’s living room |
| become unable to extract oxygen from the | | | | is their toilet, and they have to swim in it. Keep it |
| water, ultimately suffocating. | | | | flushed and clean. |
| Should the pH in your koi pond ever drop to | | | | If you do not presently have a bio-filter, please |
| these levels, never try to raise the pH too quickly. | | | | purchase one, or at no cost to you, download |
| By placing coral gravel, dolomite, or oyster shell | | | | instructions and a parts list of simple items you |
| gravel in a nylon filter bag inside your filter or | | | | can purchase from any home improvement store |
| directly in the waterfall, moving water can pass | | | | for less then $65 and build one yourself using an |
| through it and the pH will rise to 7.0 or 7.3 in less | | | | electric drill and a hand saw. download with no |
| than two days. | | | | oblication or log in required at - |
| To prevent the drastic fluctuation in hardness | | | | Happy koi, peace and joy. |
| buffers affecting pH, you should include one or | | | | |