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Home: KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality:
High ammonia in new pond

 





 


rahim
Koi Lover

Apr 4, 2000, 9:08 AM

Post #1 of 3 (1234 views)
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Hi everyone,

My pond is about 14 days old. It is about 750 gallon including the filter. 9 4~5 inches koi in so far. Currently, the ammonia is very high at 1.5 ppm.

Other parameters is as below:

pH 8
KH 7 dH ( I've added Bicarbonate Soda to maintain this hardness)
NH3 1.5 ppm
DO more than 5 ppm

Currently, I'm doing 25% water changes every two days. I also feed them every two days and with very little food. So far 8 of them are very active nibbling my finger asking for food. Only one of them, is less active compared to others since the beginning.

1. How long does the biofilter start working?

2. How long does the fish can stay healthy with this condition?

3. I know that with high ammonia it is good to bring down the pH to around 7.5 but past experience (pH crash) scare me..... How to bring down the pH safely?

So far, I've tried to add aeration as much as possible.
One stream
One 4 feet long spraybar
One venturi
Two air stone.

I would appreciate all suggestion( I bet everybody has gone through this phase).

Thank you.



dttk
Senior Member

Apr 5, 2000, 1:13 AM

Post #2 of 3 (1232 views)
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High ammonia in new pond [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi Rahim, looks like you've got an urgent problem which needs to be tackled urgently. Stop adding bicarb to maintain hardness because that would push up the pH higher. Maintaining water hardness is not your main priority now. What about a daily 50% water change till the ammonia is undetectable but make sure it is dechlorinated fresh water. You can also add salt, say abt 10kg into 750gal water to create a 0.3% solution. This will help to reduce stress in the koi. can add commercially available freeze-dried bacteria in powdered form to hasten colonisation of bio-media. Continue present feeding schedule. Continue good aeration. Hungry koi is a good sign. Hope the above helps. Cheers.


rahim
Koi Lover

Apr 5, 2000, 1:41 AM

Post #3 of 3 (1232 views)
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High ammonia in new pond [In reply to] Can't Post
Hi dttk,

This morning I took the readings and it is as below;

pH 8~8.5
KH 7 dh
Ammonia inbetween 0.25 to 1.5 ppm less than before. Cannot make a reference since I've finished the testing solution.

Nitrite 1.6 ppm
DO 5~8 ppm

All the fish have become so active asking for food.(This just break my heart) I fed them very little this morning. Water are crystal clear and the algae is filling up the pond floor and walls.

So, it seems like the bacteria has colonized the biofilter little bit. What a relief....

I will do 25% water change tonight....

Thanks

 
 
 



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