Koi Forum (Nishikigoi - Japanese Koi Fish): KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality: I didn't do any water test!

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I didn't do any water test!

Anonymous
Anonymous

Jul 9, 2000, 1:57 PM

Post #1 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test!	Can't Post

Hi to everyone out there!
I have a fibre tank in my hall(8ft/4ft/2.5ft).Filter box(4ft/1ft/2ft).Medium use(1st chamber:large corals shells/2nd:cuckles shells/3rd:fine corals shells/4th:brown matting for 6")and 4" of green matting for every chamber.So far i did only once to wash my filter in between this 10 months.I never do all the testing of the water till now since last year oct.and i don't pratice 10% water change daily.I only add water to the tub when the water level are low.(no water change.)
But seem to me that my koi are still doing well in the tub.only at times where the water show some yellowish colour(Still no changing of water).I don't do all this because i had a lesson thought by my friend,which is so call expert in keeping discus.during the starting of my discus keeping hobby,i bought so many kind of test kit but end up to the dustbin,after being told by my friend that he didn't do any test or practice daily water change,but he still can keep and even breed them!with simple filtration(those cotton wool type).from there onwards i don't believe in such product anymore!just feel like being cheated!
Or maybe i'm just too lucky that my koi did well till now?
ONLY TIME WILL TELLS!
CHEERS!

Bancherd
Koi Lover

Jul 9, 2000, 8:07 PM

Post #2 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Adrian:

Well, congratulations, and more power to you!

You must either be very good or very lucky. No overstocking and overfeeding(my tendencies).

I wish I could say the same thing.

Bancherd

Mark
Koi Kichi

Jul 9, 2000, 10:11 PM

Post #3 of 14 (2865 views)
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Hello Adrian
Doesn't sounds like a good idea. Water parameters are tell-tale signs to tell us the basic health and condition of our fish.

Test kit is a MUST!

dttk
Senior Member

Jul 10, 2000, 1:14 AM

Post #4 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear Adrian, the reason why your koi seem to be doing well are because koi are a hardy fish. Your small filter is definately mature enough to handle the ammonia load. If not you koi would already be in trouble by now. However your nitrate level is likely to be high since you seldom change water. High nitrate level has it's own long term problem eventhough it is not as deadly as ammonia. Assuming your nitrate level is ok, the amount of fish waste in your filter will be tremendous if you don't clean your filter regularly. This can lead to skin diseases later in koi. I'm also a discus hobbyist. Both requires frequent water change. I agree with Mark that test kits are a must. Why wait till problem start later when you could avoid them early. Cheers!

Khoobg
Webmaster

Jul 10, 2000, 2:47 AM

Post #5 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Adrian,

Koi are hardy fish and they can withstand tough condition for a long time but this does not mean that they will be able to live trouble free in your pond forever. 10 months is koi keeper is still a relative short period. We strongly suggest that you equip yourself with a proper test kit to confirm the water parameter. Otherwise, you koi may not be able to maintain the present state of health for much longer time.

BTW, I have seen may discus keeper keeping their discus with minimal mechanical filtration and no bio filtration but they compensate that with frequent water change (Daily basis). Minimal water filtration + no frequent water change is almost impossible to keep your discus alive for long.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Jul 10, 2000, 4:52 AM

Post #6 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks to everyone given me the advice.
I'm wondering the fish waste where dttk talk about.As i read acrtical from "brownish stuff accumulate on surface of filter matts"by Mark,i think the brownish stuff eat the fish waste to survive?(pls correct me if i'm wrong)or where does all the fish waste gone to?in Mark's experiments.
By the way,Mark,what is the est. cost to buy the "so call"complete test kit in singapore?(what kind of test kit is a must?) After reading all this i think i should trust you guys in buying all those stuff agian.(hope that the test kit really helps me in keeping healthy kois!)
Thanks to everyone agian!
Cheers!

dttk
Senior Member

Jul 10, 2000, 11:58 PM

Post #7 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Dear Adrian, solid fish waste are not 'consumed' by the bacteria in the filter. Koi urine and faeces contain ammonia which is converted by these good bacteria into nitrites which are in turn converted into nitrates by other good bacteria. Whatever is left of the solid waste will further decompose to produce harmful and smelly gases like H2S which will really make the water in filter smell bad if left to accumulate and not removed. Whatever solid waste that is left after this will remain until you remove it. Cheers!

Mark
Koi Kichi

Jul 11, 2000, 2:24 AM

Post #8 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hello Adrian
Should not cost you more than SGD$50 and could last you for a long long time.

1.pH tester
2.Nitrites and Nitrates tester(usually comes together)
3.Ammonia tester

Look up the First Aid kit under the topic Fish Medicine. There are more but the advanced.

These are the minimum testers you should have. Hope these help.

ps. Dr Tan - I really like your down to earth style in replying post.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Jul 11, 2000, 7:40 AM

Post #9 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

I am a goldfish & arowana hobbyist. I like to know if you help people like me on none koi related problems. Also, do you think I should also buy a set of test kits as suggested by many of you?

Mark
Koi Kichi

Jul 11, 2000, 9:31 AM

Post #10 of 14 (2865 views)
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Quote

Originally posted by Jeremy Yeo:
I am a goldfish & arowana hobbyist. I like to know if you help people like me on none koi related problems. Also, do you think I should also buy a set of test kits as suggested by many of you?

With regards to your 1st question, only the Webmaster of MKC can answers your question.

As a hobbyists I would carry the necessary test kits.

Hope this help.

Anonymous
Anonymous

Jul 11, 2000, 9:46 AM

Post #11 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Guys!
I did a water test just last night,the result i got is a surprise,(PH=8/AMMONIA=0/NITRITE=0),so..does that mean that my koi are doing fine?Actually i'm curious about the 10% water change daily,seems like many koi lovers are doing this,is that really a need for this pratice?And i'm wondering daily basis is something too often.(and also costly)why not something like 10% per week?or every 2 weeks?since i manage to maintian all my parameters(so call well) without any water change.
Sorry if i offended someone in here(if there is),i think it is a good pratice to have a settlement chamber at the first chamber,which i learn from Mark.(and i already trying to adjust my filter box)but what i'm trying to say is that,why is the need for daily water change?or may be the change will disturb the good becterial?(If 10% change per day,i think you'll have pool of new water in just 11 days?)Or just a little more then 11 days?I think the koi will soon be sick and tired of adjusting to new water!
Just hoping that you guys will save some water.that's all!
thank you!
Stay cool o.k?

Marcus
Koi Lover

Jul 11, 2000, 11:57 AM

Post #12 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Adrian,

10% water change is only for Discus, not too advisable for koi. This way, u will exposed too much chlorine to ur koi, unless u add anti-chlorine. And the koi will not enjoy stable water parameters if u do daily water change. So, once a week or every two weeks of 10%-20% water change will be good.

I used to not change any water for my pond for about 3 years, and I managed to maintain clear and good water parameters. However, that is no good. It is always better to replenish some new water to the pond to replace what that is lost. Ur fish will love new water!

Cheers

dttk
Senior Member

Jul 12, 2000, 12:12 AM

Post #13 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Adrian/Marcus, besides O2, CO2, ammonia, nitrite/nitrates, carbonates, and other chemical compounds, pond/tank water with koi living in it also contains other substances like mucus, proteins and other minute suspended particles which 'thickens' the water as time goes by. Koi would sure enjoy the fresh water that you add in anytime! The frequency of water change is limited by cost and availability but water change is important. When you add fresh water make sure that chlorine absent. For my 8'x4'x3' growing-up tank, I change only 50-60% of water weekly and I feed only a small amount twice a day. This is a friendly forum. It's a pleasure to offer advice to newcomers. We haven't stopped learning! Thanks Mark, I'll take that as a compliment!

KKlee
Koi Lover

Jul 14, 2000, 2:34 PM

Post #14 of 14 (2865 views)
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I didn't do any water test! [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Adrian

Have you got your test kit.

KKlee
Learning from past mistake.

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