Koi Forum (Nishikigoi - Japanese Koi Fish): KOI Talk: Pond Water Quality: Water Clarity

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Water Clarity

hendrick_hadi
New User

Oct 23, 2006, 12:29 PM

Post #1 of 15 (2553 views)
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Water Clarity	Can't Post

Pleaseeee help. I renovated my non-KOI pond into a KOI pond 5 months a go and since a week after it finished, I have never been able to
see the bottom of my pond. Just for the information;
1. The depth of my pond is now 2.20 meters,
2. I currently have 1 Koi with length reaching 50+cm, 9 Kois with length reaching 60+ cm, and 3 Kois with length reaching 70+ cm. Total 13 KOIs
3. The total volume of my pond is only 8,000 Liters (exclude the Volume of my Filtration System)
4. My Filtration system is not bottom drain but built higher than the pond's water surface level.
5. The total volume of my Filtration System is 3,000 Liters
6. My Filtration System has 4 sections, the first 3 sections are filled with bioballs only and the final section is filled with filter matt
7. I have 39 watt UV Light and its supplied by water pump (capable of sending 4,000 Liter/hour) located on the last section of my Filtration System
8. I have reason to believe that my pond turnover is at least once every 2hours
9. I always perform 10% water changes (5% in the morning and 5% in the evening)
10. I have added 20 bottles (1.5 liter) of artificial Bacteria (called PsBio) in this last 5 months
11. I have 2 Aerator, 1 for my Pond and 1 for my Filtration System.
12. Recently I found water snails (small) all over my Filtration System.

My questions are :
1. Why cann't I have a clear water? The only time where I can see my KOIs are when they are eating/when they are only 50cm bellow my water surface level.
2. My KOIs are still eating (4X daily) does that mean that they are healthy? Coz they've been like this in this last 5 months
3. Should I add an ozonizer that is normally used for water treatment (not the corona discharge one since its unavailable in my city)?
4. Or should I add an extra UV Light? Coz I still notice a floating algae on my pond
5. I heard that water snails only live in a "good water" is this true? Does the "good water" for the water snails equal to good water of KOI?

Sorry for giving these over-crowded information regarding my pond.
AND THANK YOU so much for any of your responses, advices or solutions that you may suggest.

Best Regard

Koi38
Senior Member

Oct 23, 2006, 5:50 PM

Post #2 of 15 (2540 views)
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Re: [hendrick_hadi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Hendrick and welcome Smile

4. My Filtration system is not bottom drain but built higher than the pond's water surface level.
So is your pond pump fed system???
6. My Filtration System has 4 sections, the first 3 sections are filled with bioballs only and the final section is filled with filter matt
If your pond is pump fed I suggest you place the jmatts on the 1st chamber then bioballs on the rest coz you're lack of mechanical filter.
8. I have reason to believe that my pond turnover is at least once every 2hours
Water turn over should be at least once every hour.
9. I always perform 10% water changes (5% in the morning and 5% in the evening)
I would do it in one go
11. I have 2 Aerator, 1 for my Pond and 1 for my Filtration System.
How big are you air pumps?

My questions are :
1. Why can't I have a clear water? The only time where I can see my KOIs are when they are eating/when they are only 50cm bellow my water surface level.
As mentioned, you need to increase your water turn over rate. If the suggestion above regarding filtration doesn't work, you may have to convert the 1st chamber to static filter(mechanical filter) Wink

2. My KOIs are still eating (4X daily) does that mean that they are healthy? Coz they've been like this in this last 5 months
Well if they aren't acting weired, no visible parasites, growing, etc I suppose yeah Tongue

3. Should I add an ozonizer that is normally used for water treatment (not the corona discharge one since its unavailable in my city)?
As long as you add dechlorinator and check your water parameters on regular basis you can do without one. Sorry I don't have one so can't comment much Pirate

4. Or should I add an extra UV Light? Coz I still notice a floating algae on my pond
Your UV is good enough but then again depends how much sun does your pond get everyday.
5. I heard that water snails only live in a "good water" is this true? Does the "good water" for the water snails equal to good water of KOI?
I know snails are good for koi coz my koi love them very much Sly

BTW, what are your water parameters?
PH
Ammonia
NitrIte
NitrAte
gH
kH

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

hendrick_hadi
New User

Oct 23, 2006, 10:57 PM

Post #3 of 15 (2529 views)
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Re: [Koi38] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Hendrick and welcome Smile

Thank you for the warm welcome, and thank you so much for the fast responses and advices Sly

So is your pond pump fed system??? Yes, you are absolutely right on that, the filtration system for my so called KOI Pond is not a gravity feed filtration system Frown

If your pond is pump fed I suggest you place the jmatts on the 1st chamber then bioballs on the rest coz you're lack of mechanical filter. Thank you for your advices, I will try to restructure my Filtration System within this week and I will update you with the result as soon as I got one
Water turn over should be at least once every hour. This is the problem, I am currently under a very tight budget Frown

the water pump that has the same spec as mine is very expensive. Moreover an additional water pump will require pipe (2") going from my pond into the filtration system and this will definitely make my garden looks very very ugly. So I think I am stuck with once every two hour (water turn over) Frown

How big are you air pumps?
I'm using Resun LP-60 for both of my aerator. I believe that this aerator is more than enough for my pond's size. The real problem is that my pond size is not enough to hold my KOIs Frown

and I was unable to stop my habit of adding an extra KOI until its too late Frown

That is why I'm striving for the best water quality so that my KOI can grow and become a champion one day (I feed them with SAKI-HiGrowth) Additional Information : I don't have any cannopi or trees to cover my pond, so I guess the sunlight can get into my pond 6hours/more a day. BUT I heard that sunlight is great for the color of my KOI. I hope this is true (finger cross)
Also the water snails are all located in my Filtration System, I have never seen any of them in my KOI pond.
My KOI Pond Water parameters? I currently don't have the parameters. BUT I will definitely give you all of these within this week. Sorry all the laboratory in my city is closed due to Muslim Celebration (Idul Fitri) on the 23rd and 24th of October.

Koi38
Senior Member

Oct 24, 2006, 7:10 AM

Post #4 of 15 (2507 views)
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Re: [hendrick_hadi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hendrick,

The prob is your not cleaning your pond quick enough and you're over stock. I suggest you reduce your feeding until your biofilter has fully matured so they can coupe coverting the waste or cull some of your koi Unsure

. Yes we need a little sunlight on our pond to improve their colors(so I heard too Tongue

) The more air the better specially if you live in warmer climate. Smile

Is there anyway you can add an inverted bottom drain and settlement(has to be same level as your pond)?

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

hendrick_hadi
New User

Oct 24, 2006, 12:57 PM

Post #5 of 15 (2501 views)
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Re: [Koi38] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

The prob is your not cleaning your pond quick enough and you're over stock. Both of your statements are correct, I never clean up my Filtration System coz I heard my friends told me that routine cleaning will result in great loss of Bacteria. And I don't want that to happen to my KOI Pond. About the over stock problem it is because my friend introduced me to an ex-KOI lover who is now bored with all of his collection and he owns only imported KOIs (hundreds of them with size ranging from 45-90cm and superb quality) and are sold at a very low price. That is why I was never able to hold myself from not getting extra KOIs whenever I have the fund Frown

Now I'm officially broke. Is there anyway you can add an inverted bottom drain and settlement(has to be same level as your pond)? Not that I can think of. Despite the fact that I don't have enough budget, I also don't have the extra place required.
Thank you so much for all of your advices, currently I'm preparing to restructure my Filtration System so that the first chamber/section can be used as a mechanical filter (filled with Filter Mats). In regard to my Filtration System: 1. How often do you suggest I should I clean it? 2. Should I clean all of the chambers or only the chamber where Mechanical Filtration take place? 3. When you say cleaning my chamber, what it means is pouring water with high pressure from above right? 4. What about Zeolit? Am I allowed to use it as my Mechanical Filter? Thank you again, have youself a great day.

Koi38
Senior Member

Oct 24, 2006, 5:31 PM

Post #6 of 15 (2494 views)
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Re: [hendrick_hadi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hendrick,

In regard to my Filtration System:
1. How often do you suggest I should I clean it?
Depends how much you feed your koi, the more food the more waste. I'd say once a week at least Smile

.
2. Should I clean all of the chambers or only the chamber where Mechanical Filtration take place?
Just the mechanical chamber(1st chamber) Then monitor your biofilter see how much waste gets accumulated there. I clean mine every six months Wink

3. When you say cleaning my chamber, what it means is pouring water with high pressure from above right?
With jmatts in 1st chamber, you need to take them out and hose them, remember they're mechanical not bio.
4. What about Zeolit? Am I allowed to use it as my Mechanical Filter?
I only add zeolite if the pond is suffering from ammonia spike but as bio don't waste your money on it. Also if you add zeolite you have to remember to take it out when you salt your pond coz salt will release the ammonia back to your pond Shocked

rgds,
Jon

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

larz1
Koi Kichi

Oct 25, 2006, 8:06 PM

Post #7 of 15 (2448 views)
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Re: [hendrick_hadi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you could post a picture or two of your pond it would be helpful. My pond has a pump fed filtration system too, but I was able to use a DIY bottom drain for pump suction anyway. It will help to pull solids from the bottom of the pond into your mechanical filter if you can install one. In the DIY forum there are instructions on how to make one cheaply that you can connect to your pump.

brandon
Koi Lover

Oct 25, 2006, 10:10 PM

Post #8 of 15 (2443 views)
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Re: [larz1] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi Hendrick,

U seem to live in indonesia,dont u ?U said that u couldnt see the pond base due to the water . could u tell me the colour of ur pond water?Is it green, brown or murky(cloudy)?
Best regards,

brandon

mikoi
Koi Lover

Oct 26, 2006, 10:54 AM

Post #9 of 15 (2427 views)
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Re: [hendrick_hadi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

HI Hendrick.

I have a new pond and it cleared up in 2 months.
my pond water turnover rate is also the same as your pond.
once every 2 hours.

I dont have the aid of a UV light, just filter mats and brushes.

try to check your aerators in your filter chambers, maybe the aerator is disturbing
the water too much in your bio chamber, try to turn it off for 2 to 3 days and observe
if there is any change in your pond water clarity.

I also do an inch of water change everyday.

and pond is 50 % exposed under sunlight the whole day.

let me know if there is any changes.

mikoi

hendrick_hadi
New User

Oct 27, 2006, 10:22 AM

Post #10 of 15 (2389 views)
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Re: [mikoi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Guys, thank you so much for all of your responses and advices. Yest for additional information, I live in Semarang (Capital of Central Java) Smile

In regard to the color of the water, I'm not quite sure myself but I think it's green/yellow. The real problem is that that I can not see the bottom of my pond BUT I have a clear water up to 50-75cm deep (That means I have to feed them if I want to see them and there is no way I know if they are healthy or not Frown

)
my pond water turnover rate is also the same as your pond. once every 2 hours.
What about the fishes load? Coz I have plenty, and I know that my pond is over crowded. I'm starting to think that this is what caused the problem
I dont have the aid of a UV light, just filter mats and brushes.
I know a friend who doesn't use a UV light but have a crystal clear water. BUT I guess you just have to be very lucky to get the best result without expensing extra cash. I envy you.

try to check your aerators in your filter chambers, maybe the aerator is disturbing Yup, I'm executing your advices now, I'll inform you the result in another 3 days or so. Thank you for the advices.
I also do an inch of water change everyday. I've done more than that. because my pond doesn't have a large area, I therefore do 2-3 water change daily

Thank you so much guys. I'll let you know in 3-4 days in regard to the clarity of my Pond water.

larz1
Koi Kichi

Oct 27, 2006, 9:02 PM

Post #11 of 15 (2373 views)
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Re: [hendrick_hadi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

BTW, the reason you only see snails in your filter system is because Koi don't love them for keeping company. They love them for SNACKS Wink

. Whenever a few of them leave the filter and enter the pond they quickly become Koi Escargot Cool

koifishgirl
Koi Kichi

Oct 28, 2006, 1:26 AM

Post #12 of 15 (2369 views)
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Re: [larz1] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey LARRY

Hope to talk to u soon Sly

Been missing the forum and all you guys so much.
Judy

Koi38
Senior Member

Oct 28, 2006, 7:30 AM

Post #13 of 15 (2360 views)
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Re: [larz1] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

They love them for SNACKS Wink

. Whenever a few of them leave the filter and enter the pond they quickly become Koi Escargot Cool

Hmmmmmmm and I thought only French love them Laugh

just kidding Tongue

"DuKu Friendly"
_____________________________________
"No one is ever too old to know better"

http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y63/Koi38/

brandon
Koi Lover

Oct 28, 2006, 4:32 PM

Post #14 of 15 (2351 views)
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Re: [mikoi] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

hi mikoi

In Reply To

I also do an inch of water change everyday.

Could u convert an inch of water change into percentage of the total volume of ur pond water?
thanks,bro
Best regards,

brandon

mikoi
Koi Lover

Oct 28, 2006, 5:10 PM

Post #15 of 15 (2349 views)
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Re: [brandon] Water Clarity [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well....I'm not good with numbers and math so I don't know how.
But just do a google search or get help from the senior members here for the formula.

my pond is 7,500 gallons.

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