My Koi Journey

[commonly]

Just discovered i have new pests, that may have a go at the fish

Ive found a massive rat nesting in my compost bin🤔🫣

Should I be concerned??

[yonny]

11 hours ago, commonly said:

Should I be concerned??

The only concerns would be A) the rat smashes your koi food, and B) the rat poos in your pond introducing parasites (unlikely).

I've never heard of rats having a pop at the fish themselves.

Just get rid of it and you should be fine mate.

[commonly]

Its a tricky one.

The Mrs suggested having a word, but its about 20ft from a stream, so it wouldn't take long to attract his mates.

We only started composting since our council changed the food bins a few months ago.

I guess its always going to attract vermin and pests🤔

Im now trying to sort the high nitrates in the pond.

Trying to keep koi on a budget is proving to be a minefield. 

What's your thoughts on Envii products?

[yonny]

11 minutes ago, commonly said:

Im now trying to sort the high nitrates in the pond.

That's a more serious problem. Are you sure the filtration is up to dealing with the koi?

I've not tried Envii stuff I'm afraid.

[commonly]

The more I research probably not.

Its a 5 in 1 Blagdon 2000.

Ive now set up this bog filter which seems be reducing the sludge in the media.

 

[commonly]

Looking at a bigger pond etc. I read that you ideally want 1000ltrs per fish.

Mine are only 6-8" atm so im already short with 5 in just under 300ltrs

[yonny]

Your issues will get worse as the koi grow mate. You might need to bite the bullet and upgrade the filtration.

[commonly]

Sorry about the typo, its actually about 3000 ltrs.

Water quality is improved since using a stone/media bio filter for a few days. I dont need to clean sludge off any more, so feel im on the right track

Planning on just under 11000 ltrs for the new pond.

Im hoping to use the existing pond as a kind of bog pond with a small stream feeding into the new one, with catch pool to a skimmer run off.

Might take a while, but it's captured my attention from the rat race grind

 

 

[yonny]

Action stations at home. The last few days 2 of the koi have started sitting high up in the water in the flow of the filter return. No probs I thought, it's just because they like the flow of the water over their gills. Then a couple of days ago those 2 fish stopped eating. I've checked pH, nitrites, ammonia, phosphates..... all fine. Then last night a few of the others started sitting in the flow of the return. They're still eating ok but I'm obviously getting worried.

I already have two air pumps feeding several air supply systems but they're all in the filter. This means the freshly oxygenated water is all coming out of that filter return and it's looking like the koi are desperate for it. None of the fish are gasping at the surface but they're opening/closing their mouths quicker than they normally do. Not yet gulping, but it looks like it could be on the way.

Obviously the heatwave has elevated water temps considerably so it's becoming clear I need more oxygen as soon as possible. I'm picking up a new air pump later with a new air stone... both the biggest I can get. On paper there's loads of oxygen going in already but it's a big old pond with big old fish. Hopefully the new air line will sort it.