commonly Posted June 2 Report Posted June 2 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?? Quote
yonny Posted June 3 Author Report Posted June 3 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 1 Quote
commonly Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 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? Quote
yonny Posted June 3 Author Report Posted June 3 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. Quote
commonly Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 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. Â yonny 1 Quote
commonly Posted June 3 Report Posted June 3 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 1 Quote
yonny Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 Your issues will get worse as the koi grow mate. You might need to bite the bullet and upgrade the filtration. Quote
commonly Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 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 and elmoputney 2 Quote
yonny Posted 2 hours ago Author Report Posted 2 hours ago 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. commonly and Golden Paws 1 1 Quote
Golden Paws Posted 1 hour ago Report Posted 1 hour ago Sounds like worrying times. Hopefully this intense heat will soon be over and I see that a fair bit of rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday, hopefully that should help. yonny 1 Quote
yonny Posted 1 hour ago Author Report Posted 1 hour ago Just now, Golden Paws said: Sounds like worrying times. Hopefully this intense heat will soon be over and I see that a fair bit of rain is forecast for Saturday and Sunday, hopefully that should help. Very worrying. I'm supposed to be out fishing tomorrow night so hopefully they're looking better by then. Another decision I have is whether to take the bivvy or not given that it looks like rain on Saturday morning. Quote
commonly Posted 1 hour ago Report Posted 1 hour ago Sorry to hear that @yonny, fingers crossed I recently purchased air pump from Swell UK & happy to report its brilliant. £25 https://www.swelluk.com/swell-pond-air-pump Im forever tinkering with my pond. Plants, bin bog filter and DIY skimmer and everything is gin clear. That was until I thought I'd give them some essential cell, which has put a yellow tinge to the water🫣 The more research I do, im finding the koi pond market to be a massive con. Basically, you buy the fish and food, then you need various types of filters which need loads of maintenance and then you need to add chemicals to alter certain parameters. £££'s scam! My system is replicating nature, with plants and stones acting as the media & providing a natural food source for everthing in the pond.. After all, the fish in nature dont need all the expensive equipment and chemicals!!! Quote
commonly Posted 1 hour ago Report Posted 1 hour ago Ive made a start digging out the new one yonny 1 Quote
yonny Posted 46 minutes ago Author Report Posted 46 minutes ago 27 minutes ago, commonly said: I recently purchased air pump from Swell UK & happy to report its brilliant. £25 Yeah I've got around 1000 quids worth pumping away in mine. That's the problem with such a big pond.... needs more of everything! 29 minutes ago, commonly said: Basically, you buy the fish and food, then you need various types of filters which need loads of maintenance and then you need to add chemicals to alter certain parameters. £££'s scam! Once the balance is right you'll not need chemicals. I bought some blanket weed treatment but not needed to use it. In fact I've not added any chemicals at all. I added a couple of bacteria bombs just to kick-start the filters in spring, but on the whole mine is well established with great water quality. Just need more oxygen to cope with the temps. Stupid thing is I'll spend all this money and by next week the new gear wont be necessary! commonly 1 Quote
commonly Posted 8 minutes ago Report Posted 8 minutes ago Oz ponds is very useful. He says to base the bog filter on about 20% of pond volume 36 minutes ago, yonny said: That's the problem with such a big pond.... needs more of everything! He was bang on 2 weeks for clear water. Very low maintenance, although im forever tweaking my makeshift skimmer, as the liner isn't big enough to go under my tub yonny 1 Quote
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