Ah Plants...
People like plants, they look nice and can add a very esthetic air to a pond with koi. Many people start ponds with certain ideals and goals as to how they should look. The down side is that sadly this often doesn't run parallel to the actual needs of the koi we plan introduce into them. I think a person needs to make a clear decision from the very start. Will they be building an esthetic water garden or a pond to keep koi in? The two are completely different animals and not to be confused with each other.
Years ago when I was just starting my koi pond I read an article by a Dutchman named Hugo Smal. Of all the things I read in the beginning, his words made the deepest impression on me. What he basically said was there are two kinds of Koi ponds... Proper Koi Ponds & Ponds with Koi. A proper koi pond was specifically built and designed to keep and grow koi in, A pond with koi is a pond that was built and where the owners have at some stage decided to introduce koi. The first is an environment where fish have chance to thrive and develop the other is a pit of sorrow doomed to failure.
At this point in time I believe most of the numbers indicate that the introduction of plants (other than short green algae on the pond walls) is detrimental to the water quality of a normal koi pond. Comparisons of pH stability, ORP levels, bacterial counts and nitrogen cycle results show anything
other than a beneficial effect on the water quality after the addition of plants into the environment of a closed circulation pond.
Many people still are determined to have plants despite all the evidence to the contrary. I have spent hours looking up the figures and typing out the reasons only to be told "You are wrong and I will do it anyway"... Fine, I can't be bothered anymore. If someone wants plants then I say go for it just don't ask for my help when it goes ****-up. A hard attitude perhaps, but my time is too valuable to waste on those who feel they already have the answers.
Sad but true. I rather spend all week talking to the one person willing to take advice than waste time listening to those who already know it all. Too many of those about.
That said the potential koi keeper with all the advice from dealers flogging their wares is often at odds trying to sort out the hype from the true advice.
Take the garden center near me... I have to bite my tongue while he sells people bacteria starter and algaecides with copper in them. But who am I superman. Is it up to me to stand there and "rescue" the store's customers?
I find it a bit of a dilemma at times.
B.Scott