So here is how I do this, twice weekly:
a. measure my water quality with salicilate-based reagent (API Freshwater, reagents dated 2006 and 2007, I bought kit about 60 days ago)
b. shut off pumps and fountain
C. use my (I LOVE THIS THING) Muck-Vac to simultaneously suck up any poops/icky things the filters didnt get and remove 10% of the water
d. add appropriate ammount of ClorAM-X
e. add new water and let de-clorinate a few minutes so no untreated water gets into the bio-filter and kills the good bugs
f. turn pumps and fountain back on
g. re-measure water quality (gee I hope it really is reading correctly. ClorAm-X people say it should)
h. repair to the house for a beverage
Well pros, is this the right way? I'm a new koi enthusiast but I can understand chemistry and I want to do everything right. Got better test kit? Got smarter technique? I'm all ears. Er, eyes. Whatever.
PS. Hubby's new kujaku...I think it looks like a Creamsicle or 50-50 Pop! Ok, I know those aren't proper koi terms....but the colors just delight me
Thanks!