Pond start up, need your input

[andrewn15]

Hello Koi Bito folks.
Finally I'm ready to stock my pond again, remember a while back I had parasite outbreak problem? Anyway, I'd start the whole thing over again, the main pond system has been running for about 3 weeks now (no fish yet just an empty pond), Qt 8x3.5x3.5 was finally up and running since last weekend. Should I get a couple of small koi to start out with or just throw in a couple of gold fish and wait til next koi season? I don't want to have the same problem as last time, all new koi will be in the qt for about 3-4 weeks before introduce to the main pond. Should I using shotgun approach and treat all new koi for parasite or just watch them for any health problem for a few weeks if none exist then just add them to the main pond? What is your QT procedure?

Much thanks to Koi-Bito folks for your support and input while I had the parasite outbreak problem, your advise is much appreciated, Qt was built and scope purchased (still need to figure out how to use it)

P.S. I also need help pick out a couple of nice small koi 5-8" from San Jose koi dealers.
Thanks
Andrew

[andy rose]

Hi,
My thoughts on this are your pond has been running for three weeks but you need fish in it to start maturing the filters,how you go about this depends on what quality koi you want to stock and how quickly you want to get the stock levels and how much water you have.
Due to you having an empty pond the fish can go straight in there maybe buy 4 or 5 small ones.Get a set of new water test kits and watch your water quality at the same time you could also buy say 2 small koi for your quarantine system to stay in there to keep your filter going permanently (also to get this mature as well).
Once your pond and quarantine systems have settled down then when you buy koi put them in your quarantine tank first and after a couple of weeks you might want to take your worst fish out of the pond and also put this into quarantine for 4 weeks ,whilst also adding some pond water.
Then if all is ok put your new koi and the other one into the pond.
Do not go throwing any chemicals into the water either buy a microscope or find someone to do scrapes for you so the correct treatment if needed can be applied.

[Robert]

Hi

I too think this is a good plan. It takes 22 days for your filter to cycle so i think you need to get started. Check your Ph and I think you said you had some fish in a Qt just take one or two of them put them in the new pond let them do the job. You just need to keep an eye on the ammonia until the filter cycles. If the ammonia starts to come up just use AmQuel to keep it under control, when the Nitrites strate to rise AmQuel Plus is the stuff. The thing with AmQuel Plus is you need to keep an eye on the Ph it tends to drop the Ph. I just would not put new fish in the pond without Qt and that would set you back 3 to 4 more weeks.
Now as far as the Qt of new fish I would keep them in a Qt for 30 days and scrape and treat accordingly. Scrape them soon as you get them again in a week or so then just befor you put them in your pond.
Good Luck, Robert

[aquitori]

Quote: Originally Posted by andrewn15 Hello Koi Bito folks. Finally I'm ready to stock my pond again, remember a while back I had parasite outbreak problem? Anyway, I'd start the whole thing over again, the main pond system has been running for about 3 weeks now (no fish yet just an empty pond), Qt 8x3.5x3.5 was finally up and running since last weekend. Should I get a couple of small koi to start out with or just throw in a couple of gold fish and wait til next koi season? I don't want to have the same problem as last time, all new koi will be in the qt for about 3-4 weeks before introduce to the main pond. Should I using shotgun approach and treat all new koi for parasite or just watch them for any health problem for a few weeks if none exist then just add them to the main pond? What is your QT procedure? Much thanks to Koi-Bito folks for your support and input while I had the parasite outbreak problem, your advise is much appreciated, Qt was built and scope purchased (still need to figure out how to use it) P.S. I also need help pick out a couple of nice small koi 5-8" from San Jose koi dealers. Thanks Andrew

The one thing good about the hobby is the "insta" factor when aging your water or curing...You can buy Micro-lift to boost the bio for the next couple of months. It is highly advisable now that fish are coming in to QT!!! There are new strains of bacteria that are coming out of Japan that are much more resistant to antibiotics.

[MikeM]

andrewn15: Climate in northern California varies quite a bit. If you experience cold winters that set back biofiltration, it may be best to go the goldfish route rather than have koi in an immature system for several months. I'm not experienced in cold weather koikeeping, so I'd suggest you consult with the most experienced koikeepers in your climate area.

[dick benbow]

so many times we think that bio filters turn off after 50 f or so. Studies show that things are still happening in the lower 40's. We should have stopped feeding by then but the respiration and urine is still being dealt with by the filter. aLL THE MORE REASON TO PLUMB YOUR POND SO THAT THE FILTER CAN BE BY PASSED when things like Potassium Permanganate is used.

I like using a bio lift product to help fortify a building filter. both take 6 weeks.
but from a learning point stature, your learning curve will start with your first koi going thru winter. MAY I SUGGEST YOU GET AN OGON AND CHAGOI? They are really strong and good to learn on!

[andrewn15]

Thanks Dick BenbowI was thinking of a chagoi to start out with. I have been around water garder and koi for a few years now and was into breeding disscuss for a couple of years, thought I knew what there are to know about koi but guess not, never have to deal with any health issue until the parasite outbreak recently. Before the large pond, I had a 900 gal water lilly pond with 2 koi one Yamabuki and one Platinum ogon , I had them since they were 5" and after 6 years they were both about 26" and barely have any room to move about in the pond so that was when the larger pond was built, unfortunately they both died in the temporary 250 gal rubbermaid container because lack of oxigen (the container was in full sun no cover while the larger pond was being built) that was the first time I've read any info about koi keeping. At this point I feel much confident about keeping good water qualilty and the mechanic of the filtration system but still way behind about koi variety and selecting koi, all koi at the local dealer's pond look excellent to me , can not diffrentiate the bad ones from the good ones, guess I need lot of help there.
Thank you Koi-Bito folks for your input.
Andrew