New To Koi Ponds... Need Sound advice...

[adreamer2]

Newbie here....

Mid-sized pond, with 7 koi and several goldfish.... Had my pond for almost 3 years now, and expanded the pond this past summer, of course.

I have had 2 bad experiences so far with koi, and this time I plan on rectifying the edge...

A few weeks ago, the temps, here in zone 6 were in the mid to low 50s... but in one single day, dropped almost 40 degrees within 12 hours with freezing rains and hail....

That very day, my pond water drained 3/4ths from the waterfall..... And with the rapid drop in temps, and the freezing rain, dramatic high winds, and teh wind chill, the top layer froze solid.... I wasn't at home for 2 days, so when I came back, refilled the pond....

I didn't see any of my little guys floating that I could tell I lost any... But, there were a tint of mud in the water which I cant seem to settle.... Not with bentonite clay or water clarifier.....

So, I removed the hose from the waterfall, and diverted it directly to the pond for aeration to keep the water from freezing solid....

This mid-sized pond is a little over 3 feet.....

Should I worry at this point because of the winter temps....

Can anyone suggest what I could do to keep these guys happy before Spring...

Someone said koi do not hibernate but adjust to temps.... Yet, cold water can kill koi?... Am I correct....

Just need some advice because I'm worried about this cold water....

Thx,
adreamer2

[dick benbow]

Goldfish can freeze solid in a pond, thaw out in the spring and swim away...

koi is quite a bit different. The damage done is done, those that made it thru the episode will let you know in the spring as they get active what you will have to deal with. Just expect some serious repercussions and keep and eagle eye on them so you can diagnos the first signs and be pro-active. I would suspect frostbite which will allow opportunity for bacterial invasion thru the injury.

I can't think of the product name here in the states but in europe it's genesyz,
and it organically goes after aeromonas to keep their numbers low, Might want to look into that one....

come on guys help me out here...suggestions

[Surfhead]

don't let the top freeze solid again. make sure you keep a hole in the ice. an air store or floating heater will work. use a pick axe if you have to, just keep a hole in the ice. the brown water is probably run off from the rain. too cold for a bacterial bloom.

when you say "mid-size" how many gallons are we talking here? what % of the pond is 3 feet deep?

no more food, maybe add some koi clay to help with the toxins. I hope you used dechlor when you refilled.

Is there any chance the pump will freeze? If so then you need to turn it off and rely on an air stone. If the pump freezes up, you might as well throw it away.

[Ryan S.]

There are certainly many ways to warm the water, depending on the budget. On a small budget start with a cover of some kind. A pool solar cover or plastic. I have minimized water movement on my pond and have a 300watt aquarium heater (a drop in titanium heater probe) and my water has been holding at 50 so far with air temps 25-50, without a cover which I need to put in this weekend.

[adreamer2]

This is great!!! thanks guys, I appreciate your input....


the original pond I built was about 500 gals... But, that was too small for me.... I rebuilt the pond to almost 2000 gals..... Next year, I plan on replacing my entire backyard to a watery mass....

That may sound small to you, but looking at my backyard, 2000 gals is mid-sized....

90% of the pond is 3 feet deep.....

there is no chance of it freezing this time because the pump I'm using (submersible) is constantly running....

We had a heavy snow the day before yesterday.... Snow came down an inch and hour.... But, looking at my pond the next morning, there was absolutely no sign of accumulation.... No slush in the pond... and there is absolutely no sign of ice....

What worries me is my pump is a heavy duty waterfall pump (3500 gph), and it is really putting it out... could it effect my little guys as far as water pressure?.... I'm only using it to keep the ice from forming and to keep the pond circulating and aerated.... Seems to be working, but I worry about the pressure....


Nothing floating so far....

I didn't know that about goldfish.... Man, that's good news.... Then, I should see them next year!!

Last year, I had a canopy over the pond.... A crappy greenhouse, it was... But, it worked... This year, I cannot afford it.....

I had a fellow on Ebay build me a heater for a whirlpool from a heater element..... It looks great... But, I have to figure out how to hook it up to the pump so that it puts out warm water for my little guys.....

Wow!! Just from this thread I've learned a few things to last!!! Thanks again, and I mean that!!!!!

Adreamer2

[keokoi]

You redirected you flow... But where is your filtration Waterfall pehaps? Might want to rethink that YOu say you canot afford a make shift greenhouse but are willing to hook up a coil heater.. I would think twice about that one.

Sounds like the problem was the wind blew the water from the waterfall and redirected it to and then the pond semi drained. The wind can also chill your pond as well and this lead to a huge drop not to mention your pond was emptied. What your trying to achieve is stable temps and keep the wind off the surface. To me a make shift greenhouse is your best bet. Check this ite ou for an inexpensive greenhouse pretty easy to put up

http://www.pvcplans.com/pvc-greenhouse.htm

SHould be fairly inexpensive to build for a 2000G pond and also to anchor it down as well...

Joe

[junglegeorge12]

what size inlet and outlet do your heater have? Are you prepard to pay the power bills to run it?

[adreamer2]

Well.... I built my filter..... It was made out of a regular bucket/garbage can.... I used lava rock, pea gravel, and pillow fluff..... It worked like a cham from Spring through mid-fall........

I installed it into the waterfall hiding it among rocks, of course...... The pump was submersible.... and it was connected through a hose which went directly into the bucket/garbage can..... I cut the opening of the spillway and propped it so that it fell into the waterfall to the pond.....

The pressure of the pump forced the water upwards through the filter media I created.....

It was topped by a heavy rock, it could not be moved.....Not even by wind... it was hidden by the heavy rocks..... The wind was not the problem....

it was the ice and rain.....

When it diverted, I removed the hose from the bucket/garbage can and redirected it to the pond....

I installed a submersible 3 stage filter directly to the pump.....

But, I cannot get that water clear for nothing... Could it be the temps that is keeping that from happening?..... I don't know......

I cannot tell if my little guys are okay....

The new heater is 1500 watts..... I have not used it yet... I need to get some hoses for it.....


adreamer2