Are Water Changes Essential for Maximal Health/Growth?

[Lam Nguyen]

I know that many of you guys are thinking, "Duh, what is this guy thinking?!". However, I am bringing this up because I am not understanding something. I do daily to weekly SC water changes and I also have a constant trickle of water in both my indoor QT tank and outdoor main pond that replaces about 10-15% of the total water weekly. I practice this religiously because I was told by many hobbyists and esp by my Koi Coach Dick Benbow. But my question is, if your water parameters are within the normal limits, then why do we still need the recommended 10-30% weekly water changes? I mean, I can understand why we need to empty our mechanical chambers, but why the constant water trickle and weekly pond water changes?

My belief is that as long as the following water parameters are in check, then the water quality should be fine. These parameters include: temperature, pH, salt %, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, TDS, ORP, & DO. What is it that these koi are using up from the water that we are not detecting? And is it possible to replace these "things" without having to replace water? Just curious is all.

[JasPR]

Lam, you want to stay ahead of the chronic building of pollution and exhaustion of valuable essential minerals and nutrients. The trick here is to keep the ideal parameters from moving away from that point. Staying ahead is most important. Especially when it comes to buffering capacity of water. The alkaline reserve associated with soft water is not great. If you waited too long, you would experience a pH crash- usually over night in the wee morning hours.
So having a discipline here, as opposed to reacting when the parameters move, is a good thing- a proactive thing. - JR

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lam Nguyen I know that many of you guys are thinking, "Duh, what is this guy thinking?!". However, I am bringing this up because I am not understanding something. I do daily to weekly SC water changes and I also have a constant trickle of water in both my indoor QT tank and outdoor main pond that replaces about 10-15% of the total water weekly. I practice this religiously because I was told by many hobbyists and esp by my Koi Coach Dick Benbow. But my question is, if your water parameters are within the normal limits, then why do we still need the recommended 10-30% weekly water changes? I mean, I can understand why we need to empty our mechanical chambers, but why the constant water trickle and weekly pond water changes? My belief is that as long as the following water parameters are in check, then the water quality should be fine. These parameters include: temperature, pH, salt %, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, TDS, ORP, & DO. What is it that these koi are using up from the water that we are not detecting? And is it possible to replace these "things" without having to replace water? Just curious is all.

Lam
Also by following the regiment that you have incorporated into your daily/weekly changes you are removing bad bacteria. It just makes sense to stay ahead of the game, then to have to react to a problem when and if occurs.

[luke frisbee]

yes yes yes

[Lam Nguyen]

Thank you Luke, Nancy, & Jasper for the responses. Now it's starting to make sense as to why my koi are not growing as fast as they should. Will definitely continue to practice my water-changing religion and hopefully the results will start to show!

[moikoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lam Nguyen Thank you Luke, Nancy, & Jasper for the responses. Now it's starting to make sense as to why my koi are not growing as fast as they should. Will definitely continue to practice my water-changing religion and hopefully the results will start to show!

how fast do you expect them to grow?

[Auntiesue]

I can't add too much more to what JR has explained, but dilution is the solution....or so it is said by many...because it's true. JR mentioned exhaustion of necessary minerals and bicarbs necessary for a healthy pond and healthy fish. But toxins, heavy metals, and bacteria that build up in the pond need to be diluted....i.e. water changes. A constant dribble into the pond is excellant together with water changes....what could be better!!!

[KoiCop]

Hello Lam . . .

I'm another member of the "dilution is the solution to pollution" school of water changes.

We don't like seeing our pond water's values drift away from tap values and would rather keep them close than snap them back.

That's why we change about 12% per day (or 720 gallons on a 6000 gallon pond).

Hopefully, once we've installed the Clarity and Cetus unit, we can drop to 10% per day.

[Eugeneg]

. Now it's starting to make sense as to why my koi are not growing as fast as they should. Will definitely continue to practice my water-changing religion and hopefully the results will start to show![/quote]
Growth is mostly determined by genetics .The feeding pond size water changes etc play a very small part providing you have a koi pond in the first place . Based on same care large parents produce a larger amount of large young . Bently is 98cm so no surprise that some of the larger young are now over 15in and will grow to 34in . Even from large parents very few large fish are produced . In some cases none .
The cost factor has to be taken into consderation in trying to produce large fish , mostly it is a smaller market and the costs of heating feeding and space involved few breeders can afford to compete .
Regards
Eugene

[KoiCop]

Good point and well taken, Eugene.

Which prompts me to say that our 12%/day water change regimine isn't about rapid growth or jumbo fish; that's not us, our fish or our pond.

We mostly have smaller fish, but their whites are awesome and they can win Best in Size trophies after being in our pond for several years.

And we attribute that to pristine water quality maintained through daily large water changes.