Current Accurate Useful
Whilst “filtration” on koi ponds has become a somewhat controversial subject full of emotion, there are basic principles that apply to all variations hobbyists may encounter.
So much research has been done on the Koi fish itself, with regards to nutrition, disease and medication. What about the Koi keeper? How about a little research being done on these specimens.
“The greatest effect of water circulation is that it prevents thermal and chemical stratification.” (Boyd)
Water circulation within the pond plays a vital part in successful Koi keeping.
In our wonderful hobby – Koi keeping – we all tend to fall into a deadly trap, the trap of over stocking our ponds. Koi keepers often keep every Koi they buy for as long as possible. Often the quality deteriorates but we still keep them and they keep on growing.
1 Introduction
The addition of Montmorillonite clays to Koi ponds have proven benefits. Many Koi keepers use these clays with great success. Montmorillonite clays are commercially available under various brand names depending on the country of origin and who is branding it. They vary in chemical composition and purity, enhance water quality, replenish and augment minerals and remove certain unwanted wastes.
Have you ever thought about the almost insurmountable problems in making a pond waterproof? Is a completely waterproof pond an impossible dream? Substantial leaks need attention, no doubt about it. However, at some point or the other, insanity will overcome you, before each and every leak is found and fixed in the average pond.
“The World is unprepared for the coming plagues” says Laurie Garrett in her recently published book - The Coming Plague - which documents the fight-back microbes are making on the planet. After four decades of assuming that the conquest of infectious diseases was imminent, people on all continents now find themselves besieged. Doctors and scientists have been fighting a fifty year battle with infectious microbes. In recent years strains of TB, cholera, malaria that are resistant to all known anti-biotics and drugs have sprung up all over the world. New bugs and viruses that kill in hours have been recorded in recent years.
Temperature is one of the critical factors directly influencing every aspect of our Koi and pond life. Temperature has a direct bearing on metabolic rates of living organisms in the pond. It has a direct bearing on the health and growth of Koi, oxygen levels in the water as well as the oxygen consumption.
"It may come as a surprise to some collectors, but I have never considered depth to be critical in achieving growth." KOISA readers have asked me to elaborate on this statement.
I Can See Clearly Now
The words of the song - "I can see clearly now the rain has gone" could be re-written - "I can see clearly now the solids have gone". As stated in previous newsletters - biological filtration will produce pure water - mechanical filtration on a pond will result in clear water.
!If you're not havin' FUN, you're not doin' it right
