Koi Ponds Buying Guide
Though they have been around for centuries,
wet/dry vac to clean up the bottom. Yet no matter what the size of your pond, it should be drained and thoroughly cleaned out every few years.
* '''Water Changes:''' The more frequently you can change the water, the better. It is recommended that you change no more than 30% of the pond water at one time, and once a week should be adequate. For those of you using city water, you will want to change even less of the water at a time (less than 20% of it) and will also want to use a
dechlorinator to balance out the pH.
Feeding
Generally, you should only feed your fish as much as they are able to consume in five minutes. Because goldfish species and koi lack a true stomach, they are always hungry; consequently, it is very easy for them to overfeed and develop bloat or bacterial infections. Be sure to only provide food that is bitesoaked in water for a few minutes so that they do not expand inside of the fish. Choose a feeding schedule to stick to so that you are not tempted to overfeed the pond fish.
* '''Warmer Months:''' In the late spring, early fall, and summer, it is wise to feed the fish some
insects and meats. Vitamin C is important for pond fish, so be sure it is included with the food.
* '''Colder Months:''' Usually, ponders say that once the water goes below 50 or 55° F, you should stop feeding the fish. The trouble is that if it is too cold, the food will not agree with their digestive system. Therefore, if you have not overstocked the pond with fish and have plenty of
plants, there won't be a need to feed. The fish can live off of insects, algae, and plants until it is time for them to go back to pellets in the spring.
Related Guides
Check out some of our other guides for other ideas!
