JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs
Garden Voices
Forums
Garden Forums Home Forums Nature Forums
Photo Galleries
Garden Galleries Home Galleries
Ask The Experts Tools & Directories
Organization Directory Events Calendar Hortiplex Glossary Zone Finder Garden Bazaar
       
Return to the Koi Ponds Forum | Post a Follow-Up

o
Water quality

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings
Posted by jenion 8b (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 15, 08 at 20:30

I've got a koi pond and a question about water changes. Which is better - city water, where you have to put conditioner in it to get rid of the chloramine, etc or, rainwater, assuming it's pretty clean. I've been told that rainwater is low pH and low in oxygen.I have friends that just use their wells, but I don't have one yet.

Thanks,

Jenion

Follow-Up Postings:

o
RE: Water quality

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

When we want to add water to our pond, we just use the faucet with a very low trickle. Chlorine evaporates pretty quickly. If we're in a rush (our pond has leaked a couple of times), we add Pondcare Chlorine and Heavy Metal Neutralizer, which has apparently worked quite well as our five large koi are still alive and kicking.

There is no reason to routinely change your water, however. You'll be messing up your biofilter.

Rainwater will probably work fine (I'm assuming your pond is constantly circulating and so oxygenating). You would probably rest easier if you picked up ph, nitrite and ammonia test kits and checked the water from time to time. Fun little chemistry sets.

o
RE: Water quality

clip this post email this post what is this?
see most clipped and recent clippings

This is where the plants and algae come into the equation, because nitrates are excellent plant food. (Algae are a basic form of plant life.) The plants remove the nitrates from the water to combine with carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce more plant.

Fish such as koi graze constantly on the algae, and will eat some of the dead leaves that fall into the water, so the circle at this point is complete.

for more info. please visit http://forum.californiawaterscapes.com

Here is a link that might be useful: pond facts

  
 

 

 


Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.



iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community
Join | Garden Forums | Home Forums | Exchanges & Trading | Member Pages | Contact Us
© 2006 iVillage Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Policies FAQ | Advertising
  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network