6 Tips to Maintain a Koi Pond

Maintaining a koi pond is important to keep it healthy and beautiful. In addition to providing large habitats for your koi, ponds are also an appealing and relaxing spot to have in your backyard. Since ponds are different than aquariums, the care and maintenance requirements also vary. Though koi is hardy and easy to keep, it requires some unique survival considerations. Make sure to buy the right koi pond supplies to keep your fish healthy and happy. Here are some tips for koi pond maintenance.

1. Buy a Filtration System

The first and most important step is to keep the water clean. Buy a koi pond filter that can rid organic debris which attracts algae. Make sure to add filtering plants, for example, the Anacharis, which can naturally clean the water.

2. Create Shade Over the Pond

Algae need the sun to survive, so keeping your koi pond at least 60 percent shaded will provide your koi protection as well as proactively prevent algae blooms.

3. Clean Items Inside the Pond

When changing water on a monthly basis, make sure to scrub the tiles, rocks, and other objects you have kept inside the pond. Use hot water and algae scrub to clean the sides of the pond. This is the most suitable way for koi pond maintenance and preventing algae blooms.

4. Keep the Koi Population Limited

Since koi need space to grow and move, have a pond big enough for them to feed and breed comfortably. If the pond becomes crowded, waste will lead to algae bloom and also cause the koi to die.

5. Get Rid of Harmful Debris

Make sure to remove the items you filter cannot remove. You need to trim and remove dead plants, dirt that gets stuck in the water filter and pump, and bugs that may damage your koi’s diet and make it ill.

6. Drain the Pond

Keeping the pond water fresh is essential. Nearly ten percent of water in the pond, drain and replace it with fresh water. Though this should be a daily chore, it is an easy way to maintain your koi pond and to ensure a healthy environment for the inhabitants.\

Maintain the Koi Pond Equipment Properly

In terms of koi pond supplies, use a good quality powerful pump, filtration system, aeration system, protein skimmer, and ultraviolet sterilizer. For example, the pump is used to pump water in and out fo the pond to maintain proper water movement for the fish. The filtration in combination with the protein skimmer us very beneficial for keeping the surface water hygienic, a floating de-icer can help maintain proper gas exchange in the pond during cold weather.

Undoubtedly, koi is one of the most graceful aquatic pets. They also have a rather decent life span; you can expect it to stay with you for 15 to 20 years and even much longer in some cases. However, proper care is essential, or else it won't be able to live to its potential.