ray

Hello All,

Having taken my cover off my 3,000 gallon unheated pond two weeks ago I tested my water parameters and they were what I thought to be perfect:

Ammonia – 0
Nitrite – 0
PH – 8.0

Given the water temperature had started to rise I started to feed the koi – not overly so, but small amounts probably between two and three times each day ensuring all the food was consumed within 2 minutes or less on each feed.

I tested the water yesterday and the parameters are now:

Ammonia – 0.20
Nitrite – 0
PH – 8.0

Is this rise in Ammonia something I should be worried about or is it just the spring phenomenal where the fish are eating but the filter is not as yet up to speed?

I have done a small water change (10%) yesterday and added some filter bacteria – I have also now started to only feed once a day.

Should I be a worried man?

Many thanks

Paul.

shkoizone

Hi paul
It sounds like your filters have not kicked in yet because of the cold weather you have done the right thing adding the bacteria i would stop feeding and keep checking your ammonia and nitrite levels untill they return to normal

hope this helps

John

Valleykoi

hi paul what temp is your pond at ? as the filter will not start to kick in until it gets above 10 .
and stop feeding as the koi will still ( piss ) in the water even without you feeding so let nature take its corse and wait a bit longer befor you start feeding ( water temp about 12-13 ) then feed a little .
hope this helps
thanks darren

ray

Thanks Darren & John - much appreciated.

The temp of the water is still below 10c - so as advised I will wait just that little bit longer before feeding again.

There are so many considerations within this Koi hobby !

Many thanks.