Judith

Please can anybody help me :-( I think our Koi are dying. We got them with the house purchase so we are totally inexperienced not having set it up ourselves.

The first time we have cleaned them out (as advised to do by someone that keeps them after seeing our system) and the past couple of days one koi then two now all of them keep going to the bottom in a trance like state on their sides hanging in the water being lathargic,one of the smaller ones is even floating near the surface then just swims off like normal?

I'm so very worried that I am going to loose all of our lovely koi what can I do? I am going to get one of those water testers today for a start. When we cleaned the three chambers out we just used water with no detergent. The pond has an air brick and a fountain so there is oxygen. Someone has said it could be something to do with the bacteria and an ammonia surge? How do we correct this?

Doghouse Riley

__________________
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners!
I don't like them myself, they're pretty bad,
I grieve over them on long winter evenings."

bicolormoth

Judith.

first thing, where are you ?
next, what size is the pond, ?
what type of pond is it, ?
what filtration is on it.?
how much water?
how many koi?
is there someone locally who can pop round for a look-see?
what EXACTLY did you do when you 'cleaned it out' ?

as already advised, spray/trickle water in from a garden hose/tap, and allow water to trickle out from somewhere, maybe slightly open a drain valve on a filter or something. ideally you need an overflow.

do you have a water test kit.?
can you get someone to come & test your water?

where are you ?


Russell.

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Judith

Hiya Russell

Near Newark, 9000litres, 20 fish one sturgeon and a crayfish.

Many thanks for your advice. I have been to World of Water today near Lowdham, Notts where they did a water test on a sample which I took. They were very impressed with the water condition. They feel the problem is the bacteria that we must have stripped when cleaning out the whole filtration system (rtf5500 triple bay).

As they suggested we have treated the water with a tonic (in three stages) and so far the koi seem much more active. They did also advise that with the sudden drop in temperature their characteristics are proving typical to the lower climates.

So at the moment we are just playing it by ear until the whole water tonic retreatment has been compleated unless anyone has another suggestion.

Once again many thanks for your help.

Kind Regards

Judith

Judith

Hiya,

Thank you so very much for your help. Fingers crossed I think we have it sorted now.

Once again many thanks.

Kind Regards
Judith

miles41

Good luck Judith and fingers crossed, it sounds as though the koi are on the road to recovery

bicolormoth

okay, we are now getting a picture of what the problem might be. there is a clue here .... "They feel the problem is the bacteria that we must have stripped when cleaning out the whole filtration system" ...

your filter (system) is basically in two parts. 1. Mechanical & 2. Biological. the mechanical part will be the first (& maybe 2nd) bay/compartment of the filter and will usually contain brushes. or maybe a vortex 1st then brushes 2nd. This is where the solid waste from the pond is trapped by the brushes. to clean it you would shut the pumps off, then drain the 1st/2nd bay and remove the brushes for cleaning. you could clean them by dunking & rinsing or blasting with a hose/jet-wash it doesn't really matter as long as they end up clean.

the Biological part of the filter will have matting or some other media which should never become 'dirty' and when it does need a clean you should only rinse it off with some pond water. it should never be drained down or removed for any length of time.

By 'cleaning' the whole filter then yes, you may have washed away the vast majority of the colonised bacteria from the Bio stage. but you obviously weren't aware of this.
As a result the pond water may have become 'polluted' with the Ammonia being excreted by your koi that the filter cannot now convert into a less toxic chemical. (Nitrite, and then even less toxic -Nitrate) so in fact there are 2 colonies of Bacteria in your Bio filter, both doing different jobs.

sorry if that was a bit long winded , but i just felt it would help you understand what the filter does and how it does it, and why you need to know how & when to clean it.

also, World of Water may be of some (limited) help, but I would suggest consulting a Koi Dealer if you can find one nearby,
we have a BKKS Section near you , my advice would be to contact them, get involved and get them help you out. They will probably have some members near you. Nottingham & District Koi Keepers Society - List of Forthcoming Events


Russell.

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Judith

Hiya Russell,

Many thanks. Yes indeed it certainly does help to understand and you have made it clear what I have done wrong. We have three chambers one brushes one rock (can't think of the correct terminology sorry) and the last sponge. We took all the items out hosed them down and placed them all back again. When going to turn it back on again the pump did not work, we had to buy a new one as the impellars had worn down on the old one thus making it not work.

The water is the clearest we have ever seen it but I can understand with your information where we went wrong and why our koi are suffering. I will get in touch with your recommendation.

I am determinted to get the better of this situation it's just the knowledge in which I lack, such a learning curve and so very much to know. I do love them dearly though and will throuroughly enjoy my new hobby once I have masterered the care of them.

Once again thank you so much for your kind help, I really do appreciate it.

Kind Regards

Judith