Koi Filter
Water is the source of life for a fish. However, for a Koi fish, the importance of a clean water body is extremely high. Koi are highly affected by the condition of the water than any other kind of fish, hence a lot of care needs to be given to maintaining an equipment such as the water filter.
In a man-made pond, a filter is responsible for removing the waste that Koi produce. It does not have the advantages of natural water bodies like the sea where, the volume of water and the tides help in filtering away the fish waste. This is where the function of a water filter comes into play, which takes care of removing the waste.
Most filters available these days in the market perform a dual function – one is a mechanical function and the other is of biological significance. The mechanical function – The filter traps the solid waste by virtue of gravity and flow of the water. This trapped waste needs to be regularly cleaned away by the owner to avoid piling up.
The biological function – This function is achieved by using bacteria to break down the toxic waste, which is also known as pH, into lesser harmful substances such as nitrates. Nitrates are harmful only when present in large quantity. By converting a highly toxic material into a particles having lower weight of harmful effects, the filters help in making the body a safer place for the Koi. However, a large amount of pH left untreated can become harmful for your Koi. Having a properly functioning filter is not sufficient.
You also need to have a reliable water pump that drives the water into the Koi pond filters. And if your pond is quite huge, a filter cannot work its way through the pond efficiently without the use of a water pump which effects force into the filter. As a pond owner, you may also want to consider installing a small fountain or a waterfall or similar such equipment so that the pond has sufficient and steady supply of oxygen in the water body.
With every movement, the water fountain would stir up the water body which helps in oxygen from the air to be sucked into the water. This function, known as aeration is eased by the fountain. You may want to check the chemical content of your Koi pond on a weekly basis. You can either do this by purchasing a test-kit and do the checks regularly by yourself or you can go to your nearest pet store and give them a sample of water from the pond and they will do the test for you. This way you can surmise whether you need to take any further action in order to ensure that the chemical composition of the pond is safe for the Koi.
Owning a beautiful Koi garden does not mean that it is completely maintenance free. Although the time and effort it takes to maintain the pond is minimal, it should be considered when it comes to taking on the responsibility of owning a Koi garden. Above all, it is one of the most rewarding hobbies that anyone can have.
Regular attention and maintenance of the pond is but mandatory if you are looking to own a dazzling koi fish pond. The time that spent in maintaining the pond and towards taking care of your fish, will certainly be worth it if you enjoy the sight of beautiful Koi fishes floating in your pond.
