Koi Filter - A Key To Koi Servival

Ensuring that your Koi filter is functioning at optimal levels is key to your long term Koi pond success. A proper pond filter is a prime element in managing your Koi pond and caring for your fish because Koi require a certain water quality to thrive.

A Koi filter plays an integral role in the overall health of the Koi, and like pond pumps, you have varieties to choose from. A pond filters primary duty is to maintain the cleanliness and biological integrity of the water in the pond. Water and rocks work together in the wild to remove the waste from the area that Koi fish live. Usually it's the waters current that will pull the waste away. In a static pond, that flow does not exist naturally, and that is why the Koi filter is an absolute necessity. As the filter fills with particles, the owner must then clean and replace it. A Koi filter works biologically to maintain the pH or ammonia levels in Koi ponds by breaking down the harmful waste into more of a safe form such as nitrates. When the pH is too high or left untreated, the fish will most likely be destroyed, which is why the filter must operate to keep them at relatively low levels.

While the Koi filter is the main component of filtration, it cannot operate alone. A pond filter works in conjunction with a pond pump, which is responsible for the water's circulation and force. Because Koi ponds are usually large water filled areas, they need the extra force from the pump to properly circulate the water for a more natural biological feel and flow for the Koi fish.

Another part of the Koi pond system that owners may want to enhance is with some type of flowing water device such as a waterfall or fountain. Though the Koi filter is a strong component of the Koi pond it cannot produce all of the oxygen that the Koi fish need. Therefore, the use of a flowing water device, in addition to a filter, will cause the oxygen from the air to get integrated into the water, and it will also make the water stir and whirl. This process of ensuring that the water is oxygenated through movement is called aeration.

The Koi filter and other parts work hard together to maintain the pond. Koi pond owners will need to ensure that the water in the pond has the proper chemical mix and that everything is at a healthy level for the fish. To do this, a weekly water test will need to be conducted. Owners can do this by either using a home testing system or by taking some of the water to a pet store for testing.

It takes time, commitment and proper technique to own and properly maintain a Koi garden. Even though it is not as taxing as other garden tasks, it does require some work to keep a Koi garden beautiful and healthy. Despite the mechanical requirements such as making sure that there is a Koi filter, a flowing water device, pump, and testing kits, owners can expect to enjoy this hobby and its personally restorative relaxation effects.