Caring for Your New Koi and Goldfish

New Koi and Goldfish Tips

• Float the bags to slowly bring the temperature of the bagged water to the temperature of your pond. Approx. 30 minutes.

• It is important to introduce new fish to your pond's water slowly. Open the shipping bag and add a small amount of pond water to it. Repeat this step multiple times over a 30 minute period.

• Do not add the bag of shipping water mixed with pond water to your pond, just scoop out the fish with a net and release them in their new home.

• Do not feed for 24 hours.

Make sure your filtration is adequate for your size pond. Ponds with fish require more filtration than those without fish.

pH Target Level: 6.8-7.4

pH is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of water. A pH reading of 7.0 is neutral, a pH higher than 7.0 is alkaline, and a pH below 7.0 is acidic. A healthy pond depends on proper pH balance. Many factors can significantly alter pond water pH, creating an unhealthy environment for pond life. Acid rain, minerals leaching from soil or rain run-off, decomposing plants and animal waste can all contribute to unstable pH levels in the pond.

Ammonia Target Level: 0 PPM

Ammonia is a toxic waste excreted into the pond by fish, birds and other pond life. The natural process that controls ammonia in the pond is called the biological filter. The biological filter is comprised of nitrifying bacteria that use ammonia as a food source. Overstocking the pond with fish, uneaten fish food and decomposing vegetation can cause excessive ammonia. Ammonia is highly toxic to all pond life.

Nitrite Target Level: 0 PPM

Fish, frogs, birds and other pond animals release solid waste into the pond water. This waste is turned into toxic ammonia. Nitrifying bacteria in the pond turns ammonia into nitrite (also toxic). Nitrite is then converted to nontoxic nitrate, which is used by plants and algae nutrients. Nitrite is highly toxic to pond fish.

Salt Level Target Level with Plants 0.1%
Target Level without Plants 0.3%

Pond fish actively maintain a natural balance of electrolytes in their body fluids that are absorbed by the fish’s gills. These electrolytes are essential for the uptake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide and ammonium across the gill cell membranes. During periods of disease and stress, healthy gill function is disturbed. The addition of pond salt to the pond reduces the risk of osmotic shock by maintaining the proper electrolyte level in the pond water.

We hope you find these tips useful. If you have any other questions about the care of your new koi or goldfish, feel free to contact Ed.