How To Stock A New Koi Pond And Prepare The Water
If you’ve just built a new koi pond or are in the process of doing so, you’re likely wondering how to stock it with these beautiful fish. Koi can add a lot of color and interest to your garden or backyard, and they provide hours of enjoyment for those who love to watch them swim.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the basics of how to stock a new koi pond and prepare the water for your fish’s arrival. So read on to get started!
Rules For Stocking Koi Ponds
A good starting point is 1 inch of koi for every 10 gallons of water. It’s better for your koi to have more room than less. This way, they can be comfortable and healthy without straining your pond’s filters or plumbing. Too many fish will lead to health problems.
You may find rules for how to stock a new koi pond that can allow you to have higher numbers of fish. Just consider where the rules come from first. Commercial operations can have higher inches of fish per 10 gallons because they have the equipment to handle it. Their fish may not be as happy either, being crammed together like that.
If you aren’t sure, feel free to contact a koi pond professional who can help you.
Readying Your New Pond For Adding Fish
Here are some tips for how you can ready your pond’s water for your new koi fish.
Add Aeration
Your fish need to breathe too!
You aerate a pond by adding oxygen to the water. This makes sure there is enough air in the water for the fish to breathe. Aeration happens naturally when something disturbs the water, such as rain or a waterfall.
But owning your own pond comes with the benefit of man-made aeration. Aerators are an artificial method of adding air to water and are also great for creating a hole in the ice during winter.
Most pond owners place aerators in these areas of their pond:
But even if your fish can breathe, the water still needs to be right too.
Proper Pond Water PH Balance
The process of how to stock a new koi pond involves preparing the water’s chemistry. Would you find it comfortable if the air was too dry or if there wasn’t enough oxygen? Well, for fish, water is like our air.
You can make sure your fish live healthily and well with proper water pH.
pH measures how basic or acidic something is. Lifeguards do it for pools; we do it for ponds.
A pH of 7 is perfect for fish ponds as it is a neutral pH, like the water we drink. A fish’s blood pH level is about 7.4, so any water pH between 6.5 – 9 is okay as long as it doesn’t vary too often.
Predator Protection
You don’t want to go through the process of how to stock a new koi pond just to have predators take your fish. Herons, raccoons, and other wildlife can start preying on your fish. You can put a stop to it.
Some preventative measures include fish caves and tunnels, decoys, and nets. They sure beat sitting outside with a pellet gun all day and night.
Filtration
Any experienced fish keeper will tell you that filtration is one of the most important aspects of keeping a healthy koi pond. Koi are particularly sensitive to water quality, and even small changes leading to poor water quality can lead to disease.
A good filtration system helps to remove debris and waste from the water, keeping it clean and clear. Filters also help to aerate the water, providing vital oxygen for the fish.
There are a variety of different filtration systems available on the market, so it’s important to do some research to find the one that best suits your needs. This involves knowing how many fish you’ll have in your pond and how much water your pond holds.
Water Temperature
When it comes to how to stock a new koi pond, the water temperature is one of the most important considerations. Koi are cold-blooded fish, and their body temperature is directly affected by the temperature of the water they swim in.
In general, koi prefer water that is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. However, they can also tolerate a wide range of temperatures, from 50 to 85 degrees. The key is to make sure that there are no sudden fluctuations in temperature, as this can cause stress and even death.
As the weather starts to cool off in the fall, it’s important to take steps to ensure that your koi pond is winter ready.
Introducing Koi Fish To A New Pond
Part of knowing how to stock a new koi pond is actually introducing the fish to the water.
You should wait at least 72 hours before putting fish in your new pond, even if only the water is new. This way, the water temperature and chemistry can level out. Drastic changes in either can have a serious impact on the health of your fish.
You won’t be able to just place them in once the wait is over, though.
After the minimum 72-hour waiting period, here is how you can best put pond fish in your new pond:
- Put your fish in bags with an open top (like the kind you get from the fair)
- Take the bag and put it in your new pond with the top sticking out of the water. This way, the temperatures of the water equalize, making it easier for your fish to be put in new water
- During the next 15 minutes, slowly let some pond water into the bag to get them used to the water
- Let them out
How Long Does It Take Koi To Adjust To A New Pond?
After stocking a new koi pond, it can take your koi fish a few days to a few weeks to fully adjust to their new home. Factors for this timeline include fish size, pond substrate, and if you add other fish at the same time. They need to explore their new home and realize that it’s a safe place.
How Long Do You Leave Tap Water Before Adding Fish In A Pond?
Allow the water temperature and chemistry to settle for about 3 days. The water will run through the filter and get rid of all the chemicals in the water that koi fish can’t tolerate well. Beneficial bacteria colonies will grow and help clean the water as well.
Caring For Fish During A Pond Renovation Or Cleaning
The process for how to stock a new koi pond can also apply to a pond with new water. You’ll need to take your koi fish out of the pond during a renovation and any cleanings. Here’s the proper process for it:
- Fill a tub with some of the pond water and put it in a shady area
- Drain your pond of water to make catching the fish easier
- Catch your fish with a net and put them into the tub
- Once your pond is renovated or cleaned, empty half of the water (not back into the pond)
- Slowly fill the rest of the tub back up with the new pond water
- After anywhere from a few hours to a day, catch your fish and release them into your new pond
What To Know About Koi Fish Before Adding Them To Your Pond
Is Keeping Koi Fish Easy?
Yes and no. Koi are definitely easier to care for than most other types of fish, but they still require some effort on your part. Koi are hardy fish and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, but for optimal health, they should be kept in water that is clean and well-oxygenated. Koi also produce a lot of fish waste, so you’ll need to have a filtration system in place to keep the water clean.
Best Pond Size For Koi Fish
You can’t know how to stock a new koi pond without considering pond size. For best results, your pond should be at least 10 feet long and at least 3 feet deep. However, if you don’t have the space for a pond that large, don’t worry; koi can also do well in smaller ponds as long as they have enough room to swim around and plenty of hiding places.
Best Water Conditions For Koi Fish
Koi are very tolerant of different water conditions, but for optimal health, they should be kept in water that is clear and has a pH between 6.5 and 9. The water should be well-oxygenated and free of ammonia and nitrites.
Are Koi Fish Okay In Cold Temperatures?
Koi are cold-water fish and can tolerate temperatures as low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit. They will go into hibernation when the water gets to around 40 degrees. If your pond is deep enough, it’s okay to let the water freeze over as long as you use an aerator or de-icer to keep a hole in the ice. There are other ways to help your koi fish survive winter, too.
Should A Koi Pond Have Plants?
Yes! Plants are not only aesthetically pleasing but also provide many benefits for your koi pond. Plants help keep the water clean by absorbing nitrates and other pollutants, providing shelter for your koi from predators (like herons), and helping to oxygenate the water. Your koi can also snack on them.
What To Feed Koi Fish
Before knowing how to stock a new koi pond, you’ll want to know what koi fish can and can’t eat. Koi are omnivorous and will eat just about anything from commercial pellets to vegetables like lettuce or peas. You can even feed them live food like worms or small insects! It’s important not to overfeed your koi, though. Only give them as much food as they can eat in 5 minutes or so.
How To Protect Outdoor Koi Fish
If you want to keep your outdoor koi safe from predators like herons or raccoons, there are a few things you can do: install a fence around your pond, use netting over the top of your pond, or put a wire mesh screen over any openings leading into the pond.
How Long Do Koi Fish Live?
Koi have an average lifespan of 20-30 years, but some individual fish have been known to live for over 100 years!
Put Your Koi In Trusted Hands With Premier Ponds
If you’re looking for a company that can help you with your koi pond maintenance, be sure to reach out to us. We have years of experience keeping these fish safe and healthy, and we’d love to put our expertise to work for you.
Fill out our contact form today and let us know how we can help. Thanks for reading!