Koi Pond Supplies - Filtration is Essential!
Buying the right koi pond supplies is essential to maintaining a healthy pond for your ornamental fish. But what supplies will you need to create a beautiful pond with optimum conditions for your fish?
One of the most important koi pond supplies is the correct filter for your pond. It is important that your pond water is properly filtered. This will help to maintain good water quality in your koi pond. It is a good idea to make provision for both biological and mechanical filtration in your pond. Failing this you will need at least some sort of biological filtration system.
Mechanical filtration or 'pre-filter' will take all the solid matter out of your pond water while the biological filter will remove all the dissolved waste. What size filter do you need? A good rule of thumb is to make sure that the filter is around 20% to 15% of your ponds total volume - about a cubic foot area of 6' to 8' per 1000 gallons. Without a good filtration system your pond will succumb to an overgrowth of algae and the subsequent death of your fish. Filtration systems are critical koi pond supplies for any ornamental pond.
While some algal build up is good for your pond, typically beneficial string algae, too much of the wrong kind of algae is very damaging. If string algae grows to several inches in length it can also become problematic. It may tangle your plants, prevent your fish from being able to swim or block your pump. If you are having problems with algae you should check your bio-filter to make sure it is working to filter out wastes properly. Koi pond supplies you can use to control algae include adding up to a pound of rock salt per 100 gallons of water.
Koi pond supplies which contain enzymes may be used to control blanket weed. Try products like Microbe Life PL or barley straw. If you don't have water plants you can use an algaecide like Water Block. Failing this, use a net to remove excess plant growth. Make sure to always clean your filter properly or invest in a bigger one or one that proves more effective.
Never use koi pond supplies like salt to get rid of green water. This is a microscopic form of algae. When it is exposed to salt it dies very quickly. Thos causes it too consume oxygen rapidly and create huge volumes of ammonia which can kill your fish.
