Something is bothering my koi ...

[gdal]

I have noticed that my largest koi tends to flash without touching any pond walls every once in a while. He's the most sensitive koi out of 5 koi that I own. I checked my water chemistry and the nitrate level is at 40ppm. Nitrite and Ammonia are at 0ppm. Everything else checks fine.

How can I reduce the nitrate level, besides doing the water changes? I have introduced plants, but they only last a couple of days.

 

[DrDave]

Get as many water lettuce and or water hyacinth as you can, they will help a lot.

 

[gdal]

Thanks for the advice DrDave. I made two planter rings and filled them hyacinths and lettuce. I might build a third planter ring. Koi love the shade the planters provide!

 

[fishin4cars]

That will help a lot! Wonder why more people don't use anachris, and cabomba, There great oxygenators and they use nitrates as well, The only issue I had with them is getting to large and the koi breaking pieces off, Goldfish always had crystal clear water and minimal nitrates. But yes, plants are next best thing to water changes, doing both will be even more beneficial.

 

[DrDave]

That may be partially due to availabilty in their area. I have not seen anachris, or cabomba here.

 

[j.w]

I used to be able to get the Anacharis from someone on another forum and I would by a lot of it at one time but my fish ate it faster than I could buy it. Now that I have the floating rings I should try and find another source.

 

[fishin4cars]

years ago I saw a pond that had a huge bunch of cabomba in the center of the pond, had such a calming look to the pond, They had large fantails and the water stayed crystal clear. I've played with butterfly koi since I got into ponds so never was able to get any to grow well but always thought it left a neat impression.

 

[gdal]

BTW ... what's a safe salt level when introducing plants. My salt level is at 0.2% which I'm pretty sure will kill the plants. I'm planning on doing a water change tomorrow.

 

[fishin4cars]

.2% is getting on the high side for some plants, others won't even know it's there. dropping down to.1% should be fine most almost all plants.

 

[addy1]

My goldies ate the anachris, it was growing great ............ but in thinking I could put it in the fishless smaller ponds, then move it when winter comes............humm

 

[stroppy]

i really don't think nitrates would be the reason for a koi to flash .. and water changes are the best way to reduce nitrates if the fish are eating the plants

 

[addy1]

my nitrates, nitrites read zero. I think they were just hungry lol It is the only one they ate.