Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some answers to the most typical questions we get from our customers. For more details, and an on-going Q and A, visit The Funky Koi Facebook page, and look under “Notes”.
Why would you choose our store?
- Excellent customer service: We respond to your needs as quickly as possible.
- Great prices for great products: We offer competitive prices and offer a wide range of products.
- Fast Shipping: We do our best to ship your order the same day.
- Return Policy: We will troubleshoot failures and facilitate returns on defective products.
- Security: Your transactions are fully encrypted using the
latest technology, and we do not view or store payment information. We use a
shopping cart solution that exceeds industry security standards
and is fully PCI* Certified and is on Visa's list of providers!
- * (Payment Card Industry).
- Privacy: We protect your personal information as if it was our own. We want your shopping experience with The Funky Koi to be a safe and worry-free experience. We do not view, store or maintain your debit or credit card information. We do not collect personal information without your knowledge. We do not sell, rent, or give your personal information to any party. We will not feed spammers, just Koi! We will only contact you if there is a problem or question about your order; have joined our email list; or when you follow our posts on Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
What are Koi?
Koi are ornamental carp. They were introduced from China to Japan, and bred as early as the 17th century. They are a beautiful and very hardy fish and can withstand extremes of temperature, pH, etc. This makes them ideal for backyard water gardens.
If Japanese Koi live a stress- and predator-free life, they may outlive their owners. Expected life spans for various koi species range from 25 to 200 years. A Koi that is well cared for in a small pond in someone's backyard may live 20-30 years.
How big should my pond be for koi?
Rule of thumb: Koi need 10 gallons of water for every inch of fish. A full-grown 36” fish will need 360 gallons of water. Ten fish at 36” will need 3,600 gallons, not including plant or other aquatic life. Be careful not to overstock your pond; let your fish enjoy their spacious living, because they will grow into their pond and they will be healthier for their long life. Click here for pond volume calculator.
How deep should the water be?
According to some Japanese koi experts, the pond should be 3 times as deep as the length of the longest fish. So, if your longest fish is 12”, your pond should be 3 X 12 = 36” deep.
Our pond is about 4 feet at its lowest point. We have an air pump at the deep end and the aeration keeps a hole in the ice all winter. This is important as gases need to escape and koi like to see 'light'. Koi will hang out in deeper water as the air and water temperature drops. So far this has been a good depth for our Massachusetts pond. Our largest koi is about 16" long.
See our selection of Heaters (for winter) and Air Pumps (year round).
How much should I feed my koi and when do I stop feeding them?
As a rule, feed your fish as much as they can eat in 10 minutes when the water temperature is consistently at or over 50° F. Use spring (low protein food) in early spring and fall. When the water temperature reaches 60° F, feed low protein food twice per day. As the water temperature increases (between 70-90° F) feed your Koi good quality protein pellets twice per day. Stop feeding when the water temperature falls to 47° F or less and rises over 90° F. Always remove unused food to prevent excess nutrients in your pond.
What is pH and why is it important?
The term “pH” applies to your pond water. It means “Potential of Hydrogen”. A pH of 7 is neutral, meaning there is a balance between acid and alkalinity. A pH measurement below 7 means acid is present; a measurement above 7 is basic (or alkaline).
A pH of 7.5 is ideal for koi. They can survive and thrive at stable levels between 6.8 to 8.2, and pH values should be kept consistent throughout a 24-hour period to keep your koi happy.
Here’s a great link to help you understand what pH is (acid / base): http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/pH/page.html
We have pH meters to monitor your pH, as well as a line of supplies to help you adjust your pH.
How does ammonia get into the water and how can it be controlled?
Ammonia comes from the fish gills, their waste, decaying food and decaying plants. If there is too much ammonia in the water, it will irritate (burn) the fish gills, which can stress and kill them. If your fish are jumping out of the pond, always suspect they are trying to escape a poor environment (e.g. ammonia, pH extremes).
Some ways to reduce ammonia are:
- Reduce the amount of food, number of feedings or overcrowding of fish. Only feed what your fish will eat in 10 minutes, and remove the excess food that is left.
- Perform partial water changes. Some koi keepers perform 50% water changes until the levels drop.
- Increase oxygen levels by using an air pump sized for your pond. Use a good air stone or air disc to get the air bubbles flowing.
- Remove fish waste and decaying plants.
- Add beneficial bacteria. If you have a biological filter, purchase Microblift gel-type bacteria for the filter (pads/media). Add liquid beneficial bacteria to your skimmer input and/or sprinkle around the perimeter of the pond.
See line of air pumps, testers, and beneficial bacteria to help keep your water pristine and your koi healthy!
Page Revision Date: May 17, 2011
