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Minerals in Koi Food

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The minerals in koi food and why they are important.

What is a mineral?

In Koi food, it is the ash content.  Minerals are inorganic chemicals which fish need for various metabolic functions.   Minerals help build their skeletal structures, nerves and allow for the exchange of gases the blood system.

What types of minerals should be in koi food?

These are the common types of minerals found in koi food:  copper, manganese, zinc, iodine, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and selenium.   In commercial koi food, it is normal to see the mineral ash content in the 12-14 percent range.

Where else do koi obtain minerals?

Koi will find trace amounts of minerals in the water in which they swim.  Koi will absorb these minerals through their gills.

Minerals in koi food for proper nutrition:

Without proper minerals in koi food, your koi could suffer.

Without proper nutrition your koi could suffer bone deformities, loss of appetite, loss of muscle tone, obesity, skin problems, and anemia.  Typically these problems are all associated with mineral and vitamin deficiencies.   Use care when feeding your fish.  Check the label and do not feed them food low in minerals or with a corn content (this is like eating fast foods for humans).   Feed them high quality, wheat germ based food and they will have the best chance at staying healthy well into their twenties and beyond!

 

Prepare to Close Your Pond for Winter

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Things to do to Winterize your Pond!

Prepare to winterize your pond

Winterize Waterfalls:

Shut off and remove your pump (store indoors) when ice begins to form. This will protect your pump and stop ice damns from building which will create loss of water into your pond.

Winterize UV Lights:

Remove the light system and store indoors. Perform all required maintenance so the UV light system is ready for the next season. Don’t forget to change the bulbs per the manufacturer recommendation.

Use Heaters to Winterize your pond:

Heaters should be used to keep a hole open in the ice. There are two basic types, which are floating and submersible. Most small pond owners use submersible heaters while others use the floating type as it is easier to reach (place and remove).

Preparing to winterize – Plant Care:

Hardy plants should be trimmed to about five inches after Columbus Day and placed in deeper water.

Aquatic grasses such as Cattails, rushes or reeds should only be trimmed back about 18 inches and remain in shallow water.

Water Irises should not be moved in deep water and should their pots should only be covered with 3-4 inches of water.

Lillies and Oxygenators should stay in deep water (18 to 36 inches), as long as they remain below the ice level. Trim all leaves and stems so they will not foul the water (decaying plant matter).

Tropical plants: Bring them indoors! Some people bring in their floating plants–this is fine but they need fresh water (and do best with an aerator for dissolved oxygen). Most floating plants are a challenge and are typically discarded each season. Be sure to inspect all plants before bringing them indoors to prevent unwanted ‘pests’.

Preparing to winterize – Fish Care: Check your water temperature daily before feeding.

When the water temp is around 60 degrees, it is time to switch over to wheat-germ based food. Stop feeding your fish when water temperature is near 50 degrees. Do not be tempted to feed your fish during warm spells as their metabolism has slowed and the food you feed them will not digest–it will rot in their digestive system.

Use Aeration to Winterize your Pond :

Fish require aeration–year round! Moving water will not freeze as easily and is less expensive to run than heaters. Aeration will help keep the water moving and keep a hole open in the ice to allow gases to escape.

Note: Do NOT break the ice, this will kill the fish.

When you winterize your pond, plants, pumps and heaters, your fish will do well over the winter and will be healthy in the spring!

 

Clean up Bacteria is essential for a clean pond bottom!

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Clean up Bacteria is essential for a clean pond bottom!

Did you know Clean-Up Bacteria is essential for a clean pond bottom?

A clean pond bottom is essential for a healthy pond environment and we offer a variety of clean-up bacteria that assists the biological activity of your pond by accelerating the decomposition of leaves, sediment and other organic matter that would otherwise settle at the bottom of your pond producing harmful gasses.

A clean pond will also help maintain a healthy immune system for your fish.

Guide to Koi Feeding

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Simple Koi Feeding Guide-feeding frequency, water temperature and type of foods

Many people ask what type of food, frequency and water temperatures to use when feeding their Koi and Gold Fish.  I hope this simple guide will help people with their koi feeding and gold fish feeding..

First, use a good pond thermometer.  You need to know the water temperature in order to feed your koi appropriately.

Second, when the water (not air) temperature is less than 50 Fahrenheit or greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The fish cannot digest the food–DO NOT FEED THEM!

Third, always use good quality koi food.   Avoid foods with corn content, as koi do not digest corn easily and will simply add ‘waste’ to your pond which will increase nutrients for algae blooms.   Look for foods with wheat germ (fresh is best).

Also, always use appropriately sized food.  Small koi and gold fish will have difficulty digesting some pellets and do better eating flaked food.

Koi Feeding – Frequency and protein content:

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed once or twice a week, or more if they are hungry.  Feed High Carbohydrate, low protein foods with Wheat Germ in the main ingredient (some people feed organic wheat bread and unsweetened cheerios).

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed up go five times a week.   Feed low protein (25%) and vegetable based foods.

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 6o-65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed once per day.  Gradually increase their protein to (35%),

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 65-67 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed two to three times per day.  Their diet should be mainly 35% or more protein.

Frequency and protein content for Water Temperature between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Feed three to four times a day.   Their diet should be mainly 35-40% protein with color enhancers.

Koi Feeding Important Notes:

High protein foods will make fish grow faster and make them healthier than high carb diets.

Keep your koi food pellets in a cool, shaded storage location in an airtight container to maximize food freshness.

Baby Koi (less than one year old) need sufficient carbohydrates, especially when water temperature gets cooler.

Remember that koi feeding should never be done when the water is too warm (over 90 degrees) or too cool (50 degrees or less).

Koi Food Types:

Small koi and gold fish will have difficulty digesting some pellets and do better eating flaked food.

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Water temperatures are between 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit:

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Water temperatures are between 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit:

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Water temperatures are between 6o-65 degrees Fahrenheit:

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Water temperatures are between 65-67 degrees Fahrenheit:

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Water temperatures are  between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit:

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If you feed your koi appropriately; using the right frequency, protein content for the water temperature; your fish will grow large and stay healthy for many years to come.   Remember your pets rely on you to feed them, just as children do.     Feed them well and they will do well.

 

Happy Koi Feeding!

Did you know? “KH (Carbonate Alkalinity) levels…”

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From Microbift:

“Did You Know?  KH (Carbonate Alkalinity) levels need to be at least 80, and preferable between 100-300 ppm for continuous nitrification (ammonia removal).  Phosphate levels should be 0.050 to 0.100 ppm, the lower the better.  Water changes and plants will remove phosphates from pond water.  The pH for a koi pond can be 7.2 to 9.0 and the koi will thrive, as long as it is stable at that level.  (Mine stays at 8.8 – 9.0).
Even very minute amounts of copper can be toxic to koi.”

If you do not have a method to test water, now is a good time!

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