First off, take time to breathe. Your Koi fish are probably fine.
They may be somewhat traumatized by the whole storm experience, but that would be the reaction of any pet caught in an unusual situation. Unless extreme damage was done, their health is probably not an issue, however their home may be in need of some repairs.
You may have been completely prepared for the storm, or the storm may have taken you by surprise. Whatever the case may be, you must jump into action as soon as you physically can to ensure that no further damage is done to your pond.
First, you must undo all of your storm precautions to survey the possible damage.
If you netted your pond, clear as much debris off the net as possible and remove the netting.
Once you remove the netting you will be able to survey the damage and the condition that your fish are in.
If high waters were expected and you sand bagged the area around your pond, as long as the water level is normal, remove all sand bags so that you can easily access your pond. Do not get discouraged if things seem out of place. It may not be as bad as it first looks.
Once you have removed all netting and other precautions, take time to look at the area. If any debris is present, remove it by skimming and netting. If plants or decorations are uprooted or out of place, put them back in the proper place.
If you find major damage to your pond, it is important to remove your Koi as soon as possible. Proper bagging and transporting techniques may be needed if the damage done will take a lot of time to fix, but there are several temporary options available if damage can be fixed quickly. You may want to consider using a children’s pool to house your Koi for the time being. If nothing is available at the time, get in contact with your local pet store or zoo, as they may have program available to help you house your Koi until maintenance can be done.
Once you have decided that only minor repairs are needed, you must focus on the water quality. Your water may seem cloudy or murky due to the storm, and the amount of extra water from rainfall. If the storm lasted for a long time, you may be facing ammonia issues as well.
Test your water for Nitrates. If Nitrates are present, add the proper amount of salt to the water. Typically you would add 3/4 to one pound of salt per 100 gallons of water. However, if your fish are especially shocked by the situation, or seem to have sustained any type of injuries, it might be a good idea to add more. If you have plants in your pond, it might also be a good idea to remove them before adding the salt to the water.
If you are having KH issues (especially if it is below 100) you should add baking soda to your pond. Typically you can add 1 cup of unpacked baking soda per 1000 gallons of water. This will protect your pond from a future pH crash.
Winter is coming, and this will be the first Winter that you go through with your Koi pond.
Think of Winter as "down time" for your pond, as less events happen during Winter than any other time. There are however, special precautions that you need to take before Winter arrives, to ensure that your pond and fish survive.
Clean Up
Take a weekend to completely go over your pond. Clean up any unwanted bulk material in and around your pond.
Inside your pond, clean up all leaves, slit, and other material from the bottom. Also, remove any plants or flowers that will not make it through the winter.
Around the pond, clean up anything that could blow into your pond, as you are not likely to notice this debris until the end of winter. Taking the time to make sure that as much debris is removed as possible will prevent potentially harmful bacteria and parasites from getting into your pond during the winter months.
Stop Feeding
You must remember to stop feeding your Koi during the winter.
When fall begins and the temperatures hover around 55 to 60 degrees, only feed once a day. Once the temperatures drop below 50 degree for the first time, stop feeding completely. Even if the temperature goes above 50 degrees, still refrain from feeding your fish. The majority of Koi, when healthy and the temperature is above 50 degrees, take at least four days to completely digest food. If you mistakenly feed your fish too late, the food will not digest and will end up killing your fish. Do not mistake you Koi as hungry when they open to their mouths to you. This is more of a learned reflex then hunger. If you are concerned about not feeding them, remember that fish eat other things besides the food you provide them, especially if your pond contains a large amount of natural plant life. If they are at all hungry and you are not feeding them, they will fill up on this.
Check Up
Do you seasonal check up on all your equipment. This includes everything from your filtration system to your store of preventable medications. Since the majority of ponds lie dormant during the Winter, you are less likely to be able to find the products you need. Make sure your emergency kit is ready and up to date, which should include medications, bags, nets, and your water testing kits.
Prepare For Cold Weather
Prepare for cold weather by investing in the items you will need during the summer. Koi have been known to withstand constant temperatures as low 39 degrees, and temperatures slightly lower then 39 degrees, for short periods of time. When buying a heater, remember to research what size you will need to adequately heat your pond during the winter, otherwise ice will still form, causing potentially dangerous amounts of gas in the water, due to it being trapped under the ice. In extreme events, it may be a good idea to have an emergency tank inside available.
Turn Off All Water Sources
In colder temperatures, your heater will be working hard to maintain a water temperature suitable enough to keep your fish alive. If you have water features such as waterfalls, streams, or constant moving fountains, make sure to turn them off during Winter. These features will circulate water, and constantly bring new, and cold water into your pond. With these switched off, the only water that your heater will be responsible for is the standing water in your pond.
Koi ponds have become a popular hobby in various parts of the world, and the reasons are fairly clear as to why.
The Koi is a beautiful, vibrant fish that can literally light up your day. They come in many colors and varieties, so it is likely that everyone in the world can find at least one type of Koi that would suit their tastes.
While Koi may be a welcome beauty to your outdoor environment, they also have an interesting history attached to them.
In Chinese culture, Koi ponds are said to bring good luck to their owners. Other parts of the world consider Koi ponds as a form of relaxation and serenity. In the U.S, more and more people seem to find Koi ponds to be for entertainment more than anything else. No matter what your reason for having a Koi pond, they are sure to brighten up your space.
Koi keeping should not be taken lightly. Koi, like any other animal, require time and money to maintain. The majority of first time Koi owners fail because they get the idea that keeping Koi is easy. Do not let this discourage you though, as educating yourself will greatly improve your chances of succeeding.
It is important for you to learn all you can BEFORE you begin obtaining the things you need for Koi keeping. This way, you will not slip up and have to replace anything that you have already done or bought. Planning ahead will not only save your money, but it will potentially save your sanity as well.
It's important to learn the information for yourself rather then relying on other sources. Do some research. People like your product dealer and pond builder will have limited knowledge, but should not be trusted for a reliable source, as they are selling products and may be biased. Once you are at home with your Koi, your product dealer or pond builder may also not be available to help you in the event of a problem.
Koi Have Personality
You wouldn't believe that Koi actually have personalities similar to other animals. They are social, and can even be trained to eat directly from their owners' hands. The more time you spend with your Koi, the more you will notice that each Koi has individual characteristics and traits.
Koi have been known to live for up to 200 years, but generally the average lifespan of a healthy Koi is about 30 years. So, if you are looking for along time pet/companion, Koi might be a good choice.
Building Your Koi Habitat
Before buying Koi, you must create a proper habitat for them. This is where information from your pond builder and supplier will come in handy. You shouldn't rely solely on the opinions of one person. It may be a good idea to do some research on your own, before you go to purchase the materials needed for you pond.
Because of it’s popularity, an unlimited supply of resources can be found on the topic of Koi keeping. Visit your local library, fishery centre, or do some research online. There are quite a few things needed to sustain a habitable pond.
When it comes to pond size, bigger is always better. Koi have a habit of growing quickly, so you have to consider pond size at the same time you are considering how many Koi you are going to put it in it.
Your filtration system is extremely important. There are 2 types of filtration, mechanical and biological. Mechanical filtration relieves the pond of solids such as dead algae, insects, and Koi wastes. It is important to have enough filtration to sustain the size of the pond, and the amount and size of your Koi.
Biological filtration causes a nitrogen cycle, which is what removes dissolved wastes from your pond. Without biological filtration, built up waste will turn into ammonia and kill your Koi within just a few days.
Besides the technical aspects of your pond, you will also have the ability to create a visually appealing area as well. Waterfalls, fountains, and other water features will not only add a visual show to your pond, but it will also create movement and sound. A variety of plants and flowers are also available to beautify your pond.
