bringing small koi in for the winter!

my pond has been runing for about five months now and with winter coming
i would like to have brought my smaller koi in for the winter, for my
own pleasure and to allow them to grow and be safe.
i believe my larger koi will be fine due to them being in a shallow
pond last winter before i bought them, and mine is a bit deeper so just
gotta hope.

anyway, i was wondering if 13 small koi between 3 and 6 inches would be
hard to manage the ammonia, ph, etc. back when i kept fancy goldfish i
had about a dozen and although i didnt know about the ph etc they were
all fine.

how would i keep these levels at a safe level in an indoor tank, do i
need biological filtration.

thanks


--
matt

"matt" wrote in message
...

my pond has been runing for about five months now and with winter coming
i would like to have brought my smaller koi in for the winter, for my
own pleasure and to allow them to grow and be safe.
i believe my larger koi will be fine due to them being in a shallow
pond last winter before i bought them, and mine is a bit deeper so just
gotta hope.

anyway, i was wondering if 13 small koi between 3 and 6 inches would be
hard to manage the ammonia, ph, etc. back when i kept fancy goldfish i
had about a dozen and although i didnt know about the ph etc they were
all fine.

how would i keep these levels at a safe level in an indoor tank, do i
need biological filtration.
=================================
For their own sake, leave them in the pond. 13 koi that size are going to
require at least a 300 or 400 gallon tank with excellent filtering and
aeration - and lots of partial water changes.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

You will need a large tank with a biological filter, diligent testing and
regular water changes. I would recommend at least a 150 gallon stock
watering tank. For filtration, I would get some kind of filter that could
be mounted above the tank and get it started on the pond to get it up and
running before the fish have to be moved inside. Get something that will
filter at least 500 gallons, because you will be very heavily stocked.
Testing should include ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and at least KH, ph would
be nice to know. If ammonia is showing, cut back on feeding and do a
partial water change. If nitrites are showing do a partial water change and
add about 1 pound of salt. When nitrates start to climb, do a partial water
change.

It can be done, but it is a lot of hard work to maintain koi in small
confines. Good luck.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html

"matt" wrote in message
...

my pond has been runing for about five months now and with winter coming
i would like to have brought my smaller koi in for the winter, for my
own pleasure and to allow them to grow and be safe.
i believe my larger koi will be fine due to them being in a shallow
pond last winter before i bought them, and mine is a bit deeper so just
gotta hope.

anyway, i was wondering if 13 small koi between 3 and 6 inches would be
hard to manage the ammonia, ph, etc. back when i kept fancy goldfish i
had about a dozen and although i didnt know about the ph etc they were
all fine.

how would i keep these levels at a safe level in an indoor tank, do i
need biological filtration.

thanks


--
matt

"matt" wrote in message
...

my pond has been runing for about five months now and with winter coming
i would like to have brought my smaller koi in for the winter, for my
own pleasure and to allow them to grow and be safe.
i believe my larger koi will be fine due to them being in a shallow
pond last winter before i bought them, and mine is a bit deeper so just
gotta hope.

anyway, i was wondering if 13 small koi between 3 and 6 inches would be
hard to manage the ammonia, ph, etc. back when i kept fancy goldfish i
had about a dozen and although i didnt know about the ph etc they were
all fine.

how would i keep these levels at a safe level in an indoor tank, do i
need biological filtration.

thanks


--
matt

I have five Goldfish (3 " to 6") in a 75 gallon aquarium with lots of
filtration and Nitrates are still an issue. So I can't imagine keeping 13
Koi in an aquarium, a large stock tank perhaps. I did keep 9 GF in the pond
last winter and they all came through OK. I did cover the pond and put a
heater (39° F) in the pond though, as the water is only 24" deep.

I'd like to say, all of the above.

Leave them in the pond. If not, do it the RTB way and start bringing in 2
koi every week so you can get the filter going slowly. Buy LOTS of ammonia
detox, (Amquell, Chloram-X, etc.).

Regarding nitrates in an aquarium. I too bring in my big fancy goldfish, 3
to a 55 gallon, but I let the algae grow on all sides and the no gravel
bottom. I do keep the very front glass clean, so I can see them. This
really helps with the nitrates.

It was quite interesting this summer after the goldfish went out and I put
a pl*co in the tank. The algae all turned black and sloughed off the sides,
now it's practically algae free again. Goldfish will becoming back in very
soon. ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
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