HELP!!

[ferco]

ok my small pond is only 2feet deep and it has like 10 koi in it just now... now apart form the pond being too small for the koi when they grow much bigger... i've been told that they need at east 3 feet to be able to hibernate in the winter... less and they'll freeze. is this right? i need some people to put in writing that this is corect so i can show the guy who desinge and dug the ponds and told us the fish would be fine. fool! lol thanks

 

[Dr Joe]

What kind of temps do you get in the winter?

How big is the pond?

Dr Joe

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[stotty]

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Hi Richard

There are a few bench mark rules for Koi ponds: generally recommend a ratio of two hundred gallons of water to each Koi if proper filtration is present. Keep in mind that Koi will grow, with their greatest amount of growth taking place in the period from birth to three years of age. But they will still grow after that as you know but that’s the big growth spurt.

Koi ponds should ideally be four feet deep, but need to be at least three feet deep. Deeper ponds are best for maintenance of a consistent temperature throughout the year and protection against common Koi predators.
What he has made you there is a gold fish pond.


I have always been told this especially in the UK and in particular in Scotland I have found some web site you can print off for your man take a look at these:


http://www.raleighlandscape.com/Koi Pond Design.htm#6) How deep should I make the pond
Quote” How deep should I make the pond? A serious Koi pond should be at least 3 feet deep and no areas should be shallower than 2 feet“.


http://www.watergarden.com/pages/build_wg.html

Quote” A Koi pond is different from a water garden because Koi limit the amount of plant life available to be grown. Simply put: Koi eat some plants. A Koi pond should also be larger because Koi get quite large despite the size of the pond; it is recommended that a Koi pond be no less than 1000 gallons in volume, the bigger the better. It also needs to have an area of the pond at least 3 feet deep, 4 - 5 may be better.”

Dr Joe Hi again we seem to bump into each other a lot lately Scotland what can I say about it The Weather is a subject of constant discussion in Scotland and the UK generally. The fascination that the British have with their weather, and the reason it enters into almost every conversation, is its variability.

At most times of the year it is perfectly possible to have glorious sunshine, chilling cold, together with wind, rain and even snow - all in the one day!
In general, the west of Scotland is usually warmer than the east, due to the influence of the Atlantic currents, but I have seen 1ft of ice on ponds there so I really don’t think this will do for Koi.

Hope this help and Dr Joe what do you think?

 

[RadleyMiller]

Wow, you seriously need to think about a new pond. My pond is 3 times your size but has 1/2 the fish load an I am worried. I don't know what it is in Scotland, but in Delaware we have to have 1-1/2 to not freeze but I tell everyone 2 1/2 and we usually have a balmy winter. One week its in the 60s F and the next week it is 10 with a foot of snow on the ground. Also make sure you have an air pump running with an air stone to keep the pond from totally freezing over.