To say the least, I have had my share of bad luck lately. The pond in question is approximately 5000 gallons and has been set up for about 1 year.......First the GFI trips on a 98 degree day with water temps in the mid-80's and a full algae bloom in effect.......aeration/filtration off for up to 8 hours = dead algae, no oxygen, DEAD koi and lots of them, 30" ones that I have had up to 10 years...... UGH!!!
I remove the dead ones do a major water change and save the remaining smaller koi. I forget that since the filter "died" too, I would get a major ammonia/nitrate spike in the coming weeks. Two weeks after the tripped GFI, I get a really nice koi from a local pond (I know, I know trouble!) and puit it into the pond. The koi eats great the next day, a little less on day two and three, picks at the food day 4 and stops eating day 5. On day three I check the ammonia levels and they are at 1.0...UGH...major water changes, salt and ammo-lock and I get the ammonia to drop as the filter matures......then a two day spike in nitrites....
Looks like the cycling is done, but the new koi has been "flashing" on the sides and bottom, and still not eating (8 days not eating now). No other koi apperas to be flashing
My problem is......do I treat for parasites, (I usually use Jungle Parasite Guard) killing the snails in the pond, and possibly harming the biological fiter?? OR is the "flashing" a result of exposure to higher then normal levels of ammonia/nitrite and I just wait the koi out and hoep she gets better????....I guess I am just afraid of having another spike in ammonia/nitrite if the filter gets "hurt" by the parasite medicine.....but I really like this koi and dont know why else she wouldnt be eating....
Any suggestions?? Thanks!!
I remove the dead ones do a major water change and save the remaining smaller koi. I forget that since the filter "died" too, I would get a major ammonia/nitrate spike in the coming weeks. Two weeks after the tripped GFI, I get a really nice koi from a local pond (I know, I know trouble!) and puit it into the pond. The koi eats great the next day, a little less on day two and three, picks at the food day 4 and stops eating day 5. On day three I check the ammonia levels and they are at 1.0...UGH...major water changes, salt and ammo-lock and I get the ammonia to drop as the filter matures......then a two day spike in nitrites....
Looks like the cycling is done, but the new koi has been "flashing" on the sides and bottom, and still not eating (8 days not eating now). No other koi apperas to be flashing
My problem is......do I treat for parasites, (I usually use Jungle Parasite Guard) killing the snails in the pond, and possibly harming the biological fiter?? OR is the "flashing" a result of exposure to higher then normal levels of ammonia/nitrite and I just wait the koi out and hoep she gets better????....I guess I am just afraid of having another spike in ammonia/nitrite if the filter gets "hurt" by the parasite medicine.....but I really like this koi and dont know why else she wouldnt be eating....
Any suggestions?? Thanks!!
