Spring Cleaning Your Koi Pond - Part 1: Prepping For Water Conditioning

BELLMORE, NEW YORK - With 2012 already in full swing, koi pond enthusiasts anxiously await the opening of their ponds for spring. Following the essential steps in Koi Market's two-part series for koi pond cleaning and water preparation will create a healthy environment for your koi to enjoy.

"It is pointless to add anything to your pond before you clean it," says Shawn Rosen, owner of Koi Market. "The first step in pond preparation is to give your pond a good spring cleaning." Your pond needs to be cleaned thoroughly at least once a year, although Rosen recommends twice a year is best – once in the fall, then again in the spring. Leaves and other debris can promote infestation of parasites and bad bacteria in your pond water.

Rosen says to begin by filling plastic containers with a mixture of one-part pond water and one-part dechlorinated water. This is for holding your koi fish while you clean your pond. Fill up the containers with basic water from a hose, but be sure to use a dechlorinator to prepare for this first step. Begin by draining your pond low enough where it is easy to catch your fish. Remove your koi fish and place them in the holding containers for safe keeping while you clean your pond.

After you have safely removed your koi, rinse down the sides of the pond and any surrounding rocks, waterfall or water features using a spray nozzle. If possible, try not to remove the green algae along the sides. "Green algae are like tiny houses for good bacteria," explains Rosen. "This helps to balance the ecosystem of your pond." You will need to use a pond vacuum to remove all the settlement, sludge and debris that have accumulated at the bottom of the pond.

Rosen explains that debris such as leaves and sludge house bad bacteria like Aeramonas which can cause ulcers and ultimately death if not treated. After you have removed debris, check for damage to the pond and any components such as the filtration system. Thoroughly cleaning your components will extend the life of your pond and your koi.

"This is the time to make any repairs or changes to your pond," says Rosen. "No matter how much preparation we do for the winter, there are always repairs and restoration to be done. This is part of the madness of being a koi pond enthusiast." Bad bacteria can breed on the residue found in your filter. It is important to power wash inside the filter, but Rosen stresses that detergent should not be used. After you have cleaned your pond, pump and filter, start filling your pond. Again, be sure to use a dechlorinator. Water testing is an essential part of opening your pond for spring.

Water conditioners like Ultimate are added to quickly season and age the water in preparation for fish, but before doing such, Rosen suggests testing and writing down your water's parameters so you can compare later. This includes ammonia, nitrite, pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, KH and GH. "Uneaten food, fish waste and plant decay can all create ammonia in your water which is toxic to your koi," explains Rosen. "Water changes of 10 to 15 percent each week are your best lines of defense, more if needed."

Rosen says that water conditioners can also assist with controlling these aspects so it is critical to test samples regularly. Since ammonia must initially be in the water in order to develop the good bacteria necessary for the nitrification process, using a water conditioner like Ultimate will detoxify the ammonia and make it safe for your fish. Once you have cleaned your pond and tested your water parameters and everything checks out – it is safe to return your koi to the pond.

Rosen cautions against feeding your koi too soon and explains how water temperatures play a vital part in the health and feeding of your koi in part two of this series on spring cleaning for koi ponds.

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