Biological filtration for koi ponds, fish ponds and aquaria- why do we use filters? Let’s be clear from the start (excuse the pun), the primary reason for having a biological filtration system is not to provide clear water – although that might be a beneficial side effect. The purpose of using a filter is to improve ..
A natural process that aids fish keepers Nitrification is a biological process during which nitrifying bacteria convert toxic ammonia to less harmful nitrate. All we need to do is provide the right conditions for the nitrifying bacteria to thrive. It is important to bear in mind the potential threat to fish health if nitrification is ..
At the heart of the koi pond At the heart of a koi pond is the filtration system. To encourage a vigorous growth of nitrifying bacteria in the filter we need to keep the filter media fairly clean, which is often easier said than done! Efficient biological filtration also depends on the media of choice ..
Dealing with pollution In an active koi pond we have two types of pollution; dissolved and solid. If we could remove the solid wastes from the system before they had chance to dissolve and pollute the water we would have better water quality, less dissolved pollutants and fewer health problems. Solid wastes and koi health ..
Koi ponds and organic wastes If we ignore the fate of metabolic ammonia for a moment and concentrate on the organic matter, it will be easier to understand how these pollutants can affect the long term health of our koi if we have a clear idea of what happens to them in the pond. To ..
Koi pond filtration and fish health? A biological filter extends the capabilities of what is an unnatural and otherwise inadequate system by continuously treating the water and removing some toxic compounds – ammonia and nitrite being the most common. However, as we all know, there are many different types of filter, some more efficient and ..
Water temperatures and fish health Fish are ectotherms or poikilotherms. These are both terms that describe animals that have a body temperature that is dependent on the environmental temperature. Such animals are commonly, but incorrectly, called ‘cold-blooded’. Because of this dependence, environmental temperatures have a profound effect on many aspects of aquatic health. Every species ..
Water has many unusual properties that make it unlike any other liquid, some of which make it an ideal substance for aquatic habitats. Water molecule. One oxygen atom joined to two hydrogen atoms – the famous H2O It takes a lot of energy to bring about a change in water temperature. On a hot day ..
Understanding that fish are ‘open systems’ and intimately involved with their environment is fundamental to understanding why water quality is so important for fish health. It is largely accepted in the hobby of koi and other types of fish-keeping that the majority of health problems relate, directly or indirectly, to water quality but it is ..
Water hardness is, from a fish’s viewpoint, one of the most important aspects of water quality as it affects so many areas of fish health. Despite this importance to both fish health and water quality, it is often a poorly understood subject. Indeed, many fish keepers never check water hardness. This seems particularly true of ..
