How to keep koi alive: using the right water and maintaining good water quality are key

The most important thing when keeping koi is water, because the quality of the water determines the survival rate of koi. So what water should be used to keep koi from dying? How do you maintain the water?

1. What water to use for keeping koi

1. Tap water: The water we most commonly see in daily life is tap water, and many uninformed koi keepers use tap water directly to keep koi, which brings certain harm to the koi. In fact, tap water is a water source that has undergone disinfection treatment, and the water contains too many chloride ions, so it cannot be used directly for keeping fish. It needs to be treated before being used to keep koi. Generally, the sun-drying method is used: place the tap water in an open, ventilated area, and rely on the flow of air and sunlight to let the residual chlorine in the water evaporate, while also increasing the dissolved oxygen content in the water.

2. Well water: Well water is groundwater, with harder water quality and a constant water temperature. Before use, well water needs to be exposed to the sun for more than 12 hours, so that the water temperature balances with the surface water temperature, while also increasing the dissolved oxygen content in the water.

3. River water: Natural water, soft in quality but relatively turbid. Before use, it should be purified and settled in a reservoir or filtered before use. River water contains many natural food organisms, which can make the colors of ornamental fish more natural and bright.

2. The issue of water quality maintenance

In an open outdoor environment, the water used for koi changes in color among clear water, green water, old green water, clarified water, and brown water, but in an aquarium, because circulating filtration equipment is used, the water quality is clear throughout all four seasons.

1. Clear water: Clear water refers to a colorless, odorless, transparent water source, with sufficient dissolved oxygen in the water and very few plankton. It can effectively increase the appetite of fish and promote their growth and development.

2. Green water: Green water contains many green algae, commonly including Chlorella, Navicula diatoms, and Botryococcus, all of which are auxiliary food for koi. Green water has stable water quality and can promote bright and vivid coloration in the fish body. It can both retain heat and provide food, making it the best water source for the healthy development of fish.

3. Old green water: It develops from green water, with large numbers of algae dying off in the water, and the water color changing from bright green to pale green. Because there is a large amount of dead algae at the bottom of the tank, the water quality may gradually deteriorate. Old green water is mostly used in winter, because winter water temperatures are low, algae grow slowly, and the water quality can be maintained for a long time.

4. Clarified water: Clarified water is transformed from clear water or pale green water, with extremely soft water quality and relatively high transparency. The growth and consumption rates of algae in the water have reached a dynamic balance, the water quality is stable, and the water color is clear, making it a relatively good water source for the growth and development of ornamental fish.

5. Brown water: Diatoms reproduce in large numbers in the water, beneficial algae decrease, and water quality stability declines, so it should be replaced in time.

Although koi are beautiful, the emphasis is on cultivation. Otherwise, temporary beauty is only a fleeting glimpse. Pay attention to the methods of keeping them, and give koi a future, while also bringing joy and enjoyment to koi keepers.