I have two ponds that are each about four feet deep, I live in WI so the ponds freeze solid during winter. I bring the koi into my workshop in two 55 gallon bins with aeration. The water is kept a 45 to 50 degrees. Can I leave the same water in the bins all winter or do I need to do water changes at any regular intervials?

Thanks

For one I would not feed them at those temps. Since it sounds like you have no filtration you need too check the water quality daily. Ammonia would be the most important and if the fish are active they will be producing ammonia. So you should be doing water changes at the first sign of any ammonia reading. Is there any way you could hook up some type of filtration?

I have not fed them since september so I figured that filtration was not needed. I just checked the ammonia and the bin with four large fish had no measurable ammonia but the bin with five small koi and two small orandas had a ammonia reading of about 4 ppm. Why would one be different from the other, both at the same temp. When I got the ammonia readings I did a water change, so I guess I will be doing a water change every day untill the ammonia is gone again.

The fish in the bin with ammonia had probably eaten more recently, or at least more food than those in the other. When people get their koi ready for a show they generally do not feed them for a few days. One reason is because the red starts to get brighter on them but the other is because of ammonia. They are safer is smaller containers during the trip their and back. This is also true when you order koi, the dealer generally will not feed the koi for a few days so that they are safe with so little water.

Since you are not feeding them you should not notice your ammonia going up. Since the bins are so small though you may want to check it just in case, especially since I am suspecting your winter is going to last another two months? Maybe three? I know I am not looking forward to the next three months here in Idaho. We've had snow up until the 4th of July.


Scott

oaky, thanks for the information.

Fish produce ammonia through respiration, so it is important you still monitor your water quality levels.

Scott, I don't envy you! I just got pictures from a friend in Idaho - frozen lakes and inches of snow, makes me cold just looking at it! I for one am ready for summer, or at the very least, spring!

I didn't know that? Thanks for the info, I was told that feeding too much could raise the ammonia level in the pond, along with other problems.

We are supposed to get snow all weekend, I do not envy me either. I hate snow. I guess if I'd learn how to ice skate I'd have it made though? LOL

We just got five inches of snow dumped on us and more this weekend.

Feeding too much will increase ammonia by increasing waste levels, but ammonia production isn't solely based on how much or if a fish is fed. Fish produce more ammonia through respiration than the processing of food. You can't do too much about the respiration rate, though, so if ammonia is a problem feeding less is a good idea. I don't know your pond specs, but if your biofilter is established and working and you do a regular water change/bottom vac to remove organic matter, you shouldn't have to be too concerned, within reason, about the amount you're feeding - once the weater warms up, that is!

I like snow...to a point! But after so much/so long of it, enough already! The beauty of a snow covered landscape starts to lose its charm pretty fast when you have things to do/places to go and can't even walk out to the mailbox without bundling up. Those *HOT* summers will make up for it though, right? You might be wishing for a little snow then.

Thanks for more good info!


I love the heat. Last summer we had record heat, it was the hottest summer on record. So hot in fact that we were in the 100's for at least a month (maybe it was two? I enjoyed so it went by too fast). Our hottest day was 113. Here is the result of that summer, that I hope will repeat itself this year !




I had this lotus for FOUR years and it never bloomed. We don't get hot enough summers for this. I have never seen one bloom, except pictures on the internet. When I noticed the buds comming up I was like Mr. Wilson on Dennis the Menace LOL. I had everyone over to see it. The only problem is the bloom only lasts a day! The second day it starts to look shabby, by the third day it's falling apart. I figure maybe it was the heat. The whole plant died back, or maybe just died? after this awesome spectacle.






Scott

I love the heat, too. I lived in AZ for awhile and was just about in heaven. I was in ID last summer, but it was during the "mild" 90 degree temps. 90* feels a lot hotter in ID than it did in AZ, though - because of course as everyone knows, it's not the heat, it's the humidity.

Nice pictures of the lotus! The only lotus I've ever had bloom were the ones I kept indoors. Maybe if I moved back to AZ I'd have better luck!