| Adequate oxygen is essential for the health and | | | | would not be conducive to actual water plants |
| survival of your koi fish and other pond creatures. | | | | could be flat or craggy areas that receive |
| As pond life utilizes the oxygen content of the | | | | splashing, providing the necessary moisture for |
| water, it needs to be replaced. Oxygen enters | | | | the moss, baby tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) or |
| the water where these two contact each other - | | | | Isotoma fluviatilis. Other water plants that do not |
| primarily at the koi pond's surface. That is why a | | | | require a specific root base can be placed almost |
| waterfall is such a vital adjunct to your water | | | | anywhere in a waterfall such as water pea, parrot |
| feature. | | | | feather and watercress. |
| As the water passes over and splashes against | | | | An attribute of moss or baby tears is that it does |
| the rocks, it picks up large quantities of oxygen, | | | | not require a large quantity initially to look great. If |
| aerating the water. Aeration can similarly be | | | | it receives the proper amount of moisture, it will |
| achieved with a fountain or water pump. These | | | | spread and grow rapidly, even climbing up rocks |
| methods increase the area of water coming into | | | | and other areas of the koi pond. |
| contact with the air; in addition, the resulting | | | | It is important to plant the proper type of |
| circulation prevents stagnation of the koi pond. | | | | vegetation to prevent overcrowding when they |
| SOME SYMPTOMS OF OXYGEN DEPRIVATION: | | | | become mature. A good example is two common |
| • Koi fish gasping at the surface for | | | | pond plants, Papyrus and Horse Tail (Equisetum |
| extended periods of time. | | | | fluviatale ). Both of these plants need to be |
| • Overnight death of fish, especially the | | | | contained, either in a planter pot or a separate |
| larger, more sensitive ones. | | | | pocket built right into the koi pond or waterfall. |
| • Water that appears murky black and | | | | Consider creating a bog pond or bog planter on |
| emits an unpleasant odor. | | | | the perimeter of your koi pond. A bog pond is a |
| • Koi fish are attempting to or actually | | | | raised, shallow (6 to 8 inches deep) pond filled |
| do jump out of the koi pond. | | | | with bog plants. Here is one of the best lists I |
| REASONS | | | | have found to date with more information on the |
| • Oxygen is being consumed by large | | | | subject: ( HYPERLINK " Flood this area with a |
| quantities of decomposing debris onthe bottom of | | | | portion of the unfiltered waterfall return water |
| the koi pond. | | | | and allow it to trail back into the koi pond. You |
| • Excessive amounts of algae are using | | | | have now created a very effective natural |
| up the oxygen during nighttimehours with shorter | | | | biological filter. The fish waste, as it is absorbed |
| daylight hours. | | | | by the bog soil, is broken down into ammonia by |
| • Too many fish for the size of the koi | | | | aerobic bacteria (using oxygen). These aerobic |
| pond. | | | | bacteria reproduce at higher rates than do the |
| • Surface covered over with lily pads. | | | | beneficial Nitrosomonas bacteria, which actually |
| SOLUTIONS | | | | break down the ammonia. So aerobic bacteria |
| • Remove debris | | | | compete for oxygen with the Nitrosomonas and |
| • Decrease algae growth | | | | use so much of it that the area they inhabit |
| • Decrease number of koi fish | | | | becomes anaerobic, or oxygen-deficient. |
| • Decrease number of lily pads. | | | | The ammonia by-product of fish waste being |
| PLANTS | | | | broken down by aerobic bacteria is now |
| Oxygen is also produced by submerged | | | | "attacked" by Nitrosomonas. This further breaks it |
| "oxygenating" aquatic plants and algae. Plants not | | | | down into toxic nitrite. Then the nitrite is broken |
| only help regulate the oxygen levels of your koi | | | | down by other aerobic bacteria called nitrobacters, |
| pond; they cool off the surrounding area as well. | | | | which convert nitrite into beneficial nitrates in the |
| Plants that normally would not survive in direct | | | | form of food for the plants. |
| sunlight or desert climate thrive in the immediate | | | | Smaller bog planters can be created at the koi |
| vicinity of a waterfall due to the high evaporation | | | | pond's edge, in much the same way as the larger |
| rate. The water splatters and thins out as it rolls | | | | bog pond was. As the water passes through |
| over rock, increasing the surface exposure. The | | | | these bog planters and goes through the process |
| resulting evaporating water becomes a heat | | | | of being cleaned, it picks up oxygen before |
| exchanger, cooling the surrounding air by as much | | | | returning to the pond. |
| as 15 to 20 degrees. The evaporating water | | | | One of the most effective ways to add large |
| increases the humidity protection to the plants | | | | quantities of oxygen to the water is by the use |
| from the harsh rays of the sun. | | | | of Venturi injectors. For a complimentary |
| When adding plants to a waterfall, there are many | | | | instruction sheet on how to construct a Venturi |
| places that can facilitate plants, such as baby | | | | injector, download at homepage.mac.com |
| tears and different types of moss. Places that | | | | doughoover. Happy koi, peace & joy. |