| The most basic conditions of your koi pond water | | | | more of these gravels in your filter system at all |
| chemistry are the pH factor (which stands for | | | | times - especially if you are replenishing your pond |
| potential Hydrogen) and water hardness. These | | | | with soft water. The gravel should be replaced |
| factors alone can determine the life or death of | | | | every 9 to 12 months since all the buffers will be |
| your koi pond's inhabitants (I call them the "Fam | | | | leached out by that time. If the buffers are used |
| Fam"). | | | | up and the pH level drops to 6.0 or lower, the |
| The pH of the koi pond water is measured on a | | | | nitrifying bacteria that break down the toxic fish |
| scale of 1-14, with a reading of 7 considered | | | | waste, ammonia, and nitrite will stop functioning. |
| "neutral." Any reading above 7 is alkaline; anything | | | | At a low pH, highly toxic ammonia chemically |
| below 7 is acidic. Most fish prefer a pH value of | | | | changes to relatively non-toxic ammonium. If you |
| 7.2 to 7.6, or just slightly on the alkaline side of | | | | raise the pH rapidly, the ammonium will also |
| the scale. However, koi and goldfish can adjust to | | | | quickly return to ammonia, which could be fatal to |
| gradual changes in pH from as low as 7 to as high | | | | your fish. |
| as 8.5 and still remain healthy and flourish. | | | | Please invest in the health of your fish. Purchase a |
| Hardness or buffers in the koi pond water can | | | | koi pond test kit from any pet or pond store. |
| raise the pH levels. Even though hardness is a | | | | Invest the time to read the directions and start |
| separate measure from pH, the two respond to | | | | regularly testing your koi pond. Remember, clear |
| each other chemically. Pure or "distilled" water has | | | | water does not mean clean! As in the water we |
| a pH of 7 and an absence of buffers or hardness. | | | | drink, just because the water looks clear, smells |
| Neutral pH is unstable, however, and if it has no | | | | good, and tastes good does not mean it is clean. |
| buffers or hardness, it can quickly drop to the | | | | Most of the most toxic, cancer-causing priority |
| lower (acidic) end of the pH scale - as low as 4.2 | | | | pollutants listed by the E.P.A are colorless, |
| to 4.8. At this level of acidity the fish's gills | | | | odorless, and tasteless. Do not ever forget the |
| become burned and eventually become unable to | | | | simple facts: You have a toilet in a separate room |
| extract oxygen from the water, ultimately | | | | of your house. Your scaly friend's living room is |
| suffocating. | | | | their toilet, and they have to swim in it. Keep it |
| Should the pH in your koi pond ever drop to | | | | flushed and clean. |
| these levels, never try to raise the pH too quickly. | | | | If you do not presently have a bio-filter, please |
| By placing coral gravel, dolomite, or oyster shell | | | | purchase one, or at no cost to you, download |
| gravel in a nylon filter bag inside your filter or | | | | instructions and a parts list of simple items you |
| directly in the waterfall, moving water can pass | | | | can purchase from any home improvement store |
| through it and the pH will rise to 7.0 or 7.3 in less | | | | for less then $65 and build one yourself using an |
| than two days. | | | | electric drill and a hand saw. download with no |
| To prevent the drastic fluctuation in hardness | | | | oblication or log in required at - |
| buffers affecting pH, you should include one or | | | | Happy koi, peace and joy. |