| If you are new to looking after koi carp in your | | | | Test Kits: maintaining water quality is the main |
| backyard fish pond, you may be asking yourself | | | | objective for every fish pond owner, so you |
| what supplies you ought to keep in stock and | | | | have to inspect the water for ammonia and nitrite |
| what you can afford to buy as and when you | | | | poisoning every week. This is considered vital kit. |
| need them. The answer to that question, is | | | | Pond Salt and Baking Soda; are the cheapest |
| probably that it depends how far away your | | | | ways of combatting water toxicity, so it is vital to |
| closest pet shop is. However, it is a good idea to | | | | have plentiful supplies of these items at all times. |
| pick up provisions to put in stock, when you see | | | | Bags: one day you may need to transport one of |
| that something is on special offer. | | | | your fish to the vets or move it to a quarantine |
| There are things that you ought to have at hand | | | | tank, so you will have to keep a few bags on |
| at all times, but there are others that are not | | | | hand at all times. Make sure that they are large |
| crucial and can be waited for for a few days | | | | enough to hold your growing koi. These are |
| when you discover a need for them. Some of | | | | essential. |
| the items suggested below become more | | | | Rubber Bands: you will need strong rubber bands |
| important depending on the climate or the | | | | to close off the bags above, so they are |
| seasons dominant where you live. | | | | indispensable too. |
| Filtration Pump; this is vital, but you can wait | | | | Fish Net: necessary for guiding your fish into the |
| twenty-four hours. You have to bear in mind that | | | | bags and extricating fallen leaves. |
| the quality of your pond water will deteriorate | | | | Bucket: this is better for catching your koi than a |
| rapidly, if your pond filtration pump is out of | | | | net, which has the ability to damage their gills. |
| action. Toxicity levels will rise in the water and | | | | Essential. |
| stress levels will build up in your fish. Your fish will | | | | Koi Fish Food: koi need to be fed every day |
| become sick fairly quickly and then they will die. | | | | except in winter, but they can in fact go a couple |
| Pond Filters: this falls into the same category as | | | | of weeks without food because they also feed |
| the filtration pump for precisely the same reasons. | | | | on flies, grubs and larvae. It actually depends on |
| However, you can make your own filter using | | | | how big your pond is and whether you have |
| sand, coconut fibres or something like that and | | | | overstocked it. |
| then you should never run out. | | | | Leaf Net: in the autumn, it is easier to cast a net |
| Dechlorinator: water companies add chemicals | | | | over your pond, than pull leaves out of it every |
| such as chlorine and fluoride to the water, but fish | | | | day. It saves a lot of time. |
| do not like them. Therefore, you have to remove | | | | Sandbags: a storm or even heavy rainfall can |
| them. This is easily accomplished by adding a few | | | | flood your pond, allowing your fish to swim away. |
| capfuls of liquid dechlorinator. Buy a big bottle and | | | | Sandbagging the pond before a storm is essential. |
| it will last all year. | | | | |