One consideration when creating a Koi pond is aeration.
Starting The Koi Hobby: A Step By Step Guide…
Very simply, aeration involves creating a condition wherein your pond has enough air diffused within the water of the pond so that fish and other aquatic life can survive and thrive.
By itself, your free-standing pond will most likely already have some natural ways of creating aeration but there are ways to enhance this natural aeration through pond design and equipment.
Koi need a basic level of pond aeration in order to survive and they need an ideal level of aeration in order to mimic their natural environment which their bodies are adapted to.
The level of aeration in water is measured in parts per million or ppm. Below 3 ppm fish begin to die. 6 ppm is the acceptable level with 8 ppm being ideal for all fishes including koi.” You don’t have to go to the trouble of measuring your ppm you just have to match your aerator equipment to your pond size. We will go into that later. For now, the takeaway is that the more aeration you have in your pond the better.
Aside from your Koi, proper aeration will also benefit your aquatic plants and will support the growth of beneficial bacteria. The bottom line, it’s good for the entire ecosystem of your pond.
Does My Pond Have Natural Aeration? And is it Enough for My Koi?
Yes, all ponds have natural aeration and no, natural aeration is not enough for your Koi.
Aeration happens every time air touches water, so the surface of your pond is constantly aerated. When the wind blows over the top of the pond water or rain begins to fall, aeration increases.
Natural aeration is also brought about by aquatic plants. Aquatic plants directly add oxygen to the surrounding water
As your Koi move inside the pond and stir it up the movement of the water increase the chances of water contacting the surface air and increasing aeration.
In spite of all these, you must not rely on natural aeration for your Koi pond.
What Options Do I Have For Aerating My Koi Pond?
Pond aeration can be grouped into two broad classes: Agitators and Diffusers.
Agitators are also known as surface aerators. They aerate ponds by disrupting or agitating the pond surface. Aside from aeration, agitators also add to the aesthetics of the pond.
While Agitators focus on the surface of the pond Diffusers work from beneath the water to increase aeration.
Depending on your preference you can use one kind of aeration or both kinds.
What Are The Different Kinds of Agitators?
Waterfalls
Streams
Fountains
If you are still building or going to build your Koi pond you might want to consider designing in a waterfall or a stream.
Compared to a waterfall a pond stream is a gentler way of stirring the pond water.
A waterfall could be noisier but can be a more effective aerator since the water going into the pond reaches a deeper level than a stream would and is able to bring oxygen to those waters.
You can also build a fountain into your pond. The water falling from a fountain ripples the surface of the pond and creates bubbles that aerate the water.”
If you already have an existing Koi pond, consider adding a floating fountain as a source of aeration.
What are the Different Kinds of Diffusers?
The different kinds of Diffusers:
Diffusers are essentially bubble makers that are placed at the bottom of your pond or sometimes at mid-level.
As the air bubbles rise up they aerate the water they come in contact with. Additionally, the action of a lot of bubbles going up the surface of the water moves the water from the bottom of the pond to the pond surface, creating a cycle by which the less aerated water beneath the pond displaces the more aerated surface water.
What Other Things Do I Have To Consider When Choosing A Method Of Aeration For My Koi Pond?
You have to select an air pump. Whether you are using an Agitator or a Diffuser you need a power source and the air pump is that power source.
An air pump will be located on the outside of your pond and will be linked to the fountain, air stone, fountain, or diffuser disk through a hose or pipe.
What Kind Of Air Pump Do I Need For My Pond?
The capacity of your air pump must be matched to the size of your pond.
The formula is fairly simple. Air pumps have specifications that state the number of liters or cubic meters of water they can move per minute. Stated as cubic meters per minute or CFM, or liters per minute or LFM.
When considering your pond your air pump should be able to move the entire water content of your pond in one hour. So, for a 3,000 liter pond take 3,000 and divide it by 60. This comes out as 50. So, the air pump for that pond must be rated at 50 LFM.
Here are the Different Kinds of Pumps Available and Their Best Qualities:
Linear Piston Air Pump – known to be long lasting
Linear Diaphragm Air Pump – High output alternative to the Linear Piston but the caveat is that you have to change the diaphragm after a few years – the part is inexpensive though.
Rotary Vane Air Pump – long lasting pump designed for larger ponds.
Regenerative Blower – High output and quiet
Rocking Piston Compressor – This is for very large ponds.
What are other things that I have to know about aeration?
Aeration varies with water temperature. The colder the water the more aerated it is; as the water warms up it tends to become less aerated.
As water becomes colder it becomes denser and it has a greater ability to trap oxygen, that is why it is more aerated.
This means that in winter the aeration needs of your pond will be less than during the warmer months. The need for air will also be influenced by the fact that your Koi will hibernate during the winter, slowing down their metabolism which means they need less oxygen.
Keeping the relationship between water and aeration in mind you might want to consider partially or fully shading your pond to lower the water temperature and increase aeration.
Aeration also varies with elevation. The higher up from sea level your pond is located the less aerated it will be compared to ponds in lower areas.
This is because air pressure is less in higher elevations so the oxygen in the water has a greater tendency to escape.
If you have a pond that is in an elevated locale consider increasing the level of aeration to counteract the loss in air pressure.
Be Aware Of The Following Causes Of Low Aeration:
Too many fish
Not enough plants
Algae blooms
Organic decay
Goldfishes are legendary among aquarium keepers as messy fish, but Koi are even messier. The organic waste of Koi is a definite factor affecting filtration so be sure to stock just the right amount of Koi in your pond. The rule of thumb is to keep 4 Koi per 1,000 gallons of pond water. That would be 4 Koi for a 3,800-liter pond. Having a lot of lively fishes on each and every square foot of your pond isn’t pond keeping, it’s fish farming.
Keep your pond well-stocked with plants for better aeration. Here are five oxygenating plants for you to consider:
Arrowhead
Eelgrass
Fanwort
Hornwort
Water Sprite.
Algae blooms are a form of plant life and they do produce oxygen but they are still considered to be ultimately dangerous for aeration because then the algae die off and begin to decay and this will have a detrimental effect on aeration and water quality.
The cause of algae is sunlight so shading your pond is a great way to prevent algae from forming. If you already have algae bloom in your pond one way to get rid of them is by using an algaecide – be sure to carefully read the manufacturer’s information to make sure that the product is safe for your Koi.
All types of decaying matter in your pond will eventually breed aerobic bacteria which will compete with your fish for oxygen and lower the aeration of your pond, so be sure to regularly clean your pond.
Conclusion
Here are the main points to take away from this article
You definitely need pond aeration for your Koi.
Your pond has natural aeration that you must build on by installing aerators.
Pond aerators can be grouped into the surface level Agitators such as streams, waterfalls, and fountains and the underwater Diffusers such as air stones and diffuser disks.
To power your aerators, you need an air pump. Air pumps are of different capacities and you have to select the right one for your pond. Ideally, your air pump should be able to move the entire water content of your pond in an hour.
The colder the water the better the aeration, the warmer the water the less oxygen it can trap.
Ponds located in elevated locations tend to be less aerated than ponds at sea level.
Poor aeration can be caused by stocking too many fish, keeping too few plants, allowing algae blooms to take over your pond, and failing to keep your pond clean of decaying matter
