July 2010 Issue

What are your secrets to keeping koi and other pond fish healthy?

"We’re on a testing system, where we keep the water under control. On a daily basis, we check bacteria levels and keep ammonia levels in check. We also buy from a reputable dealer. If you follow those things, you shouldn’t have any problems at all.”
Kennith Berg with Natural Water Gardens in Freeport, Ill.

"The secret is to use the proper chemicals. People are averse to chemicals, but certain products are important. Stress coat really helps the water for plants as well as fish. If customers do the right things in terms of filtration and using plants, they won’t need much else."
Ron Page with Page’s Fountains & Water Gardens in Sacramento, Calif.

"These big ponds are eco-systems, and people have to get these systems set up correctly. You have to make sure you have a very good biological filter, you need to seed that with the correct bacteria. But there’s more to it than that. It’s a process that takes about four weeks. You have to establish the nitrogen cycle. That’s the process a lot of people skip, and they end up having issues.”
John Musgrave with River City Koi and Water Garden in Kansas City, Mo.

"For us, it’s water clarity. It takes a lot of stuff to keep water clear. Clear water keeps our customers happy because they can see their fish.”
Eric Myszka with Backyard Beautiful LLC in Crivitz, Wis.

"Avoid overstocking. Keep the water quality good, and perform water changes. Watch ammonia levels. Also, if you aren’t worried about your plants, keep a little salt in there — 1 cup for every 100 gallons to promote the slime coat.”
Michael Ziegler with Zeigler’s Greenhouse and Aquatics in Columbia, Pa.

"Keep the whole pond system balanced out. The health of the pond is the health of the fish. If the entire environment isn’t accounted for, people will have problems."
Lana Pettie with Pettie Aquatic Garden Supply in Athens, Ala.

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July 2010 Issue

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