Koi Fish Information Centre

Hi Ken, Sorry to hear you lost all of your fish. Just thought I’d make a suggestion that you completely sterilize your pond before you start placing any new fish (goldfish or koi) in your pond. When sterilizing your pond, you should also do a good job of sterilizing anything else you;ll be using in the pond (pumps, filters, nets, buckets … EXERYTHING). Place the pond tools in the pond and they’ll be sterilized at the same time as the pond. Sterilizing your filters will kill off all of the beneficial bacteria required for boi-filtration, but at least you’ll know that you won’t be releasing any ick or other nastiness back into the pond when you start it up and place fish back into it.
One of the best way to accomplish sterilizing the pond is by using Potassium Permangenate (PP) in a series of three to four applications (1 level tsp of PP for each 600-700 gal of water in your pond system). over a 6 to 9 day period (apply every third day). Application rates with koi in the pond (I wouldn’t recommend treating with goldfish still in the pond)
1) Bypass filter but make a substantial increase of circulation and aeration in the pond. 2) Apply one level teaspoon of granular potassium permanganate per 600-700 hundred gallons of water in the pond system (pond and filtration system).
NOTE: Be VERY careful and use rubber or latex gloves any time you handle PP. Don’t get it in your eyes, don’t breathe in the powder, and Don’t get on it on your.skin or clothing. 3) Wait until water changes from a deep purple/pink to a light brown or amber color. 4) Apply regular over-the-counter Hydrogen Peroxide 3% USP at a rate of one Cup per 1000 gallons of pond water to deactivate any remaining PP. Within an hour you should have crystal clear water. 5) You can now start your filtration, but keep up the high circulation/aeration at least until the full treatment series has been completed.
** Repeat the above steps with each of the 2-3 additional applications until the full treatment series is completed.
NOTE: WITHOUT fish in the pond, you can speed the sterilization process up by by DOUBLING the PP dosage rate and applying only two or three applications of it (every second day).
When using PP, be sure to wear rubber gloves and be very careful so you won’t get it on you clothing of skin (wearing eye protection is a very good idea too). Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizer and can burn skin, eyes, and other body parts. It will stain your skin and everything it touches brown. If you get any on you be sure to immediately wash as much off as you can. I use a brillo pad when washing to scrub as much off as I can.
DON’T use PP in your pond if you have goldfish in the pond. I’ve heard of people treating with PP while goldfish are in the pond, and having them survive, but in general, goldfish don’t fare nearly as well as koi do when PP is used in the pond.
Below are three sites you can go to to read about the use of PP in your pond.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FA032
http://www.koivet.com/html/articles/articles_details.php?article_id=39&category=13&name=Medications
http://www.ponddoc.com/WhatsUpDoc/FishHealth/PP.html
NOTE: If you have to buy salt to use in your pond, you should be able to buy a 50 lb bag of the right kind from Costco, Sams Club, or most any koi specialty shop for about $7.00 to $8.00. Don’t buy the very high priced small quantities sold by most pet stores (usually sold in half gallon milk carton type containers) when you can buy a 50 lb bag for about the same price.
I wish you better success with your next family of pond dwellers, Don ikeepkoi
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Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society