Koi pond pH and KH - [PART 1]

This is the first of a two part video discussing pH and KH in the koi pond environment and looking at how the two variables interact with each other.
In part 1 I talk about what pH actually is, what levels are suitable for our koi, what is the perfect koi pond pH and what happens if we go outside these levels and also how to measure and control your pH.
If you enjoy the video and find it useful please hit the like button and subscribe to my channel here rb.gy/dp57so for more content on this wonderful hobby.
#koi #koipond #fishpond #dazzlekoi #japanesekoi #qualitynishikigoi #pondbuild #pH #KH

[@sandypollard562]

Never over complicated, explained so we'll 👍👍👍👌

[@DazzleKoi]

Thank you very much 😊😊

[@tomtomrst20]

Your videos are so detailed and explain everything brilliantly. Your really helping me out 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Tom and thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate that. Some good info in these early videos but my video making skills leave a lot to be desired !! 😁 I may re-make some of them now I have better equipment. I can update and hone them at the same time.

[@colrobbo2821]

Another in the arsenal! cheers mate 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Col, your welcome 👍👍

[@highdayhdr9716]

I'm a goldfish keeper, thanks for the helpful information, I've got a severe pH swing when my pond is new and there is a casualties involved that I've never understood, now that I'm clear about it once you elaborate on this matter in this video. Btw lots of ppl don't understand that temperature also can affect the pH and aside of using baking soda to increase the pH, there is other alternative way to maintain the pH of outdoor pond safely without having a large pH swing, that's is using crush coral or oysters shell 😆

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi there and thank you 👍👍 Yes I've heard of using oyster shells for pH stability but not crushed coral, thank you 🍻🍺🍺🍻🍻

[@GrahamTaylor123]

Excellent info again and well explained. Can’t wait for pt2 👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks Graham 👍

[@MikeZak101]

my Achilles heel is tds and GH, another great vid though mate, defo the most informative channel on here.

[@DazzleKoi]

HI Michael, I'll add those to my list 👍

[@adamjohnson9148]

Very interesting, useful information. Thank you for filming.

[@DazzleKoi]

Thank you Adam, much appreciated 👍

[@doneast9459]

Thank you for the tips mate. Helpful for beginners like me.

[@DazzleKoi]

Cheers Don, thats great to here 🍻🍻🍻🍻

[@ACKoi]

Interesting video mate 👍👍👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks a lot, I appreciate the feedback mate 👍

[@mscarfy2397]

Enjoy your video’s m8 ! Very knowledgeable 👍👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Thanks mate, I appreciate that 👍

[@DadHD]

I have 0kh in my water so looking forward to that! Using bicarb to buffer and works a treat.

[@jimwoollard8329]

Interesting video. I never knew what the letters stood for. Rain water can have a huge impact on PH hence why a lot of people built covers over their ponds. Unfortunately I can't do that so have to keep an eye on the water.

[@coop3014]

Great video!

[@badenwright9822]

Cheers for that Darren brilliantly explained mate.Just one thing tho,you said high ph there’s normally a reason for this,what can cause it if your tap water is lower than the reading from your pond!

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Baden, increases in pH in ponds comes about from consumption of carbon dioxide so it is down to photosnythesis from plant matter during the daylight hours. Algae, blanket weed etc are big culprits. Koi themselves produce carbon dioxide so they should top it back up in theory but if the pH increases it must be being consumed by plant matter quicker than it is being produced.

[@badenwright9822]

Dazzle Koi cheers mate.Going off on a tangent I’ve currently got no reading for ammonia but quite high for nitrite,I clean the nexus every other day and put some gel in every time.Is this likely due to the system only running for 2 months?

[@DazzleKoi]

Yes mate, its still quite new. K1 is notoriously slow to develop the bacteria that consume Nitrite. It tends to lag well behind the ammonia when it comes to getting established. You just need to keep doing what you're doing and it will come. If the nitrite gets too high just hold off the food for a day or two and it will come down.

[@badenwright9822]

Dazzle Koi cheers mate really appreciated 👍

[@peterkoczkowski5000]

Hi Daz great video lot of info Can you do a video salting your pond or NOT salting your pond and the best time to do so cheers 👍👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Peter, I'm very much anti salt for koi as I've read too much evidence of it being harmful long term. Its one of those topics that causes much 'debate' 😁 Given my stance I cant really offer much constructive help on it really to be honest as my video would just consist of me saying 'I don't think you should do it'. Have a read of this article www.koiquest.co.uk/salt%20but%20no%20vinegar%201111.htm

[@andycox3862]

Great content again mate enjoyed the video What's your take on clay for the pond? 👍👍

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Andrew, I'm a little out of touch with clay to be honest. I used it maybe 10 or 12 years ago when I had better quality fish but I'm not convinced I ever saw a difference. I think trace minerals are important but our tap water in the UK has more than enough for koi as long as you change water or trickle in. I think there is slight merit in it taking out some fines but I'd rather fix the reason for having them really. Maybe I'll do some trials with some different brands and make a video in the future.

[@Petch58]

Thank you for this very helpful information. My koi pond was about a 6 and I did a 25% water change and added salt. Brought it up to 6.5. I will try baking soda you recommended. And let you know.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Edward, yes baking soda (bi-carb) is the best thing to raise pH and keep it stable. Remember stability is the key so small amount's regularly is better than large amounts less often 👍👍👍

[@Petch58]

@@DazzleKoi Can't thank you enough for the information. I did as you said and in 12 hours it was perfect. I will be watching your videos from now on.

[@DazzleKoi]

No problem mate, glad to hear you got it sorted 👍👍 You need to monitor it now for a week or two to understand what it does naturally and it may be that you need a small amount of bi-carb periodically to keep it where you want it. Check the pH of your tap water to as that can be useful in controlling your pond level.

[@Petch58]

@@DazzleKoi I have another question for you. Do you use salt in your pond? And do you have a video on that subject?

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Edward, I would never put salt in my pond. I don't have a video on it as its such an emotive subject and always ends in an argument but suffice to say, I would never subject my koi to salt. I get asked this a lot so maybe its time I did a video about it but I'm really reluctant to be honest.

[@carollycett1329]

Thank you nice talk on water parameter's My pond has always had a PH of 7.5 to 8.0 The KH after I do a decent water changes always go low so I add 30 grams of B carb to bring it back up again, I like to keep this at about 7DH . Any Comments on this would be welcome . Stay Safe and well Thank You Carol

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Carol, where abouts in the world are you? From what you say you are doing everything absolutely spot on in my opinion. 7 is a nice safe figure to work with for KH and your pH is in a good, safe, healthy range. I'm guessing you are not in the UK? Usually our tap water has good levels of carbonates so water changes top up our KH.

[@carollycett1329]

@@DazzleKoi I'm in south Yorkshire England Thank carol

[@DazzleKoi]

oh right, that surprises me, I thought you might be in the US. I wonder if maybe installing a trickle in / out may help rather than doing water changes. It might be gentler on your koi if your tap water is low on carbonates.

[@Harrycapon1026]

Great video Daz What is your view on medi clay and koi masters as apparently these can both adjust the Ph and Kh Harry

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi Harry, as far as I'm aware mediclay is a standard montmorillonite clay which will raise the pH slightly if used a lot but I don't think its reliable as in you wouldn't use it specifically as a pH raising product. It just has that as a side effect sometimes. That said, if you need to regularly increase your pH and using mediclay does the job, plus the other benefits of a clay, it seems like a nice solution. Koi masters advantage I honestly don't know anything about. I remember looking at it a while back but it seemed like the sales literature was a little misleading in that it made bold claims but wouldn't actually say what was in it. I'll go back and look at it again though as I know a lot of people swear by it and have really good results.

[@Harrycapon1026]

@@DazzleKoi Thanks Daz

[@SteventheHorrible]

I'm not sure if this is a silly question but my pond is currently at 6pH, can I adjust this with part water changes as my tap water is 7.4?

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, yes your tap water will bring that up but it would be very slow. With it so low I would recommend bi carb to bring it up to a safer level quicker 👍

[@copeyskoichattingbubbles4775]

Hi m8 new to your chanel.could you do a compare between 2 diferant water test kits to check if the resaults are the same.i use ntlab.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate and welcome. Yes this is definitely something I have planned to do for ages but have never got around to. I use the colombo and find it excellent but it would be good to see direct comparisons between a few different kits. I'll get my finger out 👍👍

[@chriswebster7705]

Your videos have been a great help with my new koi pond. Latley i have been having really high ph. The first 2 weeks i have had no new pond syndrome (except a slight wiff of nitrite 4 days ago) and ph has been steady at 7.8. This last week there is new algea growth( bright green) just on the walls and floor the water is still gin clear and my ph has been rising all week im now at high 8s maybe 9on a evening , low 8 on a morning. My tap water has changed to around 8 straight from tap without conditioner. Is this acceptable or do i need to do something about ph.

[@DazzleKoi]

Hi mate, and thank you very much 👍 ph up to 9 is fine. At this time of year when feeding it is always higher than when feeding less. And as you know, it rises during the daylight hours peaking at dusk and falling to its lowest at dawn. this is due largely to photosynthesis and the impact of this is greater at the moment because you have blanket weed,. The weed is inevitable during the first 12 months of a new ponds life, until everything reaches a balance. I would recommend just monitoring it but not interviewing. Trying to lower pH is very difficult and once you start chasing it you'll be chasing it for ever more. With almost everything in koi keeping, its more important to be stable than target one particular level 👍👍

[@chriswebster7705]

Thanks for the reply it much appreciated. I was flapping a bit seeing a sudden shift.