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Your Koi care calendar for the year

Every pond is different. Use this guide as a starting point and adapt the advice based on water temperature, climate, water quality, and fish behaviour. Regular temperature checks and water quality tests will help you get it right.

Year-round tasks ✓ M aintain your filter at least once a month, some Koi keepers also monitor filters each day. ✓ Test the water every 2-4 weeks

January

February

• Switch on ice preventers and/or pond heaters

• Dig new ponds or extend your existing one

• Check for water loss and damage from freezing

• Avoid water changes

• Do not feed Koi when water temperature drops

• No food below 50°F / 10°C

below 50°F / 10°C

• Skim debris from the surface

March • Lower the pump back to the bottom of the pond (if raised in winter) • Perform a 20% water change, and continue with 10% changes weekly low KH is a danger at this time of year • Increase Koi food, feeding little and often, and monitor behaviour for signs of hunger • Remove ice preventers and pond de-icers • Switch on UV filters • Optional: Apply a phosphate-binding treatment to reduce phosphate levels and help limit early-season algae growth • Check over any stored equipment ready for summer

April • Maintain your pump by descaling, removing and cleaning the impeller (one of two recommended cleanings per year) • Clean, polish, and check water features and other equipment • Replace filter media and UV bulbs • Scoop out debris • Use a pond vacuum to remove sludge • Watch out for predators – consider using pond nets or decoys • Increase fish food back to normal levels

May

June

• Watch Koi for signs of breeding, e.g. bloated females

• Separate Koi fry and adults into different ponds

• Consider a spawning mop to support egg laying • Check water temperature – 68°F (18-20°C) is best for breeding • Feed Koi up to four times per day • This is why you’ll need to remove string algae in June. Twice is the max recommended to keep nutrient levels manageable. • Pond areation can be switched on – especially with heavy fish load

or tanks • Remove string algae and blanket weed • Increase UV clarifier and/or filter capacity if necessary

July

August

• Ensure pump and filter are optimised as

• Check water levels and top up if needed

temperatures rise – for reference our Oase Aquamax Eco Premium pumps have ‘Seasonal Flow Control’ (SFC ), automatically increasing and decreasing flow according to pond temperature (this can help reduce energy use)

• Remove string algae and blanket weed • Keep fountains and waterfalls running overnight • Ensure plenty of shade in the pond • Increase fish food

• Keep fountains and waterfalls running overnight • Add beneficial bacteria to pond. This should be done every month that fish are fed • Check water levels and top up if needed • Check fish for signs of low oxygen, e.g. gulping air at the surface

September • Prepare for falling leaves: check any nets and skimmers are functional • Start cutting back dead plants

• Feed fish small amounts several times per day

• Check the water temperature regularly

• Remove string algae and blanket weed

• Feed Koi well to keep them healthy through winter • Maintain your pump by descaling and removing the impeller for a thorough clean

October

November

• Remove fallen leaves from water surface every day

• Clear out sludge, skim debris, vacuum bottom of pool

• Empty out pond skimmers every day

• Remove fallen leaves from water surface every day

• Remove all dead plant material from water

• Empty out pond skimmers every day

• Switch Koi to a low protein food when water

• Remove all dead plant material from water

temperature drops below 70°F/20°C. • Watch for fish starting to hibernate • Switch off water features ready for winter storage

• Slow down water changes • Check water temperature regularly • Add ice preventer or pond de-icer if freezing is a possibility • Give fish any preventative health treatments needed

December • If possible, reduce water flow or raise the pump outlet to minimize turbulence while the pond is semidormant • Avoid water changes • Skim debris and fallen leaves from the surface • Switch on ice preventer or pond de-icer • Continue feeding Koi low-protein food (e.g. wheatgerm-based food) as long as water temperature stays above 50°F /10°C • Check fish behaviour: expect them to be very slow

before winter • Continue feeding Koi low-protein food (e.g. wheatgerm-based food) until water temperature drops below 50°F /10°C, then stop feeding as Koi hibernate.

Expert guidance whenever you need it Whether you’re maintaining an existing pond or building one from scratch, our specialist knowledge is always within reach. Explore our detailed DIY guides for step-by-step support. Prefer to speak with us directly? Reach our team at customerservice@atlantic-oase.com