Not sure if my comment got through because another video had started so I'll try again. Great video again Andy. As you said its personal preference and I think in the koi world we also say, what works for one may not work for another. I have a raised pond like yours and I cover it purely to stop the snow getting in, if we get any, stops the rain from causing an overflowing problem and also stops most of the leaves getting in. I don't have it flat like yours but on a slope roughly 3 inches high one end then it over hangs like a roof to dispel water away on the other. I cover it over on the 5th November to protect from fireworks debris and it stays covered until February or march. When I do a little water change throughout the winter season I'll leave it off while it's warm but I don't feed. From Nov 5 until March or at least until I know the cold snaps are finished they won't get fed purely because of the beneficial bacteria depletion. I'm always worried I'll have problems if I feed in the winter so I haven't done it for 5 years. Haven't lost a fish since, touch wood, but again it's all personal preference and what works for me may not work for you. I also remove my retro bottom drain and large pump, reduce the pump size on my oase filter so there's not too much turbulence or unsettling of temperatures. Air pump isn't variable so I leave 1 stone in shallow end and the other 3 in tubs of pond water that house the Lillie's that I've chopped down and removed from the pond. I wish I can upload pics so it makes it clearer for you to understand. Maybe I'll upload a video on the tube or tag you on insta. one day. Would love for you to see my little setup
Hi Andy, another great show mate, as you say we all have our own ideas and ways, in nature not a lot of we do exists, the fish when they want to, again you don’t see many rivers lakes and natural ponds covered. Keep up the content Andy I for one love what you are doing.
I still feed my fish low fat feed all through a f there moving around and looking for food then feed them I do measure my feeds how ever so they get the same each feed .if there moving about and not feeding they can go not defisit and become weak and there amune system will drop even more so than it would normally in cold conditions keep up the good work
Hi Andy, I’m in my first year of having a pond (pond was dug late summer/early autumn 2023 and has been running (with koi in) since mid October. Video on my channel). I very quickly found that the internet is an absolute minefield when it comes to ‘advice’ regarding what to do regarding the fish etc. So much of the available information contradicts itself which isn’t good when all we want is what’s best for our fish! I’ve personally gone down the route of only feeding wheatgerm food once the water dropped below 10°C then just playing it by ear as to if and when the fish come up looking for food. My pond is currently at around 5.5°C and yesterday the fish were scoffing like crazy. However today they’re all down in the bottom layers as it dropped cold here last night and they never came up when I stood by the corner where they get fed at. It’s almost like they knew the colder weather is coming!
Hi and welcome to this great hobby. Your so right with the mixed opinions you see when you ask a question. If you have some Facebook accounts just see what happens when someone asks a question. You see dozens of different answers. One of the reasons I started this channel was so my viewers like yourself that wasn't sure can actually see the results from what I do so you can make your own mind up whether to do the same or not.. I try things I see and post results so viewers watch step by step the good and the bad results. If you look back on my catalogue of videos, I think I've covered most of the topics but there's always something else to try.. Every Days a School day.. Good luck with your relatively new pond.. 😉👍
@@KoiPondLifestyle Thanks Andy. Keep up the good work. It’s very much appreciated by people like me 😊 I think I have already watched 90% of the back catalogue 😂
Great update mate and im feeding mine a small amount of hikiri wheatgerm once a day and that says you can feed down to 5 but I won't be feeding that low but it's all down to personal preference. Stay safe Andy 👍
Hi Andy, I personally have never covered my pond in 23 years as I like to monitor my fish. Its currently at 9c. I do feed Wheat germ below 8c, but only if they are at the top wanting food. But so far they haven't stopped eating.
This winter we really havent had it bad just yet so me and MY feeding routine goes a bit like this, if they want food then i'll check the daytime and night time temps, if it looks like its going to stay above 5-6 degrees for the night and the next day then ill give them a little. If there looks to be drop in temp anywhere over the next few days lower than 5-6 degrees then unforunately the fish dont get their breakfast, oh, i only feed them in the mornings aswell to help them digest it as the temps drop mainly around early evening if they are going to drop. As you know, i had a PH drop down to about 4-5 so had to put some KH buffer in a couple of week back, the PH is back to where it should be now, but the water is still a little hard due to the KH buffer, im sure it will settle though. Getting my RDF Bio Combi in the next few weeks and will instal around mid-late February, looking forwards to that and all that water checking constantly, with a dash of a possibiity of new pond syndrome!
Happy New Year Andy. As you said, it’s all about personal preference. The trouble is, too many people try to push their personal preferences as gospel and the only way to do things. Until I’m presented with scientific evidence I’ll continue doing my personal preferences, my pond my rules 😂
Never thought about testing RAIN water ... Tap water and pond yes..but never rain. Will do this once I've drunk playa Blanca dry 🍺🍺🍺. Decided to leave the air on 24/7..saving was going to be minimal. I take covers off once a week to get close and personal. Water temp has been up and down so I decided not to feed till spring regardless. Not sure about feeding once or twice a week just because the water goes back up to 9 or 10. Either feed normally or don't feed I reckon. Agree about the covers. I've used them for the last 5 years. Held down with bricks. Excellent..always a good video when we get a shout out for F-k
Hi andy your ph test looked yellow not in the blue zone ,i checked mine today and it was yellow so i did a gentle water change and added ph stabiliser i do this every now and then cause of all the rain in cornwall! Where i live and try to keep it blue,nice video regards richard.
Hiya, Normal PH levels are usually around 7-8 neutral. anything above or below would be acidic or alkaline. However if its stable the fish could adapt as long as its not extreme either way. I know a pond that was so alkaline all the fish should have been dead but they were quite happy as they had been in that water for so long. Or maybe your test kit shows a different colure at Neutral to mine..🤔. Glad you enjoyed the video...👍😉
I have an in ground pond of 4250 gallons that’s not heated or covered. It’s 4 feet deep for around half of it and I feed once or twice a day if the fish are active and seem to want it with a wheat germ feed, currently Hikari! Filters and air run as normal although I move the air stones away from the deeper part of the pond. I don’t clean the filters as often over winter, probably once every 2 weeks or so as it doesn’t appear to need it. Have been doing this for the last 20 odd years without any problems!
I’ve been feeding my koi this winter because it hasn’t really been that cold I think, also I went carp fishing yesterday and caught as did other anglers so there still feeding at the moment
Hiya, Was I right about the deeper lakes and rivers that the water could be a degree or 2 warmer so fish dive down in winter.. I had a fisherman tell me that a few years ago. 🤔👍
Hi Andy , i personally only winter feed whe the koi are up and on the move , small offerings by hand and some wheat germ, I have also tried to blend the food in a mixer and add like a ground bait . That works ok but the bottom drain takes it out quite quick . I have also never covered my pond and my PH levels are consistently around 7. .. happy new year all 🤜💥🤛
Yup all personal preference. I've got a raised pond like yours and I cover it only to stop the rain over filling it, snow, if we have any and the leaves falling in from next door. I also monitor water temps and usually by November 5th because of firework trash its covered and feeding is stopped. I don't feed all winter just in case we have a really cold snap and I get worried their digestion won't be able to cope if they've eaten too much. Mine are proper piggies lol. I also stop feeding because the beneficial bacteria levels drop so again I'm worried the filter won't be able to cope and I don't particularly want an ammonia spike. Like you said it is personal preference and what might work for one might not work for another. Have a great new year
Hi I feed if they are there and take it , I only feed small amounts and I keep an eye on the coming days weather so if its going to drop really cold like it is now I don't feed You got to remember because their metabolism has slowed right down so has their digestive system ,to much food and it will not be digested and its belly up time Regards steve kite 6:40
I've been covered over the last three years, and you can definitely see a difference in the koi. As you don't have the wind chill, etc, the temperature drops are fairly slow. So the fish haven't really sulked, so to speak, like they used to. Also feeding wise, I haven't stopped in three years. Most of the time, feeding the same amount daily. Obviously, when the temperatures get below 8c, then the feeding is spread out over the week, as opposed to daily. Below 8c its mainly when they ask for it. Last winter, I think there were 3 separate weeks over the winter, where I didn't feed them. But never gone more than a week without some food tbh. I feed the Takazumi range (currently feeding vital), and a lot of their range says to not feed below 4c. I haven't hit that low, so they still get some. I'm not sure why some stop, say October, and start again, March, etc. That's like 5/6 months without food🤷. I actually get a noticeable amount of growth over winter, so why waste that time. Obviously, if it was doing them harm, I wouldn't feed them. But I've not had any issues doing this since I've been covered. Again, this has to be done in moderation. As the filters need to be able to handle that food over winter.
Hiya, Thanks for that. Some great feedback comments there.. It sounds like I run a similar system over winter, but it seems everyone has a little different way of doing things that you cant knock until you've tried it... 😉👍
@KoiPondLifestyle 100% mate. For my setup and being covered, it works, and I can feed pretty much every day 90% of the time. Which most likely wouldn't work for uncovered ponds. As the temperature fluctuations would make them sulk. But you could still feed small amounts to keep them ticking over. Currently, I'm feeding 60g a day, which will likely drop to 30g in the next week or so looking at the forecast. Then it's a case of checking pond temperature and activity. But if I hadn't put the covers on and stopped feeding at the end of October. Then, I would have lost the last 3 months of growth that I've gained. And to be fair, it's a noticeable amount over those 12 weeks already. I don't really like wheatgerm based foods as my koi tend to get a bit of a belly off it. This is why I really rate the Takazumi food, which a lot of the range is a multiseason food. It's always good to see what others do like you say. And there's always room for adjustments and tweeks. So keep the content coming. 👍
Hiya, Thanks for sharing. Its all down to personal preference and knowing your pond over time and experience.. We haven't had any preachers on here yet... there's time though..😁😉👍
i stopped feeding middle of November, i always have and in 35 years of koi keeping have never covered the pond, not saying i wouldnt just money stops me, i have my filters open to the elements, last year froze solid, so this year i was supposed to house it in, again money prevented it, i think its each to there own, what one does does not make it gospel, Happy New Year buddy, and iv bought some FOC to try, i usually use KMAdvantage
I feed occasionally when at 10 deg or above. But haven’t this week as have been treating the pond, update out soon…😊 Happy New Year Andy, another great update…… 👍🏼
Another cracking update Andy bruva and my main pond, tosai tank and ibc tank are all being fed once a day and will continue to do so until the temps drop 8 degrees and yep fecking flukes again bruva 💯🤬🤬🤬🤬💯🧁👍👍👍
Hi Andy I’m still feeding as normal like you say the boys and girls tell you when they want it, but then my temperature is around 15% and it’s covered till the weather warms up
My small fish will eat flake over the winter bigger fish dont bother at all eating that I can see however the little fish will come to the top and eat wholemeal bread. Biggest thing is check your pond walls all the rain water is flooding the soil which when it starts to dry out could cause craks in the brickwork or pond base.
great viedo as for feeding i think the fish know best if they wont food they wont food if they dont wont food the fish know what is best not the person
Thanks i feed my koi all year round with the same food if they wont it and never had any probs had them for 6 years my dad was the same he had koi for 20 years plus and that was back in the 90s and he never put any chems in the water and never lost one think people are thinking to much and keep on treating koi for the slite of things and making more problems as time goes on at the end of the day there just carp a hardy fish @@KoiPondLifestyle
ive coverd my pond once and it caused me more hassle than what it was worth and didnt really make any diffence, all it did was make my fish more arfraid when the covers came off only my opion on what happend with my pond
All Seasons once or twice a day, the pond is 9c, and they are still coming up to be fed. Also, if they are chewing at the small amount of weed on the bottom and sides, then they are still looking for food.
Thanks for sharing that... All seasons seems to be doing it for me and maybe I'm getting some growth and better energy levels from the fish in Spring, at the same time.🤔😉👍.
I don't have koi unfortunately, but I have a goldfish pond and my fish stopped showing interest in food in November ,so I have not offered them anything and they are all perfectly fine. Obviously the difference being that koi keepers want the growth so are more interested in getting food in when they can. If the fish ask and eat it then there's no problem. Opinions are like ars**oles, we all have one 😃 but as long as what you are doing is doing no harm and is working for you, then that's perfectly ok. If we all did exactly the same as each other wouldn't life be boring .
Hiya, thanks for that great feedback. I may have to start to try to feature my Gold Fish in future videos now I know we have a gold fish keeper watching the channel... I have 2 that I adopted about about 8 years ago..😉👍
feed all year round , the fish will decide if they want food , it's like us , we eat when we are hungry , fish will do the same , think of carp in the wild , they have food in the pond / rivers all year round , who regulates there food , so yes , put some food in , leave it for 10 mins , if not eating , then remove it , i have always fed all year round and never lost a fish from feeding , an my pond was never heated ,
