Landscaping 1-2-3

Landscaping for koi fish are easy, if not super easy. You wouldn't really need plants and all those decorative stuff you usually put on your aquarium. I chose the following to decorate this 50-gallon aquarium:

• Sponge filter (a must!)
• Stones/small rocks
• Aquarium wallpaper

And that's about it!! Allow me to explain each and everything I placed in it.

To start off, why did I ever think of picking this huge 50-gallon aquarium tank? Although it isn't that huge compared to the 380-gallon tank which is considered the maximum size for custom-made aquariums, koi experts and even hobbyists suggest the rule "90 2-inch koi for every 100-gallon tank". With my koi bought at around 3-inches in length, I suppose my current tank can contain at least 20 koi perfectly. 

However, I couldn't contain that much koi just yet.

Other hobbyists suggest 10 gallons for every 3-inch koi can also be done in order to maximize its growth. Currently, I own 3 koi fish and 2 neighboring angelfish who surprisingly live together harmoniously and with the water temperature set at a constant of around 26 degrees Celsius.

As for the rocks, I manually picked them up from near the rivers and some from the side of the road. I made sure to wash them with unchlorinated water and rock salt, setting them aside for a few hours in order to eliminate any microorganism that can harm the fish upon introduction to it. 

And you don't just add them all at once. You don't want to stress them out especially if it takes roughly hour to properly fill this aquarium with a layer of rocks. Caution was taken in order to prevent the glass from breaking underneath.

Why rocks? 

As a child, I've watch my mother set up our aquarium (containing at about 15 koi at that time if my memory served me right) and she also placed a layer of granite rocks. I've come to realize that these do not only serve as decorations per se, but they were also said to provide some of the nutrients fish need (for example, magnesium and calcium). 

Putting up sand instead of rocks is also an option, but in my opinion, it would be difficult to dig all the dirt off from the sand given koi are heavy polluters (and they poo a lot).

The wallpaper is an option, really. Knowing an aquarium containing koi fish can't really be decorated with plants, it's a way to remove the dullness of the aquarium. 

Wait, so you mean I can't put plants?

I had the same question when I first picked koi as my fish and after doing thorough research. You can put floating plants, but putting them on an aquarium will be quite hassle if you think deeply of it. It will still be very likely that a hungry koi will eat your plants because they're omnivorous.

So what about plants used for decoration? You know, plastic plants.

I preferred not to put them to prevent the risk of it getting eaten if in case the fish sought of it as food. These decorations mimic the look of real plants, and you can't tell your koi not to eat them. It's better to be safe than sorry. 

✌

Magic Sponge

According to a couple of fish beginners, the magical black sponge, more commonly known as the sponge filter is, if not, one of the most effective ways to keep your aquarium stay healthy. Prior to my purchase for my aquarium’s biofilter, I was using a small air pump recommended to me by someone on a petshop.

About two days into owning my fish, I decided to purchase a filter perfect for a 50-gallon aquarium. I came home with an Infinity Bio-Sponge Filter model 2836. This is in no way promoting the product in exchange for anything. I am simply going to tell my personal experience with this filter.

I have been using this sponge filter for two months now. I am somewhat glad that the filter is able to keep any moss from growing anywhere in my tank, giving it a clear view of the water even in closer look.

Koi generate a greater amount of ammonia compared to other species of fish. Not to mention, any uneaten feeds can also generate ammonia. Hence, water change is necessary. Since performing water change every day would sound too hassle on my part, I came up with the sponge filter.

According to the product’s information written at the side of the box, this sponge filter provides two types of filtration – mechanical and biological. For the mechanical filtration, it pumps out air from the top portion of the filter, creating a suction of water through the sponge. The sponge is able to absorb minute particle wastes in the water. At the same time, aerobic bacteria will start growing on the sponge, promoting conversion of ammonia to nitrate, a less toxic byproduct of ammonia which is generally needed by plants, even phytoplanktons, to feed on. According to a few blogs online, the process generally takes 6 weeks before the nitrogen cycle is completed.

There were a few times that I tried to look at the filter through the glass of my aquarium and proved that it sure does serve the first purpose. There were a very few flakes that is stuck at one side of the sponge that is facing me. I have not tried testing the water parameters lately but I sure have to add an update on this soon.

However, a downside of owning these kinds of filters is the aesthetic appearance of it in the aquarium. It looks bulky and plain for me.

Weighing the pros against the cons, I do think that without this filter, I would be having a hard time trying to maintain my aquarium no matter how hardy my fish are.

That's all for now! Ciao ✌

Feeding a Koi 101

In feeding koi fish, there are a couple of things to consider. I will list some of the most common questions of koi hobbyists.

1. What should I feed my koi?
• Koi fish are omnivorous fishes. They should be fed a balanced diet just like humans. Currently, fish flakes are given. There are a few koi-specific feeds available online, however, I will have to check the legibility of these feeds. I very seldomly provide human food as treats for my koi. Examples of which I can give are bread, citrus fruits and squash. They can be given in small tid bids, especially since my koi are 3-inches big. 
• I have not tried giving my koi blood worms or any other protein source. I have yet to find a reliable source of these kinds of food. I will make a review of them when I finally get to buy them.
2. When should I feed them
• Temperature plays a huge factor in feeding koi. When the temperature drops at 10 degrees Celsius and below, they usually refuse to eat anything and that is completely normal. When water temperature rises, their metabolism will improve. This is why summer months, koi should be fed more frequently. I get an average of 26 to 29 degrees Celsius for my aquarium, therefore I feed my koi more frequently. 
• Water quality should also be monitored to determine how often you should feed your koi. When the total dissolved oxygen (DO) of your tank or pond drops, so will the feeding frequency of your koi. Their metabolism is greatly impaired during these times. Here is a a chart from the Kodoma Koi Garden website in order to enlighten us on the frequency of feeding based on the temperature of the environment or your aquarium. 
3. How much should I feed my koi?
• It is very important for a koi hobbyist to keep in mind that kois do not have stomach that is why they always appear hungry. Although koi will appear to be asking for more food, they should never be overfed! I feed my koi in small amounts, enough for them to finish within 5 to 10 minutes. If there is any leftover food, they should be removed in order to prevent polluting the water. The rule of thumb in feeding koi is feeding them in small amounts frequently.

How do I feed my koi?

Prior to owning koi fish of my own, I took pieces of advice from long time koi hobbyist. If you are to consult blogs from the internet, they will usually suggest feeding your koi with different kinds of feeds available internationally. In the Philippines, not all pet shops selling koi fish sell feeds specialized for koi. Most of the time, they will hand you flakes that provide a balanced diet. Though I cannot go against their claims that the flakes are nutritious, if you are concerned with feeding koi with feeds that will enhance the color of fishes, therefore you might want to consider looking for those that are specific for koi. 

My koi after feeding, they dwell into the bottom of the tank in order to feed on fish flakes that settled into the bottom of the tank

I feed my koi at about three to four times a day in minimal amounts in order not to cause shock to the system, keeping in mind that they do not have stomachs like we do. I feed them 

I make sure that the aerator in my aquarium is in good condition, giving me peace of mind that their metabolism as well as their overall health won't be impaired. 

As for the treats given to them, I tried feeding them unprocessed bread crumbs twice and so far, I have not noticed any drastic changes to their attitude. In my opinion, providing treats to koi should be taken cautiously since we might overfeed them, or we might cause pollution to the water if not all bits of the unfinished treat is scooped out of the water.

I might do a part 2 of this article containing my personal reviews on the suggested feeding styles. 

See you! ✌