Great to look back at these pod casts guys. This week i have been panicing a bit about really high Nitrates. I have been feeding hard on Saki Growth for 3 months. Heated to 24 degrees with Amonia at 0. Nitrite at trace and Nitrate at about 80/90ppm. Now watching this back again it puts my mind at ease as the koi are loving life. So thanks Koi Talk. You make pond keeping easier with helpful advice!!👏👏👏👏
@@KoiTalkMagazine best part is that 3 months down the line still going to the beach and swimming in the sea. Global warming must have a silver lining! Ciao
Great video Ricky I must admit nitrate is the last I check and is not something I've ever really suffered with but it isn't something I would want in my ponds at a high level for a long time but with the right media and right filtration it's quite easy to keep very low maybe not 0 but on a Colombo test that says I have 0 so that does me 👍
Could the zinc in the water be from zinc parts and zinc plate jubilee clips on pumps and hoses etc on those types of ponds?.....i feel like it comes over from the tropical fish hobby in regards to algae growth
You are absolutely right that most people do not put more emphasis on dissolved oxygen level. To me, that is the most critical aspect of a koi keeper if they want really good big healthy fish. This is the reason why bakki showers work well, it's not the media, it's the water flow being broken up and absorbing more oxygen. People should do everything they can to flow water and have it break up into more droplets to get more oxygen. Moving media bed filters nowhere close to being as good.
Very interesting talk as always but I will have to disagree there about the nitrate being harmless. It's not toxic but it can be harmfull at high level for long periods. Especially for the pond keeper where fish more or less live in the same pond for years or even forever. Unbalance between nitrate and phosphate can create problems with string algea. It's not a parameter that should be ignore all together I feel. I am not too worried that my nitrate is now at 15mg/l, but I do use a nitrate remover resign to at least reduce the nitrate from the tap water going to the pond when I fill back in after a filter clean. 40mg/l in my tap water is not something I like, so not keen on this adding nitrate to the pond.
Does the problem with high nitrate actually have an effect on the fish itself though or the pond, I understand we are carers for water and having a high nitrate can effect the pond with string algea ect which will in turn effect oxygen/ pH, other parameter's from filters blocking up ect which are secondary issues of nitrate and not the nitrate itself. I think the main point being made here is if you are in control of the effects of what high nitrate can do to the pond itself, there isn't any evidence that shows a high nitrate level having a primary link to the health of koi, secondary yes
@MikeZak101 exactly what I said above. Although there are some research done that high nitrate does affect the growth of the fish and can cause problems with reproduction. Not sure that at pond level keeping is something to worry about. But not something to ignore either.
I agree, funny I find myself here, think because I've mentioned it in my videos recently. And in the process of trying to balance the nitrogen cycle to my indoor 5k pond. I've experience poor koi health in the past and directly correlated this to high nitrate around 80ppm. Lethargic, redness to skin, odd marks and unusual behaviour. All of this accumulating to eating less so effects growth. Far too many with koi ponds over look the final process of the nitrogen cycle. Ricky refers to Japan and simplicity like N isn't anything they look at but I would say they're blessed given the amount of available very pure fresh water they put in their systems. Now with many closed systems/koi ponds without plants there is a high chance of high nitrate and phosphate. That is evident with the amount who have algae issues and high wattage UV'c.
6x Feeds a day all summer still have barely any nitrates to me it seems like nitrates take forever to build up especially if your using high quality food
Good video. But while i agree that you should be worried about all other levels and aspects first i have to say i disagree with a blanket nitrate is not a problem. Its a known fact that high levels of nitrate in drinking water transfers into the human blood stream, high levels of nitrate in the blood inhibits the bloodstream ability to cary and transfer oxygen. I think its safe to say this would be the same for most animals and fish. There is also the saturation point where the water can not hold any more nitrate. Im not sure of the exact figure but its around 400 to 500 ppm. At this level your nitrobactor will find it hard to convert nitrite into nitrate. So there is a level where nitrate becomes a real issue. I personally dont like to see my nitrate level rise above 50 ppm and aim to keep it below 20. This also avoids the dreaded green water algae blooms in spring. I use ozone treatment which also helps keep nitrite at zero. Im heated so my fish never have to see below 14c and i use ion exchange media to pull out the nitrate as ive been unable to get bacteria to do it as of now. The ion exchange puts chloride out and the ozone breaks that down and gasses it off. Its a balance but it is doable and at reasonable cost. Ofc smaller ponds it costs less. My pond is 66000 ltrs
Another quality addition guy's saying it as it is , you have the credentials to back it up not like a lot who frankly waffle bollocks!! All this info you have been putting into the public domain in only helping hobbyists and that's what it's all about .
There are a lot of urban legends about all aspects of fishkeeping, my very personal opinion is that high nitrates may or may not be a sign that there is also other forms of waste in the water
Been preaching this for years. Nitrate being harmful to fish has been pushed by the industry for decades. All to sell products that facilitate water changes. Nitrate is not the boogeyman it's been thought to be. Drives me insane when people say 40 ppm is too high
In fact, you're detailing things that are hardly ever on the agenda in Japan, and you're all responding to that, aren't you? It is simply a matter of course that if the density of KOI is high and you feed them a lot, numerical values of nitrite concentration will increase. How to control them comprehensively? is in accordance with rearing in mud ponds. How to get a sense of them is a top priority for all of us. So I've said it many times, you never see Japanese hobbyists with test kits in their hands, do you?
I don't bother very iften to check NO3, I do check O2 (first thing in the morning) with a JBL pro liquid test, without the air pump overnight it would drop from 8 mg/l to 3 mg/ - probably because I have lots of plants. Seems accurate enough for what I need, I have Hanna checkers for other tests but as Ricky said good digital meters are expensive and temperamental
With regards to water changes, it might be worth some of your viewers to watch DR Novak videos on here, he’s had tanks for 10years plus without water changes mainly due to anoxic filtration. Definitely worth a watch and great educational stuff, keep up the great work guys, great videos!
Lovely video again!
Thanks Yvo 😄
Great to look back at these pod casts guys. This week i have been panicing a bit about really high Nitrates. I have been feeding hard on Saki Growth for 3 months. Heated to 24 degrees with Amonia at 0. Nitrite at trace and Nitrate at about 80/90ppm. Now watching this back again it puts my mind at ease as the koi are loving life. So thanks Koi Talk. You make pond keeping easier with helpful advice!!👏👏👏👏
Great to hear!
Morning all, on a Mediterranean beach watching koi talk, does not get much better
Enjoy! We're not jealous at all Paul!
@@KoiTalkMagazine best part is that 3 months down the line still going to the beach and swimming in the sea. Global warming must have a silver lining! Ciao
Brilliant episode. Thanks from Denmark. 🇩🇰
Thanks for tuning in Martin.
Love the auto focus on the microphones 🎙 haha
😄
Great stuff guys very interesting, cheers 🤣
Thanks Richard 😄
Great video Ricky I must admit nitrate is the last I check and is not something I've ever really suffered with but it isn't something I would want in my ponds at a high level for a long time but with the right media and right filtration it's quite easy to keep very low maybe not 0 but on a Colombo test that says I have 0 so that does me 👍
Could the zinc in the water be from zinc parts and zinc plate jubilee clips on pumps and hoses etc on those types of ponds?.....i feel like it comes over from the tropical fish hobby in regards to algae growth
You are absolutely right that most people do not put more emphasis on dissolved oxygen level. To me, that is the most critical aspect of a koi keeper if they want really good big healthy fish. This is the reason why bakki showers work well, it's not the media, it's the water flow being broken up and absorbing more oxygen. People should do everything they can to flow water and have it break up into more droplets to get more oxygen.
Moving media bed filters nowhere close to being as good.
Hi guys where do you send your water samples too for a full report, I couldn’t see the link you mentioned? 👍
Can Nitrate levels be too low?
TY
Very interesting talk as always but I will have to disagree there about the nitrate being harmless. It's not toxic but it can be harmfull at high level for long periods. Especially for the pond keeper where fish more or less live in the same pond for years or even forever. Unbalance between nitrate and phosphate can create problems with string algea. It's not a parameter that should be ignore all together I feel.
I am not too worried that my nitrate is now at 15mg/l, but I do use a nitrate remover resign to at least reduce the nitrate from the tap water going to the pond when I fill back in after a filter clean. 40mg/l in my tap water is not something I like, so not keen on this adding nitrate to the pond.
Does the problem with high nitrate actually have an effect on the fish itself though or the pond, I understand we are carers for water and having a high nitrate can effect the pond with string algea ect which will in turn effect oxygen/ pH, other parameter's from filters blocking up ect which are secondary issues of nitrate and not the nitrate itself.
I think the main point being made here is if you are in control of the effects of what high nitrate can do to the pond itself, there isn't any evidence that shows a high nitrate level having a primary link to the health of koi, secondary yes
@MikeZak101 exactly what I said above. Although there are some research done that high nitrate does affect the growth of the fish and can cause problems with reproduction. Not sure that at pond level keeping is something to worry about. But not something to ignore either.
I agree, funny I find myself here, think because I've mentioned it in my videos recently. And in the process of trying to balance the nitrogen cycle to my indoor 5k pond. I've experience poor koi health in the past and directly correlated this to high nitrate around 80ppm. Lethargic, redness to skin, odd marks and unusual behaviour. All of this accumulating to eating less so effects growth. Far too many with koi ponds over look the final process of the nitrogen cycle. Ricky refers to Japan and simplicity like N isn't anything they look at but I would say they're blessed given the amount of available very pure fresh water they put in their systems. Now with many closed systems/koi ponds without plants there is a high chance of high nitrate and phosphate. That is evident with the amount who have algae issues and high wattage UV'c.
@KoiKicks absolutely. Totally agree with you Keith.
6x Feeds a day all summer still have barely any nitrates to me it seems like nitrates take forever to build up especially if your using high quality food
What kind of filter and filter media's do you use? Also how often do you change water and such? Thank you
Fascinating stuff, always is. Between you I’m improving my koi keeping skills, so thanks for sharing. Stay safe and well 👍🏻
That's great to hear Steven. 👍
Good video. But while i agree that you should be worried about all other levels and aspects first i have to say i disagree with a blanket nitrate is not a problem.
Its a known fact that high levels of nitrate in drinking water transfers into the human blood stream, high levels of nitrate in the blood inhibits the bloodstream ability to cary and transfer oxygen. I think its safe to say this would be the same for most animals and fish. There is also the saturation point where the water can not hold any more nitrate. Im not sure of the exact figure but its around 400 to 500 ppm. At this level your nitrobactor will find it hard to convert nitrite into nitrate. So there is a level where nitrate becomes a real issue.
I personally dont like to see my nitrate level rise above 50 ppm and aim to keep it below 20. This also avoids the dreaded green water algae blooms in spring.
I use ozone treatment which also helps keep nitrite at zero. Im heated so my fish never have to see below 14c and i use ion exchange media to pull out the nitrate as ive been unable to get bacteria to do it as of now. The ion exchange puts chloride out and the ozone breaks that down and gasses it off. Its a balance but it is doable and at reasonable cost. Ofc smaller ponds it costs less. My pond is 66000 ltrs
Another quality addition guy's saying it as it is , you have the credentials to back it up not like a lot who frankly waffle bollocks!! All this info you have been putting into the public domain in only helping hobbyists and that's what it's all about .
👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
😄 Thanks for watching.
There are a lot of urban legends about all aspects of fishkeeping, my very personal opinion is that high nitrates may or may not be a sign that there is also other forms of waste in the water
Look forward to this 2.5hrs journey.
Great advice Ricky love the channel
Thanks for watching Edward.
Been preaching this for years. Nitrate being harmful to fish has been pushed by the industry for decades. All to sell products that facilitate water changes. Nitrate is not the boogeyman it's been thought to be. Drives me insane when people say 40 ppm is too high
In fact, you're detailing things that are hardly ever on the agenda in Japan, and you're all responding to that, aren't you? It is simply a matter of course that if the density of KOI is high and you feed them a lot, numerical values of nitrite concentration will increase. How to control them comprehensively? is in accordance with rearing in mud ponds. How to get a sense of them is a top priority for all of us. So I've said it many times, you never see Japanese hobbyists with test kits in their hands, do you?
👍👍
Thanks James 👍
I don't bother very iften to check NO3, I do check O2 (first thing in the morning) with a JBL pro liquid test, without the air pump overnight it would drop from 8 mg/l to 3 mg/ - probably because I have lots of plants.
Seems accurate enough for what I need, I have Hanna checkers for other tests but as Ricky said good digital meters are expensive and temperamental
Sorry Ricky, here my pond water is at 29° and my fish would come out and slap me if I did not feed them every two hours
With regards to water changes, it might be worth some of your viewers to watch DR Novak videos on here, he’s had tanks for 10years plus without water changes mainly due to anoxic filtration. Definitely worth a watch and great educational stuff, keep up the great work guys, great videos!
If you want to grow large koi fast, pump in 97% oxygen from a concentrator