Why Feed quality Koi Food

Feeding your Koi quality Foods and why

Japanese koi are the most colorful and magnificent fish that you can keep in any fresh water environment and there are many factors involved in raising these magnificent koi.

Many koi keepers have done all the right things in creating a koi pond large enough, with plenty of water movement and filtration to keep and grow large koi. They may buy quality Japanese koi that started out looking great, but as time goes by may loose koi to disease or have the colors seem to wash out. Many koi keepers overlook the importance of using a premium koi food that meets all the nutritional needs of their koi. It's like humans eating a diet of junk food and expecting to be trim and healthy and live a long life. 

Probiotic The Hikari Germ Process

The scientifically developed Saki-Hikari diets utilize the finest quality ingredients that can be found, including a patented, living probiotic. A merging of world-class technology, nutritional balance and patented ingredients allows Hikari to bring you this revolutionary diet. "Hikari Germ" is a strain of Bacillus bacteria which, when fed, proliferates itself inside the intestine of the koi offering many incredible benefits.

 

High Protein

The metabolism of koi reaches a peak at water temperatures of 75° F. During this time it is essential that they receive a high protein diet to aid in growth and color. They also need to be fed at least twice a day, three times is better. Koi do not have stomachs, and when their metabolism is high they forage constantly. Fish meal and krill for color are protein ingredients to look for in a high quality koi food 

Different Foods for the Seasons 

During the cooler seasons of spring and Autumn it is best to feed a food that is higher in vegetable matter, lower in protein, and easy to digest (Wheatgerm based foods). In the summer months, when the water temperature is above 70° F switch to a higher protein formula. When the water temperature is above 70° F it takes about 16 hours for the food to move completely through a koi digestive tract. At 50° F it can take up to 60 hours and food intake is much less. 

Only feed the koi as much as they will eat within a few minutes. It is much better to feed 3 times a day in the summer months. At 50° - 55° feed 2 - 3 times a week. When the water temperature goes below 50° F do not feed the koi at all. If the food is not digested due to the low metabolism it can rot in the gut of the koi and cause death.

Cost Versus Quality 

If you consider the cost of a high quality food versus the "cheap" foods, there is not that much difference. Keeping healthy koi using a high quality food means fewer outbreaks of disease and lower mortality rates. You are not spending money replacing koi or treating for disease with medications due to poor health because of a poor diet. You also have to go by weight and not just the physical size of the bag. Cheaper foods tend to be more airy while the premium foods tend to be more dense, so it looks like you are getting more food than you actually are with the cheap food. Many times, if compared by weight, the price is pretty close. In the long run it may actually be cheaper to buy the premium food. You will definitely notice the difference in the color, growth, and overall health of the koi over just a short time.

Whatever grade of Koi you have always make sure you feed the best koi food that you can afford and like us humans add variety to keep your Koi healthy and happy.

 

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Happy Koi Keeping  

Holiday Aquatics

www.holidayaquatics.com

An Aquarium filter, what and why !

So why do we need an Aquarium filter and what type of filter is on the Market.

The purpose of the filter on your aquarium is to remove excess food, decaying organic matter, dangerous chemicals, and the fish waste from the water

The fish excrete waste constantly as they swim around in the water. If this waste is not removed, the toxins that the fish are removing from their systems will rapidly build up to high enough concentrations that the fish will poison themselves, Ammonia will be the first issue which will rise to a level the fish will get poisoned, if the fish are still managing to survive their next battle will come from Nitrite levels and nitrate levels then the lack of oxygen.

Basis are if you want to keep fish alive a filter is a must have no matter hwat size of tank your keeping, even if it's 1 fish in a bowl !

Filtration Methods:

Theres 3 types of filteration Biological, Mechanical and Chemical

• Biological Filtration:Biological filtration involves bacteria converting your fishes' waste into less toxic substances. Your fish excrete waste into their aquarium water constantly as they make use of the food they eat. A biological filter will convert toxic ammonia (from your fishes' waste, excess food, decaying or dying plant mater, and dead fish) into Nitrite, and toxic Nitrite into Nitrate. Nitrate is relatively harmless, however, if it is not removed from the tank through regular water changes, Nitrate can cause fish helath issues, as well as suppress their appetite and prevent their gills from absorbing oxygen from the water. Nitrate will also contribute to algae growth. Biological filtration occurs as the water passes over any surface that the bacteria processing the waste can grow on.
  Biological filtration is established during a process called "cycling". Even the highest quality biological filters cannot process fish waste until they have properly cycled.

• Mechanical Filtration:
  Mechanical filtration,  is provided by pushing the water through some form of filter media that acts as a strainer. This strainer will catch free-floating particles that cannot pass through the openings in the media. The media can be a sponge, filter floss, special filter pads, or even aquarium gravel.
  The quality of the mechanical filtration will depend on several things.
  The finer the media, the smaller particles can be caught. However, finer media gets clogged much more quickly and either needs to be rinsed out or replaced often. Coarser media will allow more particles through, but will take longer to get plugged up. Many mechanical filters will use several layers of media, starting with coarse and ending with a fine media to provide optimal water cleaning.
  Second, how much water is passed through the media? The longer it takes for the water to all go through the filter, the more time debris has to collect in the water or settle out, and the cloudier or murkier the water can become and the more debris will settle to the bottom of the tank.
  Third, how often do you clean your filter? A mechanical filter will provide better filtration if it is cleaned frequently and appropriately. The messier your tank is, the more you need mechanical filtration, however, the messier your tank is, the sooner your mechanical filter will become clogged. Some kinds of fish make a tank messier either by behavior (such as digging) or through their eating habits. Also, failure to provide sufficient water changes, over feeding, and other tank care issues will reduce the quality of your mechanical filtration.
  
• Chemical Filtration:
  Chemical filtration is provided by carbon or chemical resins that extract toxins from the water. Activated filter carbon will aggressively remove chemicals from your water until the carbon becomes saturated. It is very important that any activated filter carbon in your filtration system be changed often.
  Typically, about 1 cubic inch of activated filter carbon can provide chemical filtration of 2 gallons of water for up to a month.

It's important that even though you have an aquarium filter, you must still stick to the guidelines of water changes, stocking level, filter cleaning and general aquarium maintenenace.

Aquarium filters come in all types of shapes and sizes from small internal filters to external filters. Although not one is better than the other is more important to choose the one thats correct for your set up.
If your thinking of buying a filter always make sure your not buying a filter that is only just suitable for your set up. eg if you have a 100l aquarium dont buy a filter that is suitable for aquariums from 50l to 100l, instead look at an aquarium filter that gives you that little bit extra. Our advice is to look at a filter range of around 100l to 150l.

If your building a Marine tank then filteration is very important and space to add diffrent types of filteration eg Protein skimmers, UV clarifiers etc. If space is available then having a sump filter is the best type of Marine filter allowing you lots more options to choose what type of filteration is best for you and your setup.

If your wanting more advice on aquariums and filters then why not check out the OATA website.

Good luck and Happy fishkeeping

Holiday Aquatics
www.holidayaquatics.com

Pond Pressure Filters and Pond Pressure Filter Kits

Koi Pond Pressure Filters now available at Holiday Aquatics

We now have a great selection of Pressure Filters for your Pond or Koi pond, from Oase and FTS. We also offer Pressure filter Kits, which include the correct pond pump and built in UV Filter.

As opposed to flow-through filters, pressure filters route the pump pressure through the filter. They can also be used below the surface level of the water. Consequently they are used classically for higher positioned watercourses; they can be partially buried in the ground adjacent to the watercourse where they do not disturb the natural garden look. This makes the closed system of the filter possible, which is ensured by the quickrelease closure. Ideally inflow hose and outflow hose are routed through the pond liner with the Tradux system. The cleaning processes function in accordance with the same principle as that of the flow-through filter and consequently also offer, (with correctly matched pond and filter size), a good basis for optimally filtered water.

Check out our great range at www.holidayaquatics.com

Holiday Aquatics
www.holidayaquatics.com

UV steriliser filter in a Tropical aquarium

UV Clarifier in  Tropical aquarium ?

UV clarifiers are accosiated with Marine tanks and Koi Ponds for clearing Green Water, but why are they not popular with Tropical ?

If your serious about keeping your tropical tank in tip top condition and your fish as healthy as possible, an ultraviolet steriliser is a potentially smart addition to your filtration armory.

In a Tropical tank, the aim of fitting a UV steriliser is to reduce the incidence of disease. Water passing through a properly-sized and fitted UV steriliser will be treated by UV light in such a way as to kill bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. A UV can therefore reduce the incidence of disease in the aquarium.
If you’re breeding your tropical fish, the UV steriliser will have a secondary benefit of reducing the chances of the eggs being attacked by bacteria and fungus.

Don’t worry about the UV steriliser killing the bacteria in your biological filter. It only kills bacteria that is in the water column that passes the UV, so the filter population is quite safe.
Here are a few more tips on UV sterilisers:

• A small ultraviolet sterilizer costs less than losing fish or spending money on disease treatments
• Make sure your UV steriliser is the appropriate power for the flow of water being pumped through it
• If you can’t turnover the tank volume through your UV steriliser at a fast enough rate (because it is too low-powered) then you won’t kill parasites sufficiently quickly to affect the incidence of disease
• In short, buy the right UV unit for your tank size and pump rate!
• Clean water is a must, to stop the UV light being blocked by particles
• UV bulbs age, and need to be replaced as per the manufacturer’s instructions. You can keep pumping water over an old bulb but it won’t be effective
• A UV sterilizer should not be seen as a substitute for proper filtration, water changes, and other essentials!

OK so UV Filters aren’t essential for your Tropical set up, but if you're serious about Tropicals and have expensive fish or into breeding, why not give one a try it will only do your system good.

Happy Fishkeeping !

Holiday Aquatics

Koi Pond Filters

New Selection of Koi Pond Filters available at Holiday Aquatics

We have a great new selection of Koi Pond Filters here at Holiday Aquatics to accomodate any size of pond.

All the filters are among UK's best Pond filter range, we even have put together some Filter kits, including Air pumps, UV filters, Pump and Filter to get you started straight away.

So if your thinking of starting a pond or maybe after an upgrade then why not check our range of Pond Filters and Pond Filter Kits.

Holiday Aquatics
www.holidayaquatics.com