Hi all

Just to get your attention of the wonder sand conversion for a moment. Does bacteria grow in a filter between 16c and 18c?
You Koi friend

ek glo so as alge in die pond groei in daai temp moet die bakterie ook kan groei

my 2c

Hi Vossie
What you say makes sense. My view also is if some thing is not growing it is slowly dying that is why it is important to add a bit of bacteria booster, especially in the winter. I started up a customers new pond with a bubble bead filter , added Bacteria boost then a few days later added the koi and water parameters remain good so the bacteria musy of grown.

ek het twee bakkies van daai bakterie booster by my water gegooi wat ek by oom neville gekoop het en ek kan klaar die alge sien groei al op die kante van die pond en my pond is maar 12 grade snaaks genoeg as ek my hande in my sandfilter druk voel die water warmer as in die pond ek glo dis die onderste laag water wat `n temp of twee beter is

I cant remember where I got this data but...

The temperature for optimum growth of nitrifying bacteria (mainly Nitrosomonas - for ammonia and Nitro Bacter - for Nitrites) is between (25-30° C).

Growth rate is decreased by 50% (18° C).

Growth rate is decreased by 75% at 46-50° F.

No activity will occur at 39° F (4° C)

Nitrifying bacteria will die at (0° C).

Nitrifying bacteria will die at (49° C)

Nitrobacter is less tolerant of low temperatures than Nitrosomonas. In cold water systems, care must be taken to monitor the accumulation of nitrites.

Thank you Paul for the information. The benefit we have in East London is that the water never goes below 14c in winter. Mine averages on 16c. That is why it is so wonder4ful to be at the sunshine coast.

Roykoi

Stop it Roy
Best Regards my friend.

My water is 11 grade, ten minste beter as die 8 so 'n tydjie gelede.

Ek het so 'n tyd gelede 'n DIY "solar heater" gesien. Die pyp was gerol soos 'n slang op 'n 2 by 2 meter plank. Ek het 2 lae druk pompe. As mens jou water via so iets kanaliseer in jou gewone filters in, sal dit 'n verskil maak aan die water temperatuur?

Enige idees, want my dam is seker op die koudste deel van my tuin.

(Nie dat ek juis water het nie (my lek darem nie so erg nie!)). Ekspert nr 3 kom hopelik Dinsdag- Neville het Mario vir my gereel. Dan kan hy sommer die koi sandfilter ook insit.

Ek wou ook al solar pype ingesit het wat ek glo baie sal help maar wat my pla in die FS is dat temp verskil baie wissel tussen dag en nag. Sal dit regtig die moeite werd wees om hoe temp in dag te kry maar in nag val dit baie? Is temp in winter regtig sleg vir die Koi? Dalk doen dit hul goed hoewel groei maar min sal wees

Hier is 2 DIY efforts. Kan mens dit nie net bypass in die winter nie. Oor die algemeen is my water maar koud.

Dit kan werk vir baie goedkoop:



Hierdie ou het 'n box gebou, maar nie swart pyp gebruik nie:

Hi Roy,

As Paul says - slower bacterial activity at lower temperatures BUT then there is slower metabolism in the koi. So nature just balances things out.

At your pond temperatures things are ticking over and should work just fine. Just do not over feed the pond.

With regards solar heating - unless your pond freezes over its is not worth the expense. Our winter temperatures are no where near what they are in the UK, Japan and some parts of the USA. Also our pond temperatures do not stay below 10C for very long. In the UK they get pond temperatures below 10C for something like three months - and the koi really do not like that.

Your pond temperature may get to 10C or 9C for a week or two then the water heats up again - slowly. Solar heating will raise and lower the temperature too quickly and result in stress.

My pond is sitting at a stable 13C.

Chris

I was thinking more about summer- but I suppose the fluctuation will then be to much as well. I havent kept record, but I don't think my pond ever gets over 20 degrees.

So Chris, for growth- good food and regular water changes? (and good genes)