I dont do weekly 10%. I change maybe 25% in spring and fall. Because I use a veggie
filter the plants are sucking out all kinds of minerals. Hormones are organic and
good bacteria break them down. No nitrates of course. And my water from the lake is
naturally low in minerals so I need to add calcium and salt. My fish are now 9 years
in the pond and I have had no loss or disease for 7 years, mostly after I even netted
the veggie filter to keep birds from "bathing" and crapping in the water. Last fish
to die died of infected eggs. I think the biggest reason for stability is I have
added no fish in those 10 years. No fish bringing in disease of any kind.
I use the color of the water as a gauge to when to do water changes. When my white
koi are quite yellow I change until they are light yellow as they swim under the
water down to the bottom. I have been sucking the water out, then adding, but it
takes too long. Since I use the removed water to water my plants in the future I am
going to suck out one side (deep) and add at the other end shallow. Ingrid


On Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:17:31 EDT, ~ jan wrote:
On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:31:55 EDT, info wrote:
I've never done a partial change. Top ups for evaporation, that's all.
Proper filtration is the answer.
Except filtration won't reduce the stuff that builds up. Nitrates and salt
for example. San Diego Joe
And I'll add, hormones, parasites, bad bacteria. Plus the fish need more
than an occassional top off to replace the minerals in fresh water. ~ jan
Somewhere between zone 5 and 6 tucked along the shore of Lake Michigan
on the council grounds of the Fox, Mascouten, Potawatomi, and Winnebago