So, you have decided on a koi pond. You already have it dug, the bottom drain is in properly, the pump is the size for your pond, and you have sufficient filtration to keep the pond healthy. But you saw these beautiful koi and went ahead and got them for the new pond. You didn’t realize that it takes 4 to 6 months to get the filter functioning as a biofilter, so here are some things to think about to save your new koi.

1. There are several products on the market that are supposed to seed the biofilter, but many people find it still takes 6 weeks or more to get basic nitrification established. Go to Koivet.com and Doc Johnson has an article on "instantly" getting nitrification going by using the settlement residues from an established filter. Henry squeezed out a sponge filter for me a couple of years ago and it worked. I’ve done it twice since on small guppy ponds and it worked. Within 24 hours basic nitrification was taking place. BUT, consider that the filter will still be weak at that point.

2. Stock lightly and feed lightly at least the first 2 months.

3. Place "brown" beads from an established bead filter into a new one to get media started quicker. Likewise with other filter materials. But it’s harder to find folks with extra mats, etc.!

4. Even after nitrification starts, there is no mature biofilm. Things may seem "O.K.", but it is easy to have a setback until the biofilm matures ... a 4 to 6 month process in Florida (a year or more up North). Any medications, etc., can have much greater impact than in a mature pond. And, as everyone knows, new koikeepers get too many fish in the first few months of owning their pond; the fish get sick; lots of medications are used; and that all hurts the filter microbes. So, the whole cycle starts all over.

Eventually one learns some self-control in buying too many fish too soon, or a lot of fish are killed and the person gives up because it was all such an unhappy experience. Going slow the first 4 months can mean having years of pleasure.

Idea: Build the pond in November when it starts getting cool. Get a couple of goldfish to get it started. Wait until CFKS in March to buy a couple of nice little koi when there are lots of vendors in one place to make your selection. (Nobody ever does it that way. Wish I had!)

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