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I have learned that the Koi Pools do require daily maintenance .... perhaps my filters/pumps are not large enough for the number of fish I have in the (2) 300 gallon 5 ft diameter pools because almost daily I have to backwash the filters (about 10 minutes per filter and twice weekly clean out the 3 sponges in each pool's filter (about 20 minutes per filter) ... I have also had to learn to clean the pumps' interior components crevices and surfaces, removing the impeller and flushing out the debris gunk that collects inside. I could double up the filters/pumps 2 to a pool or simply buy a larger model of filter/pump. I have the winter to think about the best thing to do to reduce required maintenance. The large 750 gallon 8 ft diameter pool in the front requires minimum maintenance since I upgraded to the a larger filter/pump. Each spitter in all the pools have their individual pump adding to the workload needing regular cleaning. I have collected or created some of my own common sense cleaning tools and purchased others custom suited for cleaning and maintaining the pumps.
Because I chose natural pool environments with live plants, there is more work than if I could use a chemical to prevent algae and not worry about real live plants and their needs. The dark green velvet algae that collects on the interior surfaces of the pools contribute to dirtying up the pumps in addition to the fish waste, but that algae must be tolerated and other single cell algae more troublesome is killed by the ultra violet light in the filters (blue green algae and string algae). The fish do eat the algae and so do the snails that are happily at home in the Koi pools. The snails came with the hyacinth water plants Darlene gave me.
This morning I removed the fountain from the pool outside my dining room window and thoroughly cleaned its internal parts, also the exterior, then stored it away until next Spring. That took about 1 1/2 hours. The fish will not need the water cooling fountain during the winter months as the water is naturally cool, even cold now that summer has ended. Each fountain (1 per pool) has its own sponge filter and pump to push the water also requiring additional periodical maintenance.
With all the extra work required to keep the water clean and aerated, there is little time to just sit and enjoy watching the fish, but at dawn and at dusk I enjoy feeding them and watching them swim eagerly around to me for their meal of Tetra Vibrance food. The Koi and goldfish are now young adults, each is 7-14 inches long and still growing. They are very healthy, colorful, and seem happy in their water homes. I have satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment realizing how they have enhanced my home with their vitality and beauty. Yes it is a lot of work, money for equipment and food, but they energize and complete both my life and my home as return on that investment.
