Root Issues of Water Hyacinths

I discovered that my water hyacinths plants in the 8 ft round Koi/Goldfish pool were dying because the fish were eating all of their roots faster than the roots could grow. Without roots, the plant dies because it can't get nourishment. I had tried different water fertilizers before determining the real cause of my water hyacinths dying then one night I saw the fish feeding voraciously on the water hyacinths.


Thinking about how to protect the roots of the water hyacinths, mulled over in my mind several solutions.... the one I chose seemed to be the fastest to do. I had some plastic baskets and some float and the ones that don't I tie the water hyacinths to the basket with fishing line to hold the basket up to surface level. After two days I can now see the new white roots growing and the water hyacinths are no longer dying.

The baskets are colorful and are solving the problem for now but I would prefer a more natural solution. I plan to cut a 6 inch wide 12 or so inches long strip out of out door shade cloth netting, and I will sew the ends together making a cylinder. I will then sew the bottom of the cylinder together and the top I will make a drawstring tie so as to secure the "bag" around the base of the water hyacinths thus protecting the roots from fish feeding on them.

My 4 Koi pools are all doing fine and have the necessary nitrogen processing fish waste cycle working effectively. One of the 5 ft pools is just for water plants, the other 5 ft pool is just for fish and artificial ornaments and has aquarium salt for the health of the fish but which would be detrimental to any water plants. The small 150 gallon pool is for goldfish and one koi which I can't catch and move. That pool is a little too warm in the high heat of Phoenix summer and the fish are happy in it. The 8 ft pool is my main pool with both fish and water plants together (no aquarium salt added).