Hello everyone...I have a quick question that I'd really like some insight to on people that have owned ponds and Koi for a long period of time. If you're new and curious, the basic premise of my question is "Why do you need to flush the filters in a Koi pond?".
The initial reaction that I've received from many Koi pond owners is "just because' or "to eliminate the bacteria and/or pathogens that can accumulate in this toxic goop", but no one can ever go into details as to why...they can recite specific bacteria and/or pathogens that potentially can cause issues with your Koi, but the potential vs. reality is what I really question.
As a person that went to school for Biology, I understand the basics when it comes to an environment and what influences can cause issues, but I continue to struggle with the basic question that was aforementioned in this post. People state that you don't want fish swimming in their own poop, and I agree, but at the same time I have now had a Koi ponding running indoors for 6 months (and before that 8 years with zero losses associated with water quality) and I cannot find a reason as to why I should flush the filters in my Koi pond. I'm not trying to be ignorant or state that nothing will ever happen, I just want to understand.
In nature, when it comes to lakes and streams and the entire ecosystem, you really don't have an option to "flush the filter". There are many different types of bacteria and complex organisms that live and thrive in an aquatic ecosystem. When I look at my own pond, I try to mimic what nature provides. It will never be entirely accurate, but with knowledge a pond owner can be successful in raising Koi to have fun and joyful lives.
The thing that caught my attention is the fact that ponds in a natural ecosystem do not have humans flushing them out to reduce bacterial count. So what happens to the fishes "poop" when it is introduced into the environment? Obviously there are bacteria and other organisms that eliminate this waste and help make it not "harmful" to a fish.
In my environment, I have the following:
1.) A regular schedule of sun-light and/or light.
2.) A regular feeding cycle.
3.) A pond filtration system that uses a pump to pass water into a dense filter material, almost like that of sand but by using polyester fibers to increase surface area.
4.) A constant water change system that eliminates all chlorine and chloramine at around 200 gal per week.
5.) Heavy aeration to help increase the O2 levels in the pond.
6.) Consistent Ph, Ammonia (0ppm), and Nitrite (0ppm) levels.
7.) Low Nitrate (20 ppm) levels.
8.) Aquatic plants to create a more natural ecosystem.
All of that being said - I have not flushed my filters, and the water is perfectly clear and the fish are doing extremely well.
So - why on earth would I mess with a mini-ecosystem that is working very well by flushing a filter to eliminate bacteria?
I know many of you are shaking your heads right now - but when I relate it to any type of natural ecosystem, I see water in, water out, ph, ammonia, and other organisms that actually help maintain an environment at a much larger scale. Why has this concept not been transitioned to Koi pond owners as well?
I apologize for any ignorance that I'm conveying, but I really struggle with the advice related to filtration media as I feel that Koi need to have some natural defense against these types of variables, and if water quality is properly maintained, why would I even try to forgo nature only to have the fish die due to a parasite or bacteria in which there is no defense against because the bacteria in question were eliminated as much as possible. Isn't that like feeding chickens antibiotics constantly to create some type of resistant bacteria? Wouldn't I want to stick with bacteria, even if it may not be beneficial to the Koi, to populate so that other types of bacteria cannot replace them?
It has been 6 months since my last filtration media flush...the water is perfect from all main chemical tests, and the Koi are extremely healthy...am I just being stupid?
Appreciate your replies - any detail and/or articles that you can provide would be most welcome.