FAQ
When it comes to koi keeping, one truth stands out: good water quality is key to healthy fish. Problems can still arise in ideal conditions, but bad water will always cause stress, disease, and even fatalities. That’s why learning how to test pond water and doing it regularly is vital.
Why Testing Pond Water Matters
In a filtered pond, nature doesn’t manage water quality—it’s up to you. Good clarity doesn’t guarantee safe water. A filter’s primary job isn’t just to keep the water looking clean but to biologically break down ammonia, a toxic waste product produced by your fish. Through a process called nitrification, ammonia is converted into nitrite (also harmful), then into nitrate (non-toxic).
Prolonged exposure to elevated ammonia or nitrite levels is dangerous, even fatal, for your koi. Regular testing ensures you spot problems before they cause harm.
Core Water Parameters You Must Test
While you could test for many things, four parameters are essential:
Ammonia
Ammonia burns fish gills and body tissue. Even a short-term spike can cause lasting damage or death. You should aim for 0 mg/l at all times.
Nitrite
Nitrite poisons koi by damaging red blood cells, causing “brown blood disease.” It’s slightly less toxic than ammonia but still deadly. Keeping nitrite levels low is crucial for fish health.
pH
pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of your pond. Koi can adapt to a range of pH levels, but sudden changes are deadly. Aim for a stable pH between 7.0 and 7.5.
KH (Carbonate Hardness)
KH acts as a buffer, keeping your pH stable. Without it, dangerous swings can occur. A KH level of 6dH or higher provides good stability and supports the beneficial bacteria in your filter.
How to Test Pond Water Effectively
The best way to manage water quality is by owning a pond water test kit. Several types are available:
Strips, liquid, and tablet kits are affordable, easy to use, and accurate enough for koi ponds.
Electronic meters offer precise readings but are expensive and usually unnecessary unless you have a deep interest in water chemistry.
Using these kits typically involves taking a sample of pond water, adding a reagent or using a dipstick, and comparing the result to a color chart. Electronic kits will give you a digital reading.
If you can’t test the water yourself, many aquatic centers offer a water testing service—sometimes even for free. Always check their biosecurity policies before visiting, as bringing pond water onto a site can pose risks.
How Often Should You Test?
Being proactive is key. Test your pond water once a week to catch problems early. Over-testing wastes supplies, while under-testing risks missing critical changes.
Keep a water test log to track changes over time. Patterns in the data can help you understand how your pond system is performing and highlight recurring issues.
New ponds may experience fluctuations for up to 12 months. If you’re struggling to stabilize your water, seek advice from a trusted koi dealer.
What to Do If Water Parameters Are Wrong
Water quality issues can have many causes. If your readings aren’t right, consult an experienced koi dealer or hobbyist familiar with your setup. Online advice can be overwhelming and sometimes misleading.
Always try to understand the root cause rather than applying a quick fix that won’t last.
Getting Started with Water Testing
Before buying your first koi, you should already own a basic pond water test kit. These kits are inexpensive—costing little compared to the value of your fish—and can save your collection from disaster.
Understanding how to test pond water isn’t complicated, and mastering it is one of the most important steps in becoming a successful koi keeper.
Sleeper Pond Kit Delivery and Lead Times Explained
How will my kit be delivered?
Once your kit is ready to be shipped we will let you know it is about to be sent out., the haulier will contact you directly to arrange a suitable day and it will be delivered to your nearest curb side. The kit will be securely packed on a pallet, shrink wrapped, and banded together. This ensures that all the components of your kit stay intact during transportation. Certain parts of your kit will be sent separately, following feedback from previous customers that things like bolts and sealant had fallen off or become damaged. To start unloading your kit, you should first cut the banding that is holding the uppermost timbers. By doing this, you keep the pallet solid and reduce the chances of any parts falling off.
Your Delivery driver may have a tail lift and a pump truck, these are for deliveries suitable for this equipment. Your kit is to be hand balled off the back of the wagon and this is your responsibility.
If we deem it safe to do so we will include your glass in the main pallet, otherwise it can be sent separately.
What about the weight of the timbers?
The timbers in your kit can weigh up to 30kg each. Therefore, it is important to have a minimum of two people available for offloading. This ensures that the unloading process is safe and efficient. If you have ordered a very large kit, you may need additional people to help carry the glass. Glass can be quite heavy, some weighing over 100kg. The glass comes loose and you will need to have a safe place to store it.
Can I choose a Saturday delivery?
While Saturday deliveries are possible, they are usually more expensive. If you prefer a Saturday delivery, you can request a quote from us. We will provide you with the cost and make the necessary arrangements.
What is the lead time?
If your kit includes glass then the production lead time is estimated at 3 to 4 weeks, this is usually due to glass lead times being the same. Sometimes we have glass in stock and are able to send this out much sooner, please ask if this is possible.
Once produced we aim to ship within a couple of working days.
What makes our kits easy to build?
Our kits come with pre-cut numbered sleepers, making the assembly process incredibly easy. You don't have to worry about measuring and cutting the sleepers yourself. Additionally, all the screws and bolts you'll need are included in the kit. This saves you time and ensures that you have everything required for the construction.
What about the liner?
Once you have constructed your kit we ask that you measure the internal sizes and provide them to us, this step ensures that your liner fits perfectly. All timbers are rough sawn which is not precise so we cannot predict the size that the kit will end up.
Box Liners and underlay are sent out within 5 to 10 days following your measurements being sent to us. It is rare that it is longer than 6 days.
Our kits come with a box welded liner made of 1mm Butyl. The liner simply drops into place, so there's no need for folding or complicated installation.