Archive | Consumer Guides

Ensuring the nitrogen cycle in your pond is optimized requires understanding the relationship between ammonia and pH. 

Koi can easily distinguish between a standard meal and something extra delicious. However, treats are not a substitute for your koi’s regular diet.

Transportation, changes in water quality or environment, predators, and illness can all trigger stress reactions in your koi.

  Most Serious Threats These predators are voracious and pose a great threat to the fish in your pond. Herons Herons are migratory birds that are beautiful and intelligent but are constantly searching for a meal. With eyesight several times keener than a human’s, your colorful koi are easy for herons to spot even from […]

  Some experts will advise you to avoid handling your koi as much as possible. However, many koi keepers will either need to transport their koi or will need to inspect the fish for signs of illness or disease at some point in its life. The best times to examine koi are soon after they […]

  Koi and goldfish are a popular combination for coexistence in backyard ponds. Both share an ancestor in the carp, are docile, hardy, and have similar environmental and dietary needs. However, your Blue Ridge Koi and Goldfish are distinct species and differ in several ways, including size, shape, coloring, lifespan, and cost. Size Size is […]

  If your water temperatures drop below 50℉ in the winter, you need to prepare your pond for the colder weather. If your pond is at least four feet deep in climates that regularly freeze and three feet in places with chilly but milder winters, it is best to leave your koi in the pond […]

  The three most common methods to calculate how much water is in your pond are volume estimates, a water meter, and a salt/salinity meter. Estimating Volume Method Estimating water volume will only yield an accurate result if your pond is a perfect geometric shape (e.g., square, circle, or rectangle) and has flat sides and […]

  Knowing the signs and symptoms of illnesses is important to keeping your Blue Ridge Koi healthy. Anchor Worm Cause: New fish or aquatic plants can introduce these crustacean parasites into your pond. Symptoms: Anchor worms are visible and resemble whitish-green threads. You may notice red patches on the koi where the skin around the […]

  Your filtration system is essential to providing your Blue Ridge Koi and Goldfish with proper water quality. The two main types of filtration are biological and mechanical. Biological Filtration Biological filtration is something every pond requires to maintain proper water quality and preserve the health of the fish. Beneficial bacteria break down waste products […]