How Many Koi Fish Can You Have In Your Central Florida Pond?

How Many Koi Fish Can You Have In Your Central Florida Pond? There are many variables to this question, aeration, filtration, what you feed your koi and water quality are just a few things to consider when stocking your pond with koi.


Pond fish typically need 10 gallons of water for every inch of their length, but keep in mind they will grow larger over the years. Some pond experts even go so far as to recommend only ½ inch of fish per 10 gallons of water as a maximum stocking density.

Other pond experts measure the square footage of the pond and suggest that you keep the inches of fish slightly under the square footage. In other words an 8'x10' ponds is 80 square feet, or 6-8 10" koi.

Most of us however are over populated including our pond at home so how do we keep our koi happy and healthy?

• Pumps
• Aeration System
• Filtration
• Beneficial Bacteria
• High Quality Koi Food 
• Weekly Pond Maintenance
• Filtration Cleaning every 6 months
• FULL Pond Cleaning Annually (Spring or Fall) 

 

It all begins with water quality, we balance our water in many ways. Proper circulation and aeration are key. In Central Florida our water is warmer year round. The warmer the water the less oxygen there is in the water, the summer months can be very stressful and even deadly for the koi without proper oxygen levels. The pump needs to run 24hrs a day to add oxygen to the pond.  The addition of an aeration system is always recommended.



One of the of the most overlooked additions to aid in healthy water quality is Beneficial Bacteria. Each treatment adds billions of microscopic enzymes that digest the organics or waste in the pond. In Central Florida we add the bacteria weekly minimum. Personally, we add bacteria 3 to 4 times a week into our pond. Why? The more "hungry mouths eating the organic waste the better.

Remember clear water does NOT mean healthy water.




A high quality koi food helps greatly with the water conditions. The more filler in the food the more waste into the pond. A good food is higher in protein and healthy fats with less filler.
What you feed your koi is what you feed your pond.
Call to order today!







Regular pond maintenance to remove debris is a must. The more organics removed from the pond the less chance of poor water quality. 
We spend less than 15 minutes a week maintaining our pond.

The filtration and pond do need more intense twice a year. Every 6 months all filtration gets a deep cleaning and the pond gets cleaned out annually. All koi are removed and the pond is drained and cleaned. Let Pondtastic do the dirty work for you.






So before adding another fish to your koi collection, make sure you have ample space, aeration, filtration and treatments to ensured a happy, healthy home!

How to make your dream a reality?

If you’re considering adding a water feature to your home, CONTACT US for a free phone consultation. We can provide you with details and options for your particular design and budget. 

Pondtastic is Orlando's only Master Certified Aquascape Contractor

Pondtastic serves all Central Florida Counties Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk and Brevard.
       


                                                                                                       Jim and Theresa

What Do We Feed Our Koi at Pondtastic Water Gardens?

At Pondtastic Water Gardends we feed our Koi Blackwater Premium Food Only!


In Central Florida we feed the following 3 formulas of Blackwater Koi and Goldfish Food.
Many times people purchase a bag of color enhancing and a bag of max growth and mix them.We also have many people alternate their purchases from month to month.



Gold-N professional diet is amazing food! We have several customers that love the reduced waste in the pond and the amazing colors that are so vivid on their koi.

Read and decide which is the best formula for your koi.

Blackwater Max Growth Koi Food
Max Growth is formulated to grow and maintain your fish in top condition. A high protein fish floating meal-based diet with ingredients designed to be the primary diet for your fish. It is designed to grow your fish to the Max! The Max Growth diet is the staple diet used by one of the largest Koi suppliers in the USA. It contains absolutely no fillers. This diet is designed to grow Koi and Goldfish. Try it and you'll be hooked.
Max Growth Koi Diet is a floating Koi food.

2LBS $15.98      5LBS $31.98     40LBS $91.98        + Tax and Shipping





Blackwater Color Enhancing Koi Food

Color is formulated to bring out the maximum vibrancy of color. Special ingredients aid in bringing out the color needed to enter your fish in competitions or simply make them look their best. For optimum results. Use for up to two months prior to show or competition. This diet contains 4 different natural color enhancer's in sufficient quantities to brighten the colors RED and YELLOW. Some color enhancing diets on the market put only enough product in the diet to be listed on the label. We put enough ingredients to include over 30% of the diet. Quality product, great price.
Color Enhancing Koi Diet is a floating Koi food.

2LBS $15.98      5LBS $31.98     40LBS $91.98        + Tax and Shipping

Blackwater Gold-N Professional Diet
Gold-N combines ingredients with many micro nutrients and vitamins as well as other ingredients to help digestion and maximum uptake of nutrients. This floating Koi food is a favorite of those keeping champion and show-grade fish. It is used by professionals world wide. Blackwater Creek also uses it as a grind to feed small fish for fast growth and body shape. This diet if fortified with probiotics including Bacillus Subtillus and Aspirgillus Orezae in sufficient quantities to maximize digestion and minimize waste.
Fish-meal, Shrimp Meal, Kelp Meal make up over 60% of the diet. No fillers, better digestion. This is why so many hobbyists are discovering that you don’t have to pay a lot to provide your fish with the top diet available for Koi.
Many people who have not taken the time or have the time to dig deep into Koi nutrition may judge a Koi food on price alone. This perception that "if it costs more , then it must be better"  allows some people selling fish food as Koi food to charge  a high price for an inferior product. (Tilapia food , Catfish food etc) These are not the best for your fish. Blackwater Gold-N is.  Therefore if you would like to pay more for a diet to help you feel better about quality, we have listed Gold-N with various prices for you to choose from. Its the same diet, same packaging, and same size... just at a higher price to compare with  the other diets claiming to be professional. If it makes you feel better, you can pay more... we don’t mind (grin).
This is the same diet formerly called Blackwater “Gold”. Hikari Sales USA is the registered  trademark holder of the word "Gold" and thus we were forced to change the name... By the way… the “N“ in Gold-N stands for “Not Hikari”  Compare this diet to the Hikari Saki diet and you will see that it is a comparable diet at half the price. Champion fish deserve Gold-N

 Gold-N Professional Diet
  8lbs $69.98   40lbs $174.98   + Tax and Shipping









 Learn About Gold-N Professional Koi Diet

Thank You to Blackwater Creek for being a shared contributor.

Pondtastic Water Gardens of Orlando Installs the Aquascape Pond Ecosystem

Ecosystem Ponds

Ecosystem ponds can be easy to understand, At Pondtastic Water Gardens, we have complete knowledge of what components go into a basic, or advanced functioning ecosystem. An ecosystem pond works with Mother Nature to provide food, shelter, and safety to the wildlife around it. It also provides you with an all-natural, low-maintenance piece of paradise. It’s important to remember, however, that every piece of the ecosystem puzzle must be present in order for a true ecosystem to be in place. Eliminate one of these elements and you’ve got an unbalanced ecosystem that won’t be so low-maintenance anymore. Check out the things you’ll need to get your ecosystem pond fired up:

Circulation System is really just a fancy way of saying “pumps and plumbing.” The proper size pump and pipe diameter are extremely important for the aesthetics of a water feature. More importantly, an efficient circulation system keeps the water moving and provides the necessary oxygen levels for healthy fish and plants.

Proper Filtration System includes the use of both a biological and a mechanical filter. A biological filter provides surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize and remove excess nutrients from the water. A mechanical filter will not only pre-filter the water and house the pump; it will also skim debris from the water’s surface to prevent the accumulation of organic materials on the pond floor.

Fish are an integral part of any ecosystem. Unfortunately, fish are often seen as creating a maintenance nightmare. Contrary to popular belief, fish will actually reduce pond maintenance, as they graze on string algae and bottom feed from the pond floor.

Aquatic Plants are Mother Nature’s true filters. Plants are great for adding character to a pond by providing color and texture, but from a filtration perspective, they’re second to none. Thriving from the excess nutrients in a pond and depriving algae of its food source, the aquatic plants in a water garden, given proper coverage, are critical for the overall health of the ecosystem.


Rocks, Gravel, and Bacteria have been a controversial element in the hobby for many years. Many enthusiasts have steered away from rocks and gravel out of fear that their system will become a maintenance nightmare. On the contrary, rocks and gravel will not only make your pond look more natural, they will also protect pond liners from UV light degradation and they provide tremendous surface area for beneficial bacteria to break down excess nutrients in the water and dissolved organic debris on the pond floor.

Having all these things in place makes all the difference in the health and success of your water garden. Use them and work with Mother Nature, not against her, for a chemical-free wonderland of water! The truth is that most people opt for the ecosystem way of water gardening because it’s easier and it just makes sense. A low-maintenance ecosystem pond provides you with more free time to enjoy friends and family … while gathered around your pond, of course!