Chlorinated Water

It's Affect on Koi and Goldfish in the Koi Pond or Water Garden

You've just filled the pond up and it's running beautifully.  You are excited because you are finally able to introduce your koi and goldfish to their new home.  You've floated the bags for 15 minutes and you're ready to open them up and let the fish free. 

At first the fish are swimming all around the pond checking out the new places.  Then, after a half hour or so, you notice that they are not their usual, happy selves.  They are hanging out by the waterfall, listless or jumping wildly.  A few have turned on their sides and are looking like they are going to die...

Did you forget to add de-chlorinator to the water? 

Believe it or not, you are not alone.  Even the most experienced koi-keepers have made the mistake of forgetting to de-chlorinate the pond water.  Chlorine is a chemical that is introduced into our drinking supply (tap water).  Everyone who gets their tap water from a municipality will have a certain degree of chlorine (and other chemical compounds) in the water from their faucets.  If you are on a well water you don't have to read any further because you don't have chlorine in your water.

Items You Might Need:

Doc's De-Chlorinator

Ultimate Water Conditioner

Chlorine and Heavy Metal Remover

Know Your Gallons!

Heavy Duty Water Meter

Chlorine is lethal to fish.  It burns the gills and kills rather quickly unless we remove it.  Luckily, all we have to do is add de-chlorinator to the water for instant results.  The trick is to always have de-chlorinator on hand...

When to Use What Type of De-Chlorinator

Most the time a simple de-chlorinator is all you need.  Doc's Dechlor is our own bottled de-chlorinator and has nothing else added.  Chlorine and Heavy Metal Remover by PondCare is another type of de-chlorinator that also removes heavy metals.  It tends to be more expensive and often not needed.  Ultimate Water Treatment is also an ammonia detoxifier.  It will remove chlorine while detoxifying deadly ammonia.  We use Ultimate whenever we are having a problem with ammonia and nitrites.  At the start of the season when we have ammonia spikes we will add it to the water when changing it so that we can prolong the need for another water change while the nitrifying bacteria in the biological filter is seeding.

None De-Chlorinator Method of Removing Chlorine

Some purists (as we call them) do not like using de-chlorinators because they are chemicals so they prefer to "mist" the water into the pond.  If water is misted (or run through a rigorous fountain that sprays the water finely) the chlorine will dissipate without the need of a de-chlorinator.  This is a risky method and should only be used by folks who really know what they are doing.  Keep de-chlorinator on hand just in case.

Emergency Procedures

1. No need to perform a water change -- you'll just be adding more chlorine.
2. Add the right measure of de-chlorinator to the amount of water you have added to the pond.
3. Turn on any and all types of aeration available.
4. If you do not have de-chlorinator on hand you are in trouble.  Go to a neighbor - to Walmart - anywhere you think you can get your hands on some.

What to Expect Next

Let's say that you caught the problem in time to save the fish (or a majority of them).  The koi and goldfish who survive will be in a recuperation mode for a week or two.  Their gills will be burned and their immunity systems will be compromised.  Keep plenty of aeration going to help their gills perform.  Most likely there will be some permanent damage to the gills (called "clubbing").  Never use stress coat or any artificial slime layer producers on these fish.  It will coat their gills and make it difficult for them to breathe.

Preventing the Problem

Always keep de-chlorinator on hand.  Whenever you change water or introduce fish into a new pond observe them closely for the first few hours - just in case.

More Information About Water Problems and Remedies

• Do You Have Enough Aeration in Your Pond?
• CHEMICAL ALERT -- Read this before you add another chemical to your pond

This did not help me.  Please send me back to the Diagnostic Clinic.

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