Water Gardening: Are koi nocturnal?, 0 by randbponder

randbponder wrote:
I've had my koi for a few years. They are a lot bigger now. and they don't care whose around if there is feed there they are like hogs at the slop trough.
They even get up on the little island to get at any that happened to land there.
The very young are excellent at hiding though. They are afraid of getting eaten alive. but get a little size on them, and they feel safe.
I keep a small pump running with the water just rolling the surface. I have had ice form up 3" every where except over the pump. As long as the surface is moving pretty good it won't freeze. Unless maybe it gets down to 50 below. Then I think we would all be in trouble.
posyblossom, is right as long as there is a way for the gasses to escape and oxygen to get in you are fine. Even if you have to go out in the morning to chop a hole in the ice. Just so the gasses and oxygen can transfer. The smaller your pond the more critical it is, as you don't have as much room for sufficient oxygen. The gasses will build up faster too.
A bubblier will do a good job of adding oxygen, but it needs to move the surface water enough so it won't freeze the hole shut that you are trying to keep open.
I don't the floating ball will do any good here as it would require a breeze to keep it moving. I made the mistake of leaving a gazing ball in, the ice crushed it.
This an old pic but you can see they want their share.
Good luck on the pond. Don't feed the koi after the water temp is 50 degrees or below. They will eat but the high protein fish food will only rot in their bellies and they will become ulcerated right out through their sides. Not a pretty sight!