Simply Koi and More Koi

OK so I have run out of room and money really!

Could I have a 3ft glass tank indoors to enjoy a baby koi to "grow on"?

Heat would be free at about 23c just need a small air pump and filter?

Anyone else do it?

Hi Andy
I keep a few tiddlers in a tank for the winter, it is heated though as it is in the boiler room (not allowed indoors).
One thing you must take note of is that koi generate a lot of waste so need quite a lot of filtration and a lot of o2 to keep them happy, i dont add any gravel as it builds up a lot of waste which will eventually cause problems.
So i have an external filter and a highblow 40 pumping in loads of air, all this in a 40 gall tank.
Also though it sounds a bit bizzare i have put a bag of k1 in with an air stone in it from the main pond as it was mature initially to get it up and running but have left it in ther as it is doing a fantastic job of extra filtration and the water stays crystal clear and sweet even though it is a bit untidy looking.
i have 8 koi mainly at about 5 inches and growing fast!
The main thing as with any new set up is the maturation time which can take time unless you have some mature media to give it a kick start.

Thanks Amanda
We have have tanks in the past with gravel etc but I was thinking of having nothing i it internally just air and a filter externally of a sort, maybe k1 aerated in some way?

with the aim to just have one Koi indoors! something to feed and grow!
Hope this post works as no internet for 3 days with AOL BULL****
Just spent another 2 hrs on the phone talking to higher up then max level 2 exec. what pratts they are.

Trying to find another int connection. what do you use, peed off now. gonna have a scotch!

Hi Andy

Not a good idea in my view.

Koi like company and need space, you can raise a few fry in a small tank but they need room if they are to develop.

Sorry to be blunt but goldfish or tropicals would probably be a better idea in a 3' tank.

Regards

Dave

What if I had 2 or 3 koi about and inch long???

Andy H wrote:What if I had 2 or 3 koi about and inch long???

They'd grow really quickly though in the extra heat inside and wouldn't be an inch for long!

Go with some nice fancy goldfish if you have to have coldwater or get some tropicals instead - they make much less waste and you can have a huge range of types.

Just wanted a couple of koi to look at!

How long at say 25c would 2 inch long koi out grow a 3ft tank???

Curious now.....

Andy,

I started twenty plus years back with a couple of small koi in a tank and wouldn't recommend doing it.They take very little time to outgrow the tank,eat incessantly, and foul the water at an alarming rate.They look great for a couple of months and then all the cleaning,water changing,and feeding loses it's appeal.And the carpets get wet.

I really advise against doing it for own your sake.It won't do the fish any good at all either to be confined in a small area at such a young age.A koi is a riverine fish and even a decent full sized koi pond is a compromised environment.

I guess I am convinced then! No koi indoors....

As long as we are not talking long term keeping then yes you can.

Although not ideal if you really do confine yourself to 2 or 3 inch koi and only a couple then you shouldn’t have any problem. Have good filtration and constant air. If you buy them small then it will be a fair few months before they will be ready to go outside into a pond with a bottom drain. The will have company and will be happy little fellows.

Be careful not to go slamming doors and making lots of noise and movement around them as they are sensitive to that sort of disturbance. Make sure the tank has a good strong lid so they can’t jump out too. but pretty much it will be fine.

They would have to maintain a conversation with the parrot!

Just got a 123gal tank for the shed so may consider that...

Andy H wrote:They would have to maintain a conversation with the parrot!

Just got a 123gal tank for the shed so may consider that...

No I don't think that would be suitable for the parrot, better put him in a cage.

Hello Andy
There seems to be mixed feeling about keeping koi in a 3ft tank ..
Ive been there done it and would do it again .. i love having them indoors ..
Infact i have 4 of Fishys baby koi in with my fancy goldfish as i type and they are loving it ...
Gravel ..well i run an undergravel filter .. it works a treat ...but i still hoover the gravel anyway ..and the koi love ferreting about in it.
i have a fluval 305 with mature K1 in 2 of the baskets ..1 carbon bag ..1zeolite bag and then some ceramic media too.
You do have to do regular water changes ..10% every other day ...until the filter kicks in properly...have some amquel on hand too.. handy if you dont get chance to do a water change.
If your prepared for the first month or so for water changes then go for it ..
If you want some baby koi ...give me a call i have about 70 at the moment ..and another 15 rescue babies to come next weekend.
regards
Max

Thanks for the offer Max, I am still trying to decide about indoors one and now got the goods for a warm one in the shed, just need to decide on a heater type.

I would like a little tidler in here or two but I think one thing at a time as I am getting carried away a bit!!!

The wife is gonna want me down the allotment soon