The Power of Compounding

Posted on the NI web board 7/8/2002, 11:23 pm

I have been observing the power of compounding in investment portfolios for many years now.A bond is purchased and it throws off 7% of it's total value each year. Over time, the interest on interest doubles the original amount and then triples it and then quadruples it. This is a GOOD thing! But in our ponds, the same reality is our enemy. We place 10, four pound koi in a five thousand gallon pond. That's 40 lbs of fish in new water. Soon the "accrued effect" begins to appear. * The nitrate level begins to climb. * The Dissolved organ carbons begin to build. * Slime from the koi begins to coat the surfaces.*

Compounding effect: * Heterotrophic bacteria count now has food and begin to increase. * Background parasites begin to increase in numbers. * Algae begins to become over grown and lyse toxins. * Chances of denitrification increase. * Replacement of evaporated water (adding water only, but no actual water change) increases concentrations of DOCs and toxins. *

This is a BAD thing!

We have one simple remedy - water changes.

Water changes can be looked at one of two ways. Frequent, small water changes will keep the compounding in check. Or larger, less frequent water changes will return the pond environment back to a set point of dilution close to undectable and therefore to a state of "better water quality". You can't dose these offending problems away with PP, or carbon, or any other magic potion. They can only be "managed" in a living system.

So when is a water change a bad thing? Anytime the source water is so different in it's temperature, pH, or chlorine content, that it acts as a major stressor. The benefit intended is then lost and a stress is introduced to the fish and bioflter at a time when conditions are already sliding. You know your water change schedule and exchange amount is correct when koi show a slightly greater appetite after the water change. You know when you have waited TOO long by the slowing of swimming activity. You should never wait so long as to see the koi's appetite cease or even decrease noticeably. If this slowing behavior becomes a routine, then increase water changes. Or better, decrease intervals between changes by doing a change days before the normal period of time it takes to see appetites begin to slow. If you observe floating feces between water changes, slow the feeding in both amounts and quantities, and do several small changes, every other day. The koi will be right again by the second or third change.

This sounds like a hassle but just dumping the vortex/settlement chamber and letting it run a bit every day or every other day can be enough in some moderately stocked ponds.

Hopefully, some helpful hints for our newer members.

JR
Back to The "Old" Reilly Factor!