va1

Ok I know this sounds just silly but let me explain. I recently got a new tank. New to me anyways. Got it off craigslist, 135 gallon sump ready with stand and a boat load of filters for $200. Anyways I've began the cycling process wih some goldfish that were used for center pieces in my wedding (now theres a die hard fish lover, fish in his wedding!!) along with rosey red feeders....and unfortunately a koi. I had the koi in a pond i have in the back yard but i dont think that the koi would survive the winter without constant care because the pond is not deep at all and would freeze solid im sure. So my other options were: put him in a 20 gallon tank, but now that is being used as a sump filter. option 2: put him in with my cichlids, poor idea. option 3: put him in a ten gallon tank with guppies. option 4: put him in the new cycling tank. Maybe im completely wrong but i thought he'd be best off in the cycling tank but i just dont know how hardy koi really are. This is my fist experience with koi and ive grown fond of him and dont want to kill him but im not sure what else to do with him. If i need to ill figure something else out but if anyone has any idea if this is safe or not id appreciate the advice!

TedsTank

Hello and Glad to have you on FishLore!!!

How big is your Koi and how deep is the pond?? They are very hardy. I have 11 big ones and about 8 babies.
My pond is above ground and only 27 inches deep. I keep the pump running 24/7 and it has never frozen more than about 2 inches except where the water flows back into it.

Where do you live??... My setup is in Maryland. the pond I have has been running 13 years with no winter problems.

The water will not freeze solid if you keep the pump on. Koi and Goldfish go dormant and hardly move during the winter months. As long as their color is still bright, they are ok during the winter months..

Putting him in a cycling tank can hurt him as any other fish...amonia is a killer and it is not always immediate....can weaken him. Mine are 24" + so i would have no tank options!!!

gremlin

Koi are fairly hardy when it comes to the temperature. Keeping your pump (and filter) running year round will help to keep the water agitated enough to not freeze solid. Your Koi would actually do better outside in the pond dealing with cold water temps than in a cycling tank dealing with ammonia. How big is your pond and how is it set up? Is it a liner or is it a prefab? Above ground or in ground or half and half? How much sun does it get?

sirdarksol

In my opinion, the koi and the goldfish should be in the pond in back. Are you referring to Rosy Barbs as "rosey red feeders?" If so, they are tropical fish, and need a fairly stable, higher temp, while goldies and koi are temperate fish, and prefer temps that fluctuate with the season. As was said above, the pump will keep the water from freezing all the way down. You can also get a floating heater that will keep the pond from freezing over completely, thus allowing gas exchange. If your pond is a couple of feet deep and underground, you likely don't have to worry at all. Toss a rubber ball in (keeps the ice from cracking, which can send shockwaves through the water and harm the fish) and leave it be until spring.
Moving the koi and goldies to the pond will also lessen the buildup of ammonia in the tank, thus giving all of the fish a better chance of surviving. Tetra SafeStart to boost the cycle in both pond and aquarium (presuming the pond isn't already cycled), would also be a good idea.