I’m really hoping to get some guidance here.
My dad (91) built this pond himself decades ago and it’s something he really loves. He now has dementia but one thing he still thinks about is the pond. I’m trying to keep the pond in decent shape so he can still enjoy it over the summer. I don’t live nearby (I’m a few states away), and with a lot of recent health issues, including a recent "mini stroke" I’m stepping in and honestly starting from near zero when it comes to my knowledge.
Unfortunately, we didn’t keep up with maintenance over the last few years, and many of the larger fish died. Right now, we have a few small koi (around 2–3 inches). I’m doing my best to keep them alive and hopefully get the pond back to where it used to be.
I have two main questions:
1. Water clarity / pond condition:
From the photo, what are the biggest things I should be doing right now to improve water clarity and overall health? I’m not sure if this is algae, filtration issues, or something else. I’m open to any “start here first” steps.
2. Feeding small koi (2–3 inches):
My dad used to feed larger koi (up to ~10–12 inches) with Tetra Pond Vibrance Soft Sticks. Since these koi are much smaller, I am not sure what to do. I tried crushing the sticks into smaller pieces, but the fish didn’t seem interested.
- Water temp is around ~60°F here in New Jersey
- I tried feeding around 2 PM
- Fish didn’t come up to eat...but I will also note they didn't grow up in an environment where they were fed with any regularity due to us focusing on other issues like house maintenance and my father's health.
What should I actually be feeding koi this size? And is the lack of feeding response normal for their size or this temperature?
I really appreciate any advice. I’m trying to learn quickly and do right by something my dad built and cared about a lot. But its hard to do so from several states away.