Koi In 55 Gallon Tank?

[Raechal]

I recently purchased two koi and put them in a spare 55 gallon tank I had. The koi are about 6-7 inches long right now. I am interested in building a pond out back. I live in Florida so it doesn't really get all that cold here. Would I need a heater? How would I go about making a pond? How big of a pond would I need for like 4 koi?

How long can I keep the koi in the 55 gallon before they should be put into a pond?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Ideally they should go in the pond ASAP, there isn't any harm in keeping them a 55gal for now although they are already quite large, i think the minimum amount of gallons for koi is usually 800gals although it depends more on the dimensions of the pond than anything else. Do you know the average temp of water outside is in your area? You can leave a bucket of water out in a sheltered area outside for a week and moniter its temp is you do not know- the average temp will help decide how deep the pond will need to be, does it ever freeze where you live in the winter(sorry i don't have much of a clue of the weather in florida)?
Do you know what type of koi they are?

 

[Raechal]

Ideally they should go in the pond ASAP, there isn't any harm in keeping them a 55gal for now although they are already quite large, i think the minimum amount of gallons for koi is usually 800gals although it depends more on the dimensions of the pond than anything else. Do you know the average temp of water outside is in your area? You can leave a bucket of water out in a sheltered area outside for a week and moniter its temp is you do not know- the average temp will help decide how deep the pond will need to be, does it ever freeze where you live in the winter(sorry i don't have much of a clue of the weather in florida)?
Do you know what type of koi they are?

No the weather barely goes below 50 and that's only when it gets REALLY cold in the winter time.

I believe they are butterfly koi?

Also, do Koi prefer to be together or can you just keep one single koi by itself?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Koi do prefer to be kept in groups as they are quite sociable fish . Almost all koi have the potential to grow to 3ft long, although most only make it to 2ft- personally i would aim for a 4ft wide and 6ft long pond with at least 2ft depth minimum, although the deeper it is the better as the extra depth with help add protection from predators like cats . They shouldn't need a heater though, heating is only really beneficial for ponds that often freeze over a lot during the winter time to prevent the koi from getting stunted growth.

 

[Raechal]

Koi do prefer to be kept in groups as they are quite sociable fish . Almost all koi have the potential to grow to 3ft long, although most only make it to 2ft- personally i would aim for a 4ft wide and 6ft long pond with at least 2ft depth minimum, although the deeper it is the better as the extra depth with help add protection from predators like cats . They shouldn't need a heater though, heating is only really beneficial for ponds that often freeze over a lot during the winter time to prevent the koi from getting stunted growth.

My water temperature is around 73 degrees and that's without a heater. Is that too warm for the koi? I don't know how to make it any colder.

Would I be fine with 2 or 3 koi to the 55 gallon for now?

 

[Raechal]

I think I am going to break down both of my tanks today. My 120 gallon and my 55 gallon and move the koi to the 120 gallon since they are considerable larger than my oscar and parrot fish right now and move my oscar and parrot fish to the 55 gallon until I build a pond outside.

That way the koi will have plenty of room and my oscar and parrot will have plenty of room as well until they get bigger and I move the koi out into the pond.

Does that sound okay?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I think I am going to break down both of my tanks today. My 120 gallon and my 55 gallon and move the koi to the 120 gallon since they are considerable larger than my oscar and parrot fish right now and move my oscar and parrot fish to the 55 gallon until I build a pond outside.

That way the koi will have plenty of room and my oscar and parrot will have plenty of room as well until they get bigger and I move the koi out into the pond.

Does that sound okay?

You are moving the oscar, parrot and bumblebee catfish to the 55gal and moving the koi to the 120gal? That sounds fine , although i'm no expert on your other fish.

 

[Raechal]

I think I am going to break down both of my tanks today. My 120 gallon and my 55 gallon and move the koi to the 120 gallon since they are considerable larger than my oscar and parrot fish right now and move my oscar and parrot fish to the 55 gallon until I build a pond outside.

That way the koi will have plenty of room and my oscar and parrot will have plenty of room as well until they get bigger and I move the koi out into the pond.

Does that sound okay?

You are moving the oscar, parrot and bumblebee catfish to the 55gal and moving the koi to the 120gal? That sounds fine , although i'm no expert on your other fish.

Yes. My parrot fish and oscar are only about 3-4 inches each right now. As the koi is like 6-7 inches. I felt he needed more room in the 120 gallon until we moved him out into the pond after it is built.