Sick Koi Fish? Try These 3 Easy Fixes!

Koi look rough and you’re fighting that horrible sinking feeling? This is where most koi keepers (me included, in the past!) panic and grab a bottle of chemicals… but this time we do it differently. In this video I walk you through a calm, step‑by‑step way to deal with sick koi, high nitrite and mystery problems – without making things worse. First, we TEST the water instead of guessing: Ammonia • Nitrite • pH • KH • Temperature We find the nitrite reading is high – the real problem in black and white. Then I show you the exact steps I use to deal with high nitrite safely: Increase the trickle in to dilute nitrite Use Seachem Prime to neutralise it Add MICROBE-LIFT NITE-OUT II and Colombo Bacto Balls to boost the biological film and convert nitrite to nitrate Relieve symptoms with salt at ½ oz per gallon (using a salt meter) Improve turnover and oxygenation – especially if you have a shower filter to help gas off ammonia But that only fixes the SYMPTOM. In the video we then go deeper and look for the ROOT CAUSE – which is usually not enough filter media for the amount of food you’re feeding and the number of koi you’re keeping. I show you how simply adding more media or an extra filter can solve recurring nitrite problems long term. Over the next few days, as things stabilise: • Readings slowly improve • Gasping stops • Clamped fins relax • The koi start coming up for food again • And most importantly… YOU relax 😊 I also share my simple “no panic” 3‑step protocol before treating anything: Step 1 – Test the water and WRITE THE RESULTS DOWN Step 2 – Scrape for parasites, use a microscope, and note what you find (never use a shotgun approach!) Step 3 – Keep a pond log / diary of tests, treatments, scrapes and observations so you can spot trends before they become disasters If you don’t have a microscope, I explain how a Koi Club or a good koi dealer can help check your scrapes. After 30+ years breeding and growing koi, the channel is all about practical koi education, real‑world experience and avoiding expensive mistakes – no drama, no magic potions, just good koi keeping. If you found this helpful, please LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE for more koi health and koi pond tips, and HIT THE BELL so you don’t miss the next upload 🐟 Got a nitrite or koi health story of your own? Drop it in the comments – it might help another koi keeper too! #koi #koipond #koihealth #koicare #nitrite #waterquality #koikeeping #koibreeding Hi I am Richard (The Koi Growth Guru) I am based in the UK. I want to to share my addiction passion for Koi Breeding and Growing koi on!