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If you’re drinking the water, you can store it indefinitely as long as you properly treat it and your container doesn’t break down. Without any treatment system, you should only leave rainwater in a rain barrel for up to four weeks. If you’re using the water on your garden or lawn, you can store your water until algae start to grow. 

A good rule of thumb is to change 5% to 15% of your koi pon’s water every week. Partial water changes help keep your koi healthy, and replacing small amounts at a time prevents causing stress for the fish.

You have several options for your pond by getting your yard ready for the winter. You can winterize your koi pond by ensuring it’s at least 5 feet deep so it doesn’t freeze completely, installing a pond heater or aerator and having it run at all times, and installing a deicer if temperatures are dangerously low for an extended period. You can also choose to shut down your pond for the winter by removing all the wildlife in it and bringing it indoors, cleaning out the filter and pump, and then covering the pond with a tarp.

Though there are a lot of factors that go into caring for a koi pond, the most important maintenance you can do is frequent water checks using a koi pond test strip that checks the water for dangerous conditions.  In addition to regular pond maintenance costs, you’ll also need to winterize your koi pond if you live in a colder area.