Nutrients for the plants reaching the water from the fish food

The amount of nutrients for the plants reaching the water from the fish food depends on several factors, such as:

• The type and quality of the fish food
• The amount and frequency of feeding
• The number and size of the fish
• The water temperature and pH
• The water circulation and aeration
• The presence of other aquatic plants and animals

Generally, fish food contains various nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. Some of these nutrients are used by the fish for growth, metabolism, and reproduction, while some are excreted as waste products. The waste products include

• ammonia,
• nitrite,
• nitrate,
• phosphate,
• and organic matter.

These waste products can accumulate in the water and cause water quality problems, such as algae blooms, low dissolved oxygen, and high toxicity.

Water hyacinths can help to reduce these problems by absorbing some of the excess nutrients from the water through their roots. Water hyacinths are known to have high nutrient uptake rates, especially for nitrogen and phosphorus. Some study found that water hyacinths can remove up to 80% of total nitrogen and 69% of total phosphorus from fish pond effluents.

However, the nutrient uptake by water hyacinths also depends on several factors, such as:

• The availability and concentration of nutrients in the water
• The growth rate and biomass of water hyacinths
• The environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and pH
• The presence of other aquatic plants and animals

Therefore, it is not possible to estimate the exact amount of nutrients for the plants reaching the water from the fish food without knowing these factors. However, one way to get an approximate idea is to measure the nutrient levels in the water before and after adding water hyacinths. You can use a water test kit or a laboratory analysis to do this. You can also monitor the growth and health of your fish and water hyacinths to see if they are getting enough or too much nutrients.

I hope this helps everybody to understand the relationship between fish food and water hyacinths in your koi fish pond. Water hyacinths are useful plants for improving water quality and providing shelter for your fish, but they also need to be managed properly to avoid overgrowth and nutrient deficiency.

Good luck with your pond!