Messages

1

Pond Chat / Re: Does adding garlic to feed increase koi and goldfish health?

« on: November 19, 2012, 05:02:22 PM »

Have used it several times.  Do not know if there is any nutritional value other than it seems to act as an attractant.  After I added it the fish seemed to be greedy for feed they were previously lackluster about.  Have used it in bait and chum for wild carp and also seem to have better luck fishing with it.  Just my observations and not scientific proof.

2

Pond Water Quality / Re: UV or No UV

« on: July 04, 2012, 07:37:26 PM »

Gotta agree with Rocmon on this one.  Have had several ponds over many years of ponding and have found that UV is no match for enough bio filtration.  Yes UV does work.  No it does not cure the cause of the algae bloom.  I live in MI and do not get a bloom even in spring unless I screw up and kill or or set back the bio filters in some way.  Keep in mind that I use large bio filters though.  On one 1600 gal system I just removed after 18 years the bio filtration was nearly 200 gal.  On another 4,000+ gal. pond I use four 55 gal. barrels of media for part of the filteration.  A 2,000 gal. system here has had as many as 6 milk crates of media in a trickle tower biofilter and usually will not even grow string algae even with high fish loads.  Regular partial water changes also help.  Most people do not want to put in biofilters this big.  Space and the apearance of the water garden along with filter maintenance and cost are also issues.  If all you want is clear more sterile water and are not concerned about nutrient buildup, UV can be a great way to go too.

3

Pond Chat / Re: Thanks to all our vets

« on: May 30, 2012, 10:08:52 AM »

Was a fun holiday here.  I live near a small town with a small population of less than 500.  The schools have about 1,000 kids mostly from the surrounding countryside.  They have a parade every Memorial day with mostly tractors, fire engines, and vets in thier cars.  Got to view from my cousins house right next to the grandstand where we have a cookout every year.  It attracts over 5,000 people and it is exciting to see them all stand for the national anthem and again as the vets pass by.  My youngest son, a vet, sat in the grandstand this year.   One day of tribute to all those who served is a small thing compared to that service and all it has given us.

Mikel

4

Pond Chat / Re: Limestone?

« on: May 25, 2012, 11:37:56 AM »

Most ponds in this part of MI do not need much buffering due to the hard water we have.  I am surprised a landscape guy would recomend it due to the fact that it often crumlbles when it gets wet and goes through our long freeze/thaw cycles.  IMHO it is not the best choice for in pond use.

Mikel

5

Pond Chat / Re: Airsoft pellets, Koi & Herons

« on: May 18, 2012, 07:27:46 PM »

I would use the fully automatic air soft gun and  pepper him till he was out of range.  They are such a pain and can be so persistant.  Any chance you could get away with using a lead spray applicator?  I am tempted to use the 20 guage type.  Good luck hunting.

Mlkel

6

Pond Chat / Re: why did I lose my prime? No not my misspent youth

« on: May 13, 2012, 11:15:46 AM »

Let me know thier response please.  Am considering thier products for the pond rebuild here this summer.  Tearing out a 1500 gal. (with 2 pools), and a 2000 gal pond, replacing them with a larger koi pond and an area I can use for plants.  Have heard that many of thier pumps are quite efficient with high volume.

7

Pond Chat / Re: why did I lose my prime? No not my misspent youth

« on: May 12, 2012, 06:25:29 PM »

Pump has gotta be sucking air from somewhere Jerry.  Is your backup pump as large as your main one?  If not maybe the added volume is making a small leak show up.  Hope you figure it out soon.

Mikel

8

Pond Chat / Re: How to Paint Outside of Galvanized Tub?

« on: May 10, 2012, 07:35:55 PM »

Got an answere for you.  Used to be a painter doing mostly large commercial and industrial work.  The problem is the zinc coating on galvanized steel.  Old school way was to wash all oil off new galvanized metal and then wash it with something acidic to etch the zinc for prep prior to painting.  A more modern way is to wash off the oil and the use a gavanize primer such as Galvagrip or Galvatite.  Latex paints will sometimes work with washing and etching.  Most pro paint shops and suppliers will have products that will work well.  Older weathered galvanized metal adheres to paint better if it is not rusted.

Mikel

9

Pond Chat / Re: Need opinion on Snails

« on: May 02, 2012, 09:24:17 AM »

I have always considered snails just one more addition to the biomass of a pond.  They are just another animal that poops too.  Have foud it better to just keep them out as much as possible and save the space for the plants.  As far as pea soup algae is concerned they add to it, but not much.

Mikel

10

Pond Chat / Re: pond edge? Paver bricks?

« on: April 23, 2012, 08:42:11 AM »

Don't have any plants in those two ponds because there are large koi in them and they just eat them or tear them up.  I only have them in the stream and filter.  Hopefully I will be able to keep plants again in the shallow replacement pond planned for this summer.  It will be about 23" deep and I hope to edge it the same way.  Please keep in mind that some pavers can change your water chemistry paramiters.  Acid washing prior to installing them can help with that sometimes.

Mikel

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Pond Chat / Re: pond edge? Paver bricks?

« on: April 21, 2012, 06:55:28 PM »

Hi Kathy.  I have them on the edge of two ponds though one is going away to make room for a larger pond.  One has 12" patio stone around it and the other has paver bricks.  They facilitate the wooden framwork used in winter for insulating those two ponds.  I used a treated wood frame under them to keep them stable and level with the water surface.  It has worked well without much of the sagging I used to get with the soggy clay soil here.

Mikel

P.S.  I went to Michigan koi the other day after you told me about it.  Wow!  Was really somethong to see over $100,000 worth of fish in just one of his pools.  Got to speak at length with the owner and found him to be very knowledgeable of koi.  Thanks for the heads up.

12

Pond Chat / Re: Sneaky herons & masked bandit

« on: April 17, 2012, 06:50:35 PM »

Have heard that those new fangled lead spray applicators work great on those type critters.  Once applied they never return to haunt your pond.

Mikel

13

Pond Chat / Re: How do you monitor water temperature?

« on: April 14, 2012, 07:05:17 PM »

Having tried monitoring water temps throughout twenty four hour perionds for more than a season.  Found that the lowest temperatures were rarely at night.  Usually they occured at least an hour after sunrise same as our air temperatures here in MI.  I agree with MikeS about simplicity being best.  If I want to know I just check it once in the morn and again that night with a regular aquarium thermomiter now.  Most days the water temp in any medium to large pond does not vary that much on a daily basis.  Do not know if a small raised pond would have more variation daily though.

Mikel

14

Pond Chat / Re: anyone have an ionizer?

« on: April 10, 2012, 03:57:51 PM »

I do not buy many fish myself.  Years that I seriously persue breeding my koi there are often many thousands of fish to sort and I get to keep only a few to raise due to space restraints.  Lotsa fun culling it down to a few real nice ones that get to be grown out though.  Occasionally in years past I have been known to buy small koi to grow out in the garage tank and greenhouse pond, but I still cull them pretty heavily as they grow and often look at hundreds before I buy one.  Maybe it is like gambling for me.  Always looking for that one special koi that will survive my clumsy attempts at raising an impressive and beautiful fish.  So, gotta get there to see if they have any for me to bet on!  Have learned that you can buy a very expensive fish and ruin it with poor husbandry quickly and that most fish are always going to grow up to plain old specklegoi.  If I am going to buy one it better be nice for all the effort it will require.  Looking forward to shopping at the casino "Michigankoi".

Mikel

15

Pond Chat / Re: Mosquito fish

« on: April 09, 2012, 09:29:26 PM »

I use a different species than most people.  I use rosey reds.  The are a pink colored version of fat head minnows.  They are egg layers and and grow to about 2 1/2 inches.   They only live about 2 1/2 years, but are very prolific.  Have them in all of my earthbottom ponds and outdoor lined ponds.  They number in the thousands in the earth bottom ponds.  Very hardy.  I like to joke about them by saying they only know how to eat, breed, and be eaten.  They can be found at many pet stores as feeder fish and are very inexpensive.  If you sort out any black or grey ones you will only get pink offspring which I like because they are easy to see and monitor.  Started with about 1 &1/2 dozen many years ago in a large empty pond early one summer.  By the middle of the next summer in that 90 ft. wide pond the water was covered with them.  They dwindled a lot when that pond was stocked with other fish, but never have died out.  I placed a few in the lined ponds and usually have a dozen or so left to restart in spring.  When they gets lots of sun in the summer they turn a pale orange.  Never seen mosquitoe larvae or any other small bugs in the water if they are there.  Quite popular up here in the North in ornamental ponds.

Mikel

16

Pond Chat / Re: anyone have an ionizer?

« on: April 09, 2012, 03:29:26 PM »

Gotta go there and check them out!  Thought some of thier pricing on fish was a little odd though.  After looking at thier pics I saw some very nice  fish and some that were what I consider pond grade for high prices.  Some looked very nice for the price.   Honestly I have given away or trashed fish better than several of the domestics there.  Some looked skinny like they were raised in shallow water gardens.  Maybe they think length equals quality and that is why they were priced that way.  Maybe the are from other hobbiest upgrading.  I also noticed that they listed the breeders for many.  Ogata and Nigata are not breeders.  They are areas in Japan that have many breeders of varying quality koi.  Still it is exciting to find fish like that for sale here in MI. Planning a trip there soon.

Mikel

17

Pond Chat / Re: anyone have an ionizer?

« on: April 08, 2012, 06:53:08 PM »

Have seen this product in the past and I am still waiting to find out just how much copper it puts out.  Have seen in the past that copper in the right concentrations and water conditions (even from copper piping) is toxic to koi.  Don't see why it would not work on algae as copper is the main ingredient in most alaecides.  At that price I do not see any advantage over algacides other than covenience.  Anyone else have any data on this product?

Mikel

18

Pond Chat / Re: Three Dead Fish - What Do You Think?

« on: April 05, 2012, 06:04:11 AM »

Another possibility could be that if you were treating for clorine and not cloramine.  Several years ago the local water company here made the switch without telling any one here and alot of fish keepers lost thier fish. 

19

Pond Chat / Re: memorial service for Matt

« on: April 05, 2012, 05:57:50 AM »

Kathy I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  Was out of the state till now and just found out.  Sounds like a great tribute to Matt and a great memory of a much loveed man.  You and your family are still in my prayers.

Mikel

20

Pond Chat / Re: fish safe paint???

« on: March 20, 2012, 04:51:25 PM »

Hecht Rubber comes to mind as a manufacturer of fish safe paint.  There are others, but many are very pricey.  Many other paints are not fish safe even when dry.  Some even have high concentrations of fungecides that can leach into the water.  Try getting the MSDS sheets online to check and see what is in a product.

21

Pond Chat / Re: Signs of spring

« on: March 14, 2012, 04:27:22 AM »

Have you ever tried flocculants Kathy?  I have used them om occasion and find they work in a few hours.  They cause the tiny particles or pea soup algae to clump together and sink.  Works better if you have a strong filter to then suck them out.  Have also used quilt batting in my skimmer to help clear it, but you have to change it very often to keep it from clogging.   Just wore the arm out so had some surgery on the elbow and wrist.  Hope that worked.  Going down the east coast visiting family for a week.  Then on a cruise to the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands.

Mikel   

22

Pond Chat / Re: Newbie (OK sophomore) questions

« on: March 13, 2012, 05:20:03 PM »

I Know that many hardy water lily types like it shallow, but not all.  For many years Attraction, Texas Dawn, and an unamed variety of pink lily has been growing very well with 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 feet of water above thier crowns here.  Several people thought it was because they were in an earth bottom pond, but I have often placed them in pots at that depth to give away when I thin them out and they do just fine.  Blossoms are sometimes a few weeks later, but I find more blossoms later in the year than most people's ponds here.  They also grow very large with larger blossoms.

23

Pond Chat / Re: Signs of spring

« on: March 13, 2012, 05:04:23 PM »

Been a very warm winter here Perplexed.  Been so warm I could not even trim the willows over the earth bottom pond.  Did not even have enough ice to walk out to them.  Guess they will just have to grow to the water this year unless I decide to go swiming.  Usually the ponds are open and running by now.  I am going on vacation for a couple of weeks so even though it is warm enough I decided to leave them covered till early April.  Can't do the job right now anyway as my arm is in a splint.  Too bad the fish gotta miss the early spring wheather this year.  With the sneaky little mink seen around here latey it's probably for the best.  Being a fairly new pond I'm not suprised you have green water.  Maybe with this warm spell it will clear quickly.

Mikel

24

Pond Chat / Re: above ground ponds

« on: March 13, 2012, 04:44:39 PM »

Raised ponds in cold climats can be a problem.  Have seen galvanized split from the expansion of heavy ice.  Not only does the top freeze the sides can freeze also and create a small dome of open water in the bottom.  I have had a partially raised pond for several years now with good results here in Michigan.  It is 4' deep with 2' above and 2' below ground and built with 2' x 4' wood covered with 1/2" plywood.  I used the dirt dug out to backfill the outside of the pond mounding it up against the wood very steeply.  I knew it needed more for this climate from past experience so I put 1" of foam insulation under the liner on the sides.  During the last few winters I have laid boards over the top and 4' x 8' sheets of foam insulation over it.  The pond does not even freeze like that and remains at 39F to 41F even with air temps well below 0F.  Bringing koi in for the winter is not an option for me (other than the fish under 12") due to the size of the fish and thier number.  Rarely do I lose a fish in winter using this pond unless I do something dumb like moving a fish in there too late not leaving enough time to recover from the stress in late fall cold water.  Bio media rarely if ever needs changing unless it degrades.  It usually only needs rinsing with pond water and can be put right back into use with usually faster results than new media.

Mikel

25

Pond Chat / Re: Signs of spring

« on: March 10, 2012, 09:02:18 AM »

Always know spring is coming soon when I start seeing things like Sandhill Cranes, Turkey vultures, Redwing Blackbirds and Robins haning around regularly.  Been seeing them now for a few weeks.  Unusual wimter here.  Had a couple of Robins that never left for most of the winter.  Don't know if they are still here though.  Saw a redtail hawk diving at them last about a month ago.

26

Pond Chat / Re: plant question

« on: March 10, 2012, 08:44:28 AM »

It is available at many stores because it is used as a cleaner for some types of water treatment equiptment.  I got my last jug of powder at Lowes in the department where they sell water softeners.

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Pond Chat / Re: super sad:( i dont even know how to react but cry

« on: March 09, 2012, 08:09:18 AM »

Sorry to hear about your misfortune.  Went through something similar about 25 years ago.  Lost the home I grew up in for about 1 1/2 years.  By the time I got it back from my ex it was a chest high weed infested mess and the pond (my first attempt at real ponding)) was an open sewer.  Most of the flowers, plants, shrubs, trees I had collected since childhood, and even the house were ruined.  It took me a few years to repair and sell, but now my hobby is flourishing and I find it is much better than what I ever could have had there.  I do not understand people that act like that.  Maybe that is why I like hanging out with other gardeners now.  I find most are great people.  Have found the best revenge afterward is just to live well. 

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Pond Chat / Re: plant question

« on: March 09, 2012, 07:37:06 AM »

Yup!  I do disinfect plants and things before placing them in any of my ponds.  I even disinfect them from stores or other peoples ponds.  Potassium permanganate at a rate over 25 times the rate for fish is used here.  It wipes out most anything including algae.  A couple of hours at such a high rate even wipes out snails and leaches.  After the pp bath I just rinse them off and they are ready to go.

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Pond Chat / Re: bio filter

« on: March 06, 2012, 11:46:34 AM »

OOPS!  Thought  the reply was for Sue.  I meant Stacig.  Had an air bisquit go through the grey matter. Sorry Sue I should have known you would known this already.

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Pond Chat / Re: lgas algas and muchas algas!Algae is blooming!

« on: March 06, 2012, 11:40:23 AM »

Sue is dead on about the algaecides.  They may kill the algae, but the dead algae will rot and add more nutriants for more algae to grow on.  A good vacuming of the pond after removing as much algae as possible is a better way to go.  It is not really bad stuff when you think about it.  It grows using up nutriants which you take out when you clean, making the water cleaner.  Have seen many people stuck in the cycle of chemicaly treating again and again with the result being a toxic soup for pond water.  Depending on your source water partial water changes can help too.