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Messages - Koi Boi

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91
Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Daylily crazy!
« on: June 18, 2007, 12:28:06 PM »
These lilies are the rejects of a local hybridizer I am acquainted with.   I am more than happy to pick through his rejects each year and call them mutts. {:-P;;



Paul   :)

92
Pond Chat / Re: Guess what this is!
« on: June 18, 2007, 12:18:00 PM »
They are koi.  :)

93
Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Daylily crazy!
« on: June 18, 2007, 01:20:19 AM »
and just a few more..... ::)



Paul  :)

94
Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Daylily crazy!
« on: June 18, 2007, 01:16:03 AM »
and a few more.....

95
Terrestrial Gardening / Daylily crazy!
« on: June 18, 2007, 01:03:26 AM »
here's a few blooms.  (8:-)


Paul  :)

96
Terrestrial Gardening / A budding hybridizer.
« on: June 18, 2007, 12:58:07 AM »
Grandson spreadin' a little pollen around.  :teehee:


Paul  ;)

97
Pond Chat / Guess what this is!
« on: June 18, 2007, 12:52:27 AM »
Splinters with eyeballs maybe?  {:-P;;


Paul  :)

98
Pond Chat / Re: A little color this morning.
« on: June 12, 2007, 08:16:56 AM »
The two middle pics are a hardy Crinum.


Paul   ;)

99
As it is with most perennials they have their season for bloom some early and some late.  Sometimes I have extended the season of bloom by dead heading the blooms as soon as a petal drops.  Be aware though, as soon as enough seed pods form, the plant gets the message that the procreation mission is complete and bloom production for that season shuts down.  Every plant is programmed to reproduce its self.  So for more blooms, don't let the seed production mode kick in.  On the other hand Danny,  If a plant refuses to bloom then one must take the upper hand and make the plant think it's going to die.  As it is with many vegetables and flowers, if there is abundant food , they are content to just keep right on growing without concern for reproduction, but withhold the food and the plant will get the message that its days are numbered and  you then see a flush of bloom.  In most cases it is really that simple.


Paul  :)

100
Pond Chat / Re: Koi Clay
« on: May 25, 2007, 07:31:27 PM »
Calcium bentonite clay or montmorillonite clay, virtually one and the same for koi health, finishing koi color, some say it's better than barley straw but over a longer period of time.  I use the clay for boosting the immune system and color finishing, barley straw or extract for filamentous algae and if any slime coat is compromised, I prefer a .1% or .3% salt solution to promote slime flow even though it is said the clay will help with slim coat.  Now if I had a cheap source for alum in bulk I would try using it as a phosphate sponge to help with algae of all types.  But don't take my word for it......Google any terms you find in a post and then decide.

Paul   :)


101
Terrestrial Gardening / YIKES......A SPIDER!!!!
« on: May 23, 2007, 09:41:59 PM »
daylily that is....first two to bloom for me so far....... 8)


Paul  :)

102
Terrestrial Gardening / a few shots before headin' home
« on: May 20, 2007, 09:39:17 PM »
A last minute walk around the place before goin' home this evening.  Not much happening here yet.....the tropicals have just been planted this week and are in need of a week or two of warmer nights.


Paul   :)

103
Pond Chat / some new shubunkins
« on: May 20, 2007, 09:32:52 PM »
These will go well with my sarassa comets in an effort to make some nice red and black comets with long soot black fins and tails like I had about ten years ago.  Been foolin' with the koi so long now I almost forgot how beautiful they were when ya put 'em together.    Anyway it's time to put the hammer to the metal till it bends.

 

104
Yo Tink,  Paracide Green and Pro Form C are nothing more than a mixture of malachite green and formalin.  I learned in '93' how to mix my own and have been using it as needed to this day.  The catalog that I used to order my malachite from described the mixture as being effective on Dactylogyrus (gill flukes), Gyrodactylus (skin flukes), Ich (Ichthyophthirius), Chilodonella, Costia, Trichodina,  and fish fungus Saprolegnia.  All of these parasites penetrate the skin and cause initial discomfort for the fish which results in a behavior called flashing ( their method of scratching by rubbing against objects in the pond or even wrinkles in the pond liner) or the fish may frequently jump in effort to clear its gills just to name a couple of early warnings the fish will give you to let you know things aren’t quite right.  Of the two types of commercial mix available I prefer the Parricide Green. I think it’s stronger.  Follow the directions on whichever you use then wait a week and do it again if the behavior continues.  I have had to make several treatments a few times in the past in order to conquer stubborn cases.  If you fear your bio will be compromised, then keep a supply of liquid or dry microbial clarifier or digester handy to reseed your beneficial bacteria, I tend to prefer the dry types and Winston makes one about as good as any.  This has worked for me for years as it did for a couple of Japanese folks before showing me.  You treat early and when the fish tell you to and you can avoid a lot of problems.  With this treatment method you will not need to scrape and do a microscopy because you will use the same product for all of the mentioned parasites and a couple that I can’t remember at this moment.  Just remember, watch the fish behavior and they will help you avoid a load of angst.  For treatment of open sores or ulcerations, I’ve had good results with oxolinic acid (Oxolium by Argent aids in granulating new flesh among other things), Lymnozyme, or a paste of potassium permanganate (a little pot. perm. powder, a drop or two of water to make the paste and a q-tip)  directly on the wound.  I know they are bath treatments but desperate times have caused me to take desperate measures in the past and applications of these products directly on the wound works great even if they can’t tell you that on the label.  Don’t apply them all at once alternate each day till new flesh begins to granulate, then the wound will look cleaner.  Soon we’ll start callin’ you Doc’ Tinkster.


Paul   :)






105
Excuse me Karen J, but I don't believe I ever said anything about y-o-u in my post.  But my post was in response to a-l-l the posts I read in this thread. but now that you mention it......I do have a dictionary that I do use and I don't feel compelled to use the broader and more popular definitions. We in this alkaline soil and alkaline water here in hicksville sometimes refer to distasteful or undesirable water for fish to live in as brackish.  But now that you have bought it to my attention, irony of ironies, brackish can apply to people too!  ;D

106
There is absolutely nothing natural about Koi  or fancy goldfish!  They are bred for their recessive genes to get the colors, body shapes and fin formations that tend to delight us.  Inbreeding is the primary method of attaining these recessive traits.  Anyone familiar with nature knows that when inbreeding occurs in nature, immune systems are compromised, growth rates are affected and deformity is common, leaving the organism wide open to disease and predation.  If  a large pond is left to its natural tendencies for a few generations of fish, there will either be no fish in the pond or they will be predominantly green or black and the cute traits and colors we bought them for will be lost to the effects of dominant genes lending themselves to survival.  Now as to detritus in the bottom of small ponds, if left to their own devices, the water will become brackish as  the organic matter builds and anaerobic decomposition increases, thus only plants and animals that can survive those conditions will be found, and I might add, that native fish in a lake or pond will feed and forage brackish water but do not reside there as general rule.  Pardon me for being tedious or guilty of offering any unwanted rocket science but this forum seems to be in dire  need of it sometimes.  Oh yes Tink, ulcers from bacterial infections are always secondary infections.  The primary causes are parasites, injury from flashing (also caused by parasitic annoyance) and injury from spawning. ;)
P.S. Any gill tissue damaged by chlorine will not regrow!

Paul

107
Pond Chat / Re: What type of tank gets hottest?
« on: April 20, 2007, 12:53:27 AM »
Sorry it takes so long for me to answer but it is a busy time of year for me.

Dave in Michigan,  I like hardy lilies....I just don't grow them.  I'm lucky enough that the temps here are very warm.......well......er..uh....pretty darn hot July and August Even an occasional 110 in June so the tropical lilies do very well here.  I have pictures of a Foxfire with singed blooms from a 112 degree day last summer but no harm to the lily.  I like the color choices that hardies can't touch.  Tropicals tend to bloom right up to frost here, yet hardies tend to slow down or stop blooming around the first of September here.  I think tropicals out perform hardies in every way but one.......survive winter.... :teehee:


Sheila, here's a few pics....I never  could catch the first day fully open, I was either too early or too late.

108
Pond Chat / Re: What type of tank gets hottest?
« on: April 20, 2007, 12:28:26 AM »
I wish Mike...don't forget the sound system!

Scott, it's crude but maybe this'll help.

109
Pond Chat / Re: What type of tank gets hottest?
« on: April 17, 2007, 07:51:34 PM »
After filling with well water, it only takes two or three days in full sun to get this 8500 gallons up to 75 or 80 degrees and ready to receive my tropicals without setting them back.   The liner is 45mil EPDM and the frame is simple landscape timbers pinned together with 3/8 inch rebar.  It's 25 feet across (side to side) and 27 feet across (point to point).  It won't keep predators from getting your fish because it is too shallow but I wanted it to heat up quickly thus the reason it is only two feet deep.   Keep in mind though, it will cool down quickly at the end of the season as well.  I have only grown tropical lilies since 1994, which was when I abandoned hardies.   


Paul  :)

110
Chit Chat / Re: More Paws
« on: April 17, 2007, 07:49:41 AM »
I like 'em both Craig :thumbup:....if you could just fax them to me please!  :2thumbs:

111
Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Our plants want out!!!
« on: April 15, 2007, 11:13:17 AM »
Only 3 acres Jerry, but as heavily as we like to plant, it's more than we'll ever conquer.  Hopefully DW and I will build a home on it some day, but for now our home is three miles away.  We just use the 93 year old farm house as a shop and for storage.

Paul   :)

112
Photo Album / Re: Double Pride
« on: April 14, 2007, 03:39:20 PM »
Craig, when I used to be cramped for space and more the novice than I am now, I enjoyed putting two or three Blue Beauty in a 15 inch pot and cram another 15 incher with two or three Albert Greenberg next to them and watch 'em go at each other.  Everyone at our local garden tours loved the mix each  year for several years...... but...... now I'm seeing two pots of midnight vying for space....lord....how exciting!!  It may not be here yet but you’ll find your pink Midnight  as sure as Edison found his filament. :teehee:

113
Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Our plants want out!!!
« on: April 13, 2007, 11:15:13 PM »
Now that I look at the place with all the chill around....my wife and I really do love PVC!  :teehee:

114
Terrestrial Gardening / Re: Our plants want out!!!
« on: April 13, 2007, 11:05:36 PM »
We did manage to divide and pot a good number of plants last month but when the cold came back they wouldn’t fit back in any of the greenhouses at the acreage or at home so a couple of hasty puddings were in order.  I only had three days after the pipe was delivered to remain my DW’s hero.  Whew, I made it heaters, included.
 @O@

115
Terrestrial Gardening / Our plants want out!!!
« on: April 13, 2007, 10:48:50 PM »
We had spring and summer temps in March then April brought a return of winter.  It wasn't as cold as the two 27degree mornings we were told we'd have last week but the one 29 degree morning did melt all that was uncovered at the acreage.   I usually have the greenhouse emptied a week ago and have another frosty morning ahead for Sunday.    Anyone have any global warming they would care  to fax me???   ;D

116
I didn't know we had any members that were NASA employees!??!   :search:   

117
Photo Album / Re: It ain't much but I love it!
« on: April 13, 2007, 06:12:41 PM »
Skippy is just entirely too modest.  It's great! :)

118
Photo Album / Re: Double Pride
« on: April 13, 2007, 06:06:32 PM »
You assume correctly Craig, and I anxiously await your successes with a pink Midnight.  Just curious though, does the name SOS have anything to do with a call for more serendipitous discovery?   Anyway, we here thank you for sharing the eye candy and we are delighted at the prospect of observing  your continued success as it unfolds.


Paul  :)

119
Pond Chat / Re: Water Changing Question?
« on: April 13, 2007, 04:15:20 PM »
I don't mean to contribute to a can of worms, but since I don't know what you know, I'm compelled to risk being redundant in your eyes, plus I'm just not long on short answers. {:-P;;


Paul   :)

120
Pond Chat / Re: Water Changing Question?
« on: April 13, 2007, 11:06:29 AM »
Absolutely Kay,  even with mechanical and biological filtration in most ponds today, by the time most people have incorporated enough fish and plants to please their eyes, they have long since overburdened the bio.   People selling biofilters today rarely gage the filter size for a pond by the bioload it will be required to handle, but instead are gauging its size by the volume of the pond itself which usually leads to an undersized filter by the time the fish are purchased and grown out a few years.  I size my bio by the surface area in the bio and double it for the fish load that I expect to incorporate, mainly because I’m a bit excessive with my fish purchases.  sometimes I like to stack ‘em in like cord wood.... lol

Paul  :)

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