Messages

1

Koi Corner / Interesting Koi/Goldfish Hybrid

« on: November 12, 2010, 10:21:25 PM »

I was at Preuss Pets in Michigan today (which is an amazing pet store) and they had some very interesting Koi hybrid's in-store.



As can be seen, these guys don't have the barbels of a Koi but have small pom pom's just beneath their eyes.  Interestingly all the young hybrid's (there were 6-8 of them) have a uniform color.  Apparently the lady had one Koi and one fancy goldfish in her pond.


The video is shot with my blackberry so not the clearest but gives you an idea;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H9KpGVJ_yo

Will be interesting to see how they turn out.

2

Pond Chat / Re: Fry raising this year

« on: September 23, 2010, 02:19:21 PM »

For the first time in 14 years my Koi actually showed some breeding displays (i.e. beating up my female butterfly) but alas no fry as far as I'm aware.

3

Pond Chat / Re: who do you like for BULK pond food?

« on: September 23, 2010, 02:17:09 PM »

I have heard the same sort of thing when it comes to buying fish farm food.  I considered buying Trout chow for my Koi but was advised against as I was told it would basically just add a lot of fat to my fish's frame. 

Which makes sense.  If you are a fish farmer, you would want a food that would get your fish to market quickly by adding size as fast as possible.

4

Koi Feeding, Nutrition and Diet / Re: How cold hardy are koi?

« on: June 15, 2010, 01:07:21 PM »

I've been told that in our region, it's best if your pond is at least 6 feet deep.  However mine is 4.5 at it's deepest and I've never had a problem.  Even before I started overwintering outside, I'd check the pond and just running the falls, kept it from completely freezing.  Probably helps that it's pretty sheltered from the wind.  My fish have been outside for a brutal winter (2009) and a decent one (2010) and both seasons they did quite well.

I'm not sure if under 3 feet would be sufficient for overwintering purposes.  Probably best if someone from that area advises.

5

Koi Corner / Re: Butterfly Koi - Near death experience, questions remain!!

« on: June 15, 2010, 01:02:45 PM »

Never considered that.  Apparently the water is in the high 60's, low 70's so perhaps the cause was amorous koi.  Never saw any eggs but didn't provide any breeding materials so that would explain that.  Regardless, thanks for the thoughts.  The Butterfly is doing well!!!

6

Pond Construction & Filtration / Re: Converting old pond into a DIY Filter

« on: May 27, 2010, 05:26:21 PM »

Johns,

My pond's measurements are 12' length, 10' width, 4.5' depth which I've calculated is about 4000 gallons.  Could be off but the online calculators I've used have pointed me to that number.

I know that the frost penetration is said to be 6 ft but this is the 2nd year I've had fish outdoors all winter without any losses.  To provide some context; about 3 winters ago (sometime in December) I went out to check on the pond as I had left the waterfall running (it forms an ice cave, and provides the birds with a source of water early in the winter) and I noticed when I was banging a hole in the ice (no fish so I wasn't worried about shocking anything in pond), that after a couple of feet the water was still open.  That is when I realized that it might be possible to keep the fish outdoors.  I inquired with my fellow Manitoban's and it appeared that not too many had attempted to keep fish outside during our usually brutal winters.  So two winters ago when I was late in taking the koi out, and was unable to grab 3 of my big guys, I inadvertantly tested the theory.  It was a brutal winter (luckily I was in the U.S. studying) but the fish survived.  This past winter I decided to leave all the fish outdoors.  I kept the waterfall pump going the entire winter (despite the notion that I'm disrupting the different layers of water) as well as having a de-icer running throughout.  I also covered the pond with a tarp and insulation which appear to have helped.




I've split the powerful waterfall pump to the 55 gallon barrel filter and for right now it appears to be doing a fairly decent job.  I'm still mulling the idea of creating a bog filter but am not sure if I have the space. 

Thanks for the advice.

7

Pond Construction & Filtration / Re: Converting old pond into a DIY Filter

« on: May 06, 2010, 10:24:18 PM »

Thanks for the comments!!

Last year I built the filter towards the end of the summer because my filtration was so inadequate.  (I was using like a 10 gallon box filter).  The concept is pretty simple and I still have no idea if it works.  Basically water goes from the pond, into the barrel via a spray bar.  It then goes through filter floss, and then through the Lava Rock.  Then it returns to the pond. 

In answer to your question I don't use any sort of monthly bacteria, although I probably should.  The only rocks are some of the bigger ones that have fallen but for the most part the pond bottom is just liner.  I have heard that it can be difficult when you have rocks in the pond but such isn't the source of my problems.

The filter was originally behind the tree which stands behind the waterfall to attempt to disguise it (although its difficult to disguise a blue 55 gallon drum).  I have subsequently moved it to the left side of the pond which is obscured in the pictures. 

I've tried plants but unfortunately it becomes expensive salad for my koi.  That's why I was considering a secondary pond which would contain plants to absorb the nutrients in the water but wouldn't have to worry about them being eaten.

I got the barrel filter running again a few days back and am going to see how it runs before I try anything too radical (i.e.  moving that big indoor filter to the back and trying to convert it into a secondary pond/filter).

8

Koi Corner / Re: Butterfly Koi - Near death experience, questions remain!!

« on: April 27, 2010, 11:20:12 AM »

So went out to check on the Butterfly Koi today and noticed a couple of things;

1)  The skin around the injury looks either loose or furry.  I'm not sure which.  Now this leads me to believe that its the dead skin which is in the process of falling off or perhaps it is an infection.  Any thoughts?

2)  I've also noticed that the color has returned to the left eye, which in the previous pictures was white and now appears to be black again.  Anyone think that the eye has healed?

9

Pond Construction & Filtration / Converting old pond into a DIY Filter

« on: April 26, 2010, 11:07:04 AM »

My pond, which is roughly 4000-5000 gallons has woefully inadequate filtration. 



Last year I tried to create a barrel filter using a 55 gallon drum but it didn't really work all that well.


Now the pond has been in operation for a total of 13 or 14 years but for 90% of those years, I brought the fish inside the garage for the winter.  This enclosure is roughly 6 ft in length, 2 ft in width and 3 ft in height.



Two winters ago I left 5 Koi out for the entire winter and they did well.  This past winter I left out all 22 fish and they all survived!! 


So my question is, would I be able to take the old winter pond enclosure and convert it into a big filter for my pond???  If so, what would be the best method for someone without a tremendous amount of plumbing skills to do this?  Any and all ideas are appreciated.

10

Koi Corner / Re: Butterfly Koi - Near death experience, questions remain!!

« on: April 25, 2010, 10:43:21 AM »

Thanks for the advice.  I will probably continue to monitor him and if I notice anything adverse, then I might take further measures!!  Yesterday he appeared to be swimming around fine with the rest of the Koi.

11

Koi Feeding, Nutrition and Diet / Re: How cold hardy are koi?

« on: April 25, 2010, 10:41:57 AM »

Wow- I didn't think they could survive under the snow and ice!  I guess it was the water quality then...

Amazingly my pond still gets a lot of leaves & branchs from the Willow trees that surround it and my filtration is pretty lacking.  I'm hoping this year to have a new filtration set-up to handle any water quality issues I may have.

Once November hits, I only run my waterfall pump (which usually keeps a hole in the ice as the ice forms around the waterfall)


As well I throw in a cattle trough heater as well to ensure that there is a hole in the ice. 


Now the pond is roughly 5000 gallons and I only have 19/20 fish in it (17 Koi and 2 or 3 goldfish) so that probably helps in that it isn't overpopulated. 

There have been a few of us Manitoba ponders who have started keeping our fish outside during our "rough" winters and interestingly the fish are doing pretty well considering the temps.

12

Koi Feeding, Nutrition and Diet / Re: How cold hardy are koi?

« on: April 23, 2010, 09:17:16 AM »

As someone from the North....I can attest that Koi are VERY cold hardy.  I guess if they aren't used to it and it comes suddenly then it might prove more problematic, but when the cold is gradual, mine survived under the ice without problem.  (the oldest Koi are 12-13 years old and this was the 2nd winter I've left them out).

13

Koi Corner / Re: Butterfly Koi - Near death experience, questions remain!!

« on: April 21, 2010, 11:03:14 PM »

He was 100% normal in appearance prior to the weekend, with both eyes fully operating.  It appears that he is now blind in his left eye, although I did notice that he picked up food on that side.  Perhaps it will always be a mystery what did cause this injury although I'm still leaning towards the pump.  I don't have a skimmer on the pond.

I'm somewhat concerned about removing him while he is in a weakened state.  His appetite appeared to be fine as he ate alongside the other koi.  I will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that he doesn't deteriorate.  Thanks for letting me know what to look out for!!

14

Koi Corner / Butterfly Koi - Near death experience, questions remain!!

« on: April 21, 2010, 02:34:06 PM »

This is my only Butterfly Koi, which I've had since 2004, and which, until today, I thought had perished in some mysterious manner over the past few days.  When I checked on the pond on Friday, this Koi appeared to be fine, swimming and looking for food.

I didn't really see it during the weekend and when I was working on the pond yesterday for an hour or two, the fish was nowhere to be seen.  So I began to suspect the worst and that something had happened to this koi.

Today when I went out to feed the fish, miraculously the Butterfly Koi "appeared to be fine" and was swimming a long side the other fish.

However I did notice some white discoloration on this koi's body that wasn't present previously and I cannot explain how it occurred. 




Now I have no clue how this came to be.  I would first suspect my waterfall pump but that seems unlikely since the flow was so weak.  However the marks could be the consequence of the Koi being sucked against the intake.

Secondly, I thought perhaps one of the stones had been dislodged and had landed and pinned the Koi.  This seems unlikely.  Thirdly, I did notice that some of the styrofoam that I used to insulate the pond had cracked and had ended up on the top of the water's surface so I thought perhaps this was a result of ingesting the foam, but if so, why didn't the rest of the fish suffer a similar fate?

Fourthly it could have been an animal attack but again I don't suspect this is the case.  The fish didn't appear to be skittish and the white color doesn't appear to be something that an animal might do.

Anyways, I will keep an eye on him and hope that he (or she) recovers from these injuries.  Any input as to what you guess might have caused this is appreciated!!  My guess remains the waterfall pump being the culprit but I welcome any thoughts/ideas other forum members might have.