anyone have an ionizer?

[perplexed ponder]

Do they actually help with green water?

I am still having trouble with green! Pond plants aren't putting up pads yet and it's in full sun, all day. Added the Microbe Lift for the 1st treatment last week. Also sludge away from Microbe lift, no results yet, yep I know it takes a few weeks, but I am impatient by nature 

I got a catalog from thepondguy.com with this ionizer doodad in it and wondered if it might help.

Link:
http://www.thepondguy.com/product/aquascape-iongen-electronic-clarifier

[Michiponder]

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

[perplexed ponder]

Good point on the copper Mikel! Thanks for posting that. What if it malfunctioned?!
I try t be very careful on chemicals since the dogs think the pond is their personal water bowl. What do you use?
Have you ever been to Michigan Koi in Clinton Twp? I just found it online and can't wait to check it out! Their site is www.michigankoi.com

[Michiponder]

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

[perplexed ponder]

Yeah, I don't pay more than 10 or 15 bucks for a fish. they probably have cheapies for people like me. it's only about 15 minutes from my house, so worth a check in. Plus they have plants too.
Fun afternoon outing with the kids

[Michiponder]

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