Author Topic: If you had to choose... (Read 2723 times)

josephandgabby · « **on:** February 28, 2007, 02:32:51 PM »

Isn't the entire point of having a Koi pond that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy your Koi after a hard day's work? On the other hand, every Koi keeper knows that a pond can never be TOO big. Seeing the problems some pond owners have had trying to keep their huge ponds clear, I started to wonder...

If you had to choose between having a huge, 30,000+ gallon pond that was NEVER clear, meaning you could never really enjoy your Koi except during feeding time when they all pop their heads above water for a few seconds, or a smaller, 5,000 gallon or smaller pond that was always crystal clear.

Keeping in mind that green water is not unhealthy for Koi and assuming water quality and filtration are optimal in both scenarios, which option would you choose - a huge pond with perpetually green water, or a smaller pond with clear water?

I'm aware that a small pond does not necessarliy equal a clearer pond, or vice versa. This is just a hypothetical question.

Just curious...

Three ponds, too many Koi, and one very angry wife...
www.JoesPonds.com

marla · « **Reply #1 on:** February 28, 2007, 02:41:23 PM »

I'd take the smaller pond, maybe less Koi but I'd rather see them all the time.

Kittyzee · « **Reply #2 on:** February 28, 2007, 03:08:22 PM »

Definitely the smaller pond, it for me would equal more enjoyment; less work

Esther · « **Reply #3 on:** February 28, 2007, 03:17:24 PM »

Yup, I'm glad we were restricted to how large our pond could be because of what was already around it. Also I am the sole care giver and am glad it is small enough for me to handle it. It is shallow enough that I can reach to the bottom with the adjustable handle on the net and it can reach more than half way across to catch leaves or floaties. It is shallow enough that I can get in and bend over and reach the bottom almost anywhere without drowning. But it is deep enough that the Koi do well and winter over OK. It's only about 1750 gal, 10 X 13 x 28". Also if I get a green problem, I have more chance of mechanically removing the green and getting it under control than I ever would with a big pond.

Joe I looked at your website and enjoyed it very much.

GAJen · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2007, 03:31:33 PM »

I'd choose the smaller because the purpose of our pond is to go sit out and enjoy the sites and sounds. It is easy to maintain and a hammock is all I need now.

andrew davis · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2007, 03:57:29 PM »

Never had a problem keeping any size pond clear, though with fish, the smaller the pond the less stable the water quality, it warms and cools faster which is a bonus to algae

Five adult size koi on a 13,000 plus gallon pond with heavy plantings of waterlilies, aquatic iris, is in one respect less work, the ratio of pond surface to border is higher, on a smaller pond the weeds will reach into more of the surface area. Typically I see weeds and grasses dawdling into two foot of water margin

Oh, a bigger pond means less grass to cut, so if you have to cut the grass two times a week, I'd rather have 1000 sq ft less tedious monotony...

When you have 90,000 square foot of grass to cut, the concept that grass is a waste of pond space soon takes shape

Regards, andy
http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.html

Ky Kim · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2007, 04:23:50 PM »

I would rather have the smaller one out of the choices. I would rather be able to watch the fish and enjoy them. What's the point of having them if you can't see them.

Kim

Koi Boi · « **Reply #7 on:** February 28, 2007, 04:48:51 PM »

Given that I could afford the cost, I’m opting for the 30,000 gallon pond with a U-V of proper size and possibly an ozone generator. A 24 or 36 inch sand filter loaded with #4 industrial sand and a bio with at least 4,000 square feet of surface area for starters and add more surface area as needed, and it will be needed as I never can stop acquiring koi until I’m well past over stocked. I guarantee the water will be clear with my daily backwash routine on the sand filter. I have a quick release clamp on the sand filter, which allows me to lift the valve and stir the sand so as the break up the impacted bed (reversing the flow as with a normal backwash procedure only blows a few holes in the impacted sand bed) to insure an effective backwash when the valve is replaced as well as more efficient mechanical filtration, thus reducing sludge accumulation in the bio. I do also use the high tech bead filters but 4,000 or more square feet of surface area would truly be expensive. I’d rather build a cheaper and just as effective up-flow gravity feed bio so I could apply the savings to a proper U-V. When sizing a bio-filter to the pond I NEVER use pond volume as a criteria. Only this, 400 square feet of media surface area per 50 pounds of fish @ a feed rate of 2% of fish body weight per day. Now let the nay saying begin.

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #8 on:** February 28, 2007, 04:51:00 PM »

I agree with Kim.

But......

If I had lots of help to take care of a pond of koi I would love a little lake and raise hundreds of 2ft kois of multi colors....watch my lilies bloom profusely...

WAIT!! Was I writing out loud? Heh-heh.

tinkster · « **Reply #9 on:** February 28, 2007, 04:52:56 PM »

I think I would take the larger.. more lillies and them more and more and.......

I really love you website and your ponds are beautiful!

tinkster

EagleEye · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2007, 05:08:50 PM »

I'd take a small pond with goldfish that fits into my yard and something that I can enjoy.
My point is not to create more work, but more enjoyment.

Steve

Jerry · « **Reply #11 on:** February 28, 2007, 06:36:30 PM »

Who gets to sit back and enjoy it? The same goes for the garden. There is always something to do as you all know. The good part is I like the doing!

choicecopyguy · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2007, 07:35:52 PM »

I like the yard york, which also includes the pond work. That said, I also like to sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labors, maybe a beer on a hot summer afternoon, watching the fish, or just the water. I'll choose the small pond.

Mark

CT · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2007, 07:38:20 PM »

Smaller definitely.

El Jefe · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2007, 07:54:11 PM »

Sorry I have to be the lone dissenting voice here but like my grandpa used to say "go big or stay home" go with as much as you can afford and you won't be sorry. My pond was here (in a pretty sorry state) when I moved in and I have to say I love it. Working in it and working on it,

Mikey · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2007, 09:05:52 PM »

I would love to have a huge koi pond and be able to swim with the koi......water temperature permitting.... Of course it would have to have a good filtration system.

What was the name of the ponder who lives in Santa Cruz California who used to post on the WGM forum? As I recall he had a huge pond and I seem to recall him saying he swam in the pond.

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2007, 10:43:24 PM »

Oh deffently bigger. Assumming I could afford it and all the good stuff that's need to go with it. I love the water. Ya know I posted here earlier and now I don't see my post??? I'm loseing it again?????

frloplady · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2007, 11:41:34 PM »

Bigger pond..and who'd leave it green?? If I could afford that big of a pond, I could afford to properly filter it.

I'm actually inbetween. 13,500 gallon pond 5.5-6.5 feet deep and could see clearly to the bottom.

Pic is at 5.5 feet..see the watermelon rind trying to get into the bottom drain

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2007, 08:50:16 AM »

I would take the big one and not stress over the water clarity. It is much safer for the fish to not have the water crystal clear. I would plant it heavily and not have a UV. I'd be having a pond, not a swimming pool so wouldn't be swimming and wouldn't be having industrial strength filtration. With a pond that size here, I'm sure there would be no way to avoid herons, ducks, kingfishers, maybe even an osprey. I'd want an island with a Japanese maple on it. For those of you who were there, I think the big pond at Hughes Water Gardens is awesome. It isn't perfectly clear, but looks very natural and we could see the fish.

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2007, 08:56:08 AM »

Hi frloplady, I was born and raised all over Wash. but I can't figure out where Cowichee is?

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #20 on:** March 01, 2007, 08:58:21 AM »

I think she is over towards Spokane

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #21 on:** March 01, 2007, 09:03:09 AM »

Wow! that's only about 2 1/2--3 hrs from here headding south east.

dorsalfin · « **Reply #22 on:** March 01, 2007, 02:30:03 PM »

HI all: I guess I will have a little pond,I will be bulding a new pond this year.
I was just telling.. Ester I will be building a five to seven thousand Gallon pond.
Heck I thought that was big gues not

I may need to think this thing over again (O) Mis Deb...

Dorsalfin

GAJen · « **Reply #23 on:** March 01, 2007, 04:25:52 PM »

Andy yours is gorgeous. Our backyard is way too rooty to do a big pond. :'(

WV Kim · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2007, 04:31:12 PM »

I would have to choose the small one. I really enjoy just sitting and watching them swim and chase each other. The time really goes fast by a pond!!

Kim

frloplady · « **Reply #25 on:** March 01, 2007, 05:47:28 PM »

Quote from: happyoutsidegirl on March 01, 2007, 08:56:08 AM

Hi frloplady, I was born and raised all over Wash. but I can't figure out where Cowichee is?

Actually I'm about 12 miles nw of Yakima.

Rocmon · « **Reply #26 on:** March 01, 2007, 07:44:08 PM »

"assuming water quality and filtration are optimal in both scenarios"
There wouldn't be a visibility issue in either pond... If the water is green, your filtration isn't adequate.

For me it's a matter of acreage. Where could I put a 30,000 gallon pond? If it were that big, I could swim in it...

happyoutsidegirl · « **Reply #27 on:** March 01, 2007, 10:01:40 PM »

Oh Ya! 30,000 gal and swim in it with my Koi sound good to me!

Author Topic: If you had to choose... (Read 2723 times)

GAJen

GAJen