Drip through system

Attached is a picture of a first application of my new drip through water changes. What I did was simply take a gardeners drip kit but instead of running lines to all my pots, I compressed all the emitters to a tree like connection and turned on the water. Please make note that you can only do this if you have well water. You can not do this with city water, unless you have some sort of whole house filter that takes out the chlorine and chloramines. There are a total of 10 emitters putting out a total of 15 gallons of water an hour or 360 gallons a day or 2520 gallons a week which is over 25% water change for my ponds of 10,000 gallons total. So with no pumping out at all I get a good water change out every week. I still have to work out the over flow end. I have to cut off a pipe in my filter house which will allow the pond to overflow into the pit where it can be pumped out by a sump pump. I already use a drip through on my basement ponds during the winter and love it. So, am hoping I'll feel the same about this process also. I bought this small drip kit at Menards for about 20.00 I think. It wasn't much. I do plan on getting a black Shepard's hook to hang it all from to help clean up the look and may even try to find a better way to hide it. Maybe some kind of statuary or spilling leaf or overflowing pot. Hummm what can I come up with????

Over reacting????

OK, I'm back after a week of koi watching. Maybe I'm over reacting, or maybe I just caught things early enough that the fish healed themselves. Never-the-less, I think they are looking better. I actually ran the whole pond through a series of 3 days in a row, Terminex treatment. Terminex is a product like Proform C only cheaper. I dosed the pond and did partial water treatments every day for 3 days straight. The only side effect was I did see my new catfish come floating to the top. Not sure the cause, but really think they were just too small to be added to the pond. I may retry to add the albino cat, but will put them in the inside aquarium until they have a little age and size on them. I have not seen the hi-fin sharks lately, either. But they are extremely hard to see in the pond. They match the bottom of the pond in color so closely that you really can only spot them in the sunshine. I haven't seen them floating either, so that's a good sign. What I have seen is multiple small babies! I normally have no babies. This year we are trying to at least keep them in the smaller upper pond where they won't get eaten by a pump. Heaven knows I certainly don't need any more fish, but it's always kind of fun to see what colors you come up with from a flock spawn. The other fish, I think are looking better. Most of the little red spots seemed to have disappeared. I have again started re dosing the pond with Med zyme to help cut down those pesky aromonas and psuedomonas bacteria. (the ones that like to chew at the fins and open sores. ) And now that the fish are looking better, I again dosed for anchor worms. If you remember when this all started I said I saw a couple little pimple like things on some of the koi's fins. These are usually anchor worms. After, I get this done, I should be back to normal. I hope! Does this sound like a lot of dosing???? Well, it is! And, I hate it... Just to clear the air of what I usually do to my pond, This is my regime. In early spring, (after ice out and no more winter weather is predicted) I will salt my ponds to 3% just to help the fish get through the every other day temperature changes and to help them slime up a little to help them fight any bugs that may be in the pond and it's too cold to treat for. I only hold the 3% for a month at the most, before I start reducing it back out through water changes. As the water warms, I begin to add Mirco lift and a barley extra with peat to begin adding good bacteria to the pond and help with string algae control. I also begin adding the med zyme and koi clay. My UVs go on as well. In late Spring, I will prophylactically treat for parasites. I do this with a Terminix and Superverm treatment. After, these treatments that's all I do. I generally sit back and enjoy the pond. I do repeat treatments of Microlift, barley extract, koi clay, and med zyme as directed. As the summer drags on, I get lazy and even stop adding some of those things as the pond begins to cycle and the need seems to be less. This is the first year I've used both the Barley extract and Koi clay. And, I must admit, I do think I see a difference. This is the first year we have seen absolutely no green water and even before the water always seemed a little turbid. I think the addition of Koi clay has really made those particles stick together and for the first time in a long time the water is crystal clear. Whether its the combination of these two products or what, I'm not sure, but seems to be a working combo. Harry is happy too. I'm hoping the addition of Koi clay will help the fish colors too. Time will tell. I've been dusting the food with it as well. Suppose to be really good for the fish. So, again, the pond is looking good and more importantly the fish look better to me, too. Just got to work on their colors now. Not that bright beni, I'd like to see. You buy for white, feed for red, and pray for black.
I've also started a new "drip through system" on the outside ponds, which I'll talk about in my next post, maybe.

Just when you think everything is going good....

Sorry, it's been awhile since I've had a chance to post. Extra busy here at work with all the rain and summer always is so buys for me. And, when everything is going well in the pond, there seems to be not much to talk about. However today, unfortunately I have stuff to say, which means for some reason all He** has broke loose in the ponds. The pond itself has been looking wonderful...water has been crystal clear and parameters have all been good. The fish did a major spawn on May 26th, which left a mess of the water as usual, but through water changes, I think we've got that mess straightened out. It left a lot of the females with missing scales, though. I've been watching these guys for any signs of ulcers developing. After the spawn I added some Superverm for flukes. As my water reaches 70 degrees, I treat for flukes every spring. Also, we've been noticing the fish seem a little lack luster, some of the blacks are fading as well as some of the reds. The fish eat as normal, but not as aggressive as normal and just seemed a little off. Very, very suttle signs. You may not notice if you don't watch your fish a lot. Then, since the spawn, as I watch the fish, I noticed a couple little white pimples on the fins of a the large Becco. So I decided to do a prophylactic dose for anchor worms. Now I'm looking at my fish with eagle eyes and I notice that almost all the fish in the bottom pond have some sort of little issue. Again easily overlooked if you're not careful to take the time and look. Little red spots, a small area of raised scales, a touch of fin rot. All indications of a potential major ulcer breakout. I've seen it happen, and the thought of it scares me to death. In the mean time, my fish chose to spawn again. So again the males are chasing the females, and again they are loosing yet more scales in the process. We already decided, next year, the ponds will be sorted by sex if possible. I'm now lying awake at 4:30 worried about my fish. Isn't that just crazy? So the only bugs I haven't zapped are the micro minis, so now I'm doing a 3 day dose of Proform C. I'm hoping the malichite green will also help the bacteria count in the pond. In the mean time, the skimmer pump decided to quit, so last night, I'm out there switching that out because Harry is out of town all week. So, the pond is again going crazy, despite the water quality. I've also started using some Med-xzyme in the water to help control the bacteria count. So, now I'm just plain worrying. I feel like I'm just dumping stuff in the water. I hate acting "after the fact" . I hate not doing anything, too. The fish are all still eating and I watch carefully for anyone to start isolating themselves. I watch carefully and hope nothing breaks out into full blown sores. But, a couple don't look so good. Fortunately the water is clear so I can see them and unlike the upper pond fish, that you can't even get a "one second' look at, these fish generally will swim around you long enough to look at them. I'm not sure what shape the fish in the upper pond are in. With water lilies covering half the pond and them being so flighty, you bearly get a glance at them to know they are still in there. Oh and in the whole mess are the new fish, which were added last Saturday, before I notice all this going on and finally decided that I did have a problem. That's a whole nether post. So I'll keep you informed on the condition of my koi and what I'm doing, for better or worse. We'll all learn from my mistakes.... again

A 4 State Koi Odyssey: Nashville and Beyond....

Harry and I recently went to the annual AKCA seminars. Every year they are held at a different hosting city, so we have begun to make these seminars our annual vacations as well. This year's seminars where held in Nashville, TN. And despite the recent flooding there, we saw very little signs of the destruction that we all know happens with such events. But then, we didn't even try to adventure into the Opryland Resort area, which was totally devastated by the flooding. We instead concentrated our sightseeing on historical places nearby. Oh, we made it down town to the historical Honky Tonks and even took in a show at the Reiman Auditorium, but the real reason for going was, of course, the koi tradeshow and seminars themselves. The vendors are always fun to visit with and since this year I conned Harry into taking the truck instead of the teeny car we have (and usually take), I even got to buy things!!! There were several koi vendors, with beautiful koi totally out of my pocketbook range but so much fun to look at and drool over. The seminars are full of so many experts and so much knowledge, they can be overwhelming. However, I kind of found them a little repetitive this year. The AKCA judges and officers are so informative, all's you have to do is show interest and they start pouring out years of experiences and information. You can tell they truly love their hobby. The final day is the area pond tour. Never disappointing, we again saw some really beautiful ponds, fish to die for, and gardens that were out of this world. The 4 days we were there went quickly. The only fish purchase we made there was not koi at all! But instead, something called "High fin Sharks". Which are not sharks at all but a bottom feeder from China that because of its dorsal fin makes it look a lot like a shark. I had recently read about them while researching alternative fish for your ponds. And, so we decided we needed a new topic to talk about while pond side, thus the purchase. (I'll report back on their progress.)

Leaving Nashville, we decide to take the "scenic route" home, via my sisters house in Arkansas. While there Harry picked up a Box Turtle for the grandkids. Our menagerie was growing... We also stopped at a huge nursery and spent about 4 hours deciding what to buy. While there the owner said, "Hey you have koi, you want to go look at a nice garden?" Well since it was closing time, we said SURE! So off we go to a local gardener with the most fantastic koi ponds and gardens. Specializing in azaleas and maple trees, it again was beautiful. After the tour, we returned to the nursery, after hours, and bought 4 trees to bring home! (The truck is starting to get full) The nursery owner was so nice.
Waking up on Tuesday morning and knowing I had to be back to work on Wed. and wanting to stop at 2 koi farms, we knew it was going to be a long day and a long drive ahead. First stop was in Berryville, MO, a 3 hour drive away. Berryville is the home of Razorback Koi Farms. The owner, Dennis ___ had been at the AKCA show with fish and we told him we were planning on stopping on our way home. Razorback Koi Farm normally doesn't do a retail business for the public to walk in on. Since we had talked with him at the seminars and called ahead, he let us in. He keeps his fish at a farm out in the country. No ponds were to be seen anywhere. Multiple tanks are actually held in an old cattle shed. It wasn't pretty, and the truth be known, most koi farms are home based businesses. Business is done over the internet or by selling wholesale to area businesses for resale. What the farm didn't have for attractiveness, Dennis made up for in friendliness and true Missouri hospitality. His southern accent made me smile and after we bought 3 or 4 fish, he threw in 2 for free. He had exceptionally blue Shushui and a nice Sanke I picked out. He too, had fish I couldn't afford, but seemed just as happy to sell me his little guys. Again, we picked up 2 small non-koi fish. 2 albino catfish for the ponds also went into the oxygen filled bags.
"We're having fun now!" I declared, as we put the huge bag in the truck. Now, it was off to Neosha and the McBride's Koi Farm or MOKOI on the internet. Another few hours on the road and we again arrived at a great koi farm. This one at least had ponds we could see as we turned into the drive way. There must of been 10 or so plastic covered hoop greenhouses. Some had a couple huge tanks, while others had multiple blue tanks. Again, the owner, Mr. McBride told us he normally does not do retail sales, but deals both off the internet or wholesale, but since we were there, he'd be happy to sell us fish. He normally is not there even, except there was a dealers truck with tanks in his driveway from Oklahoma. So, we lucked out again. He had thousands of fish and were basically sorted by size in the tanks. Some of his larger tanks had huge and really gorgeous fish in them. Nice to look at, but again out of my price range. My wish list of koi types was pretty short. I was really only looking for Goshiki and Goromo. Both, of which he said he may or may not have one or two out of the thousands of fish he had. I had already spotted a Goromo in his "big fish" tank, but walked away. The two types are usually a little harder to find, so it didn't surprise me. Regardless, we strolled among the tanks of smaller fish. If you have ever stood by a tank of hundreds of swarming little fish, you know how difficult it can be to spot that "special one". I may see it and then it's gone again. But, fortunately I spotted both the fish I was looking for in side by side tanks! I was very happy. Then moving to the next hoop house, I spotted a third fish I liked in the 50.00 tanks. ____ was surprised himself, when I pointed out both the Goshiki and Goromo that I was looking for, in the small fish tanks. Then, as we approached the 50.00 tank and saw the Beni Kin Kikukuryu I wanted, he told me the fish was over looked and should of been in the 150.00 tank. But, since he told me they were 50.00 tanks that is what he'd let him go for. Even if he made it up, just to make me feel like I got a great deal, (which I do think I did) I was happy with my choices and the prices. So, we left with 3 fish from McBride's.

So from Nashville and the annual AKCA seminars, to Arkansas, to Missouri, and back home to Iowa, we certainly made the rounds. What a great way to spend a vacation in my opinion. Some people are into antiques, some into cars, while others like the water parks and sightseeing. We had fish, trees, and turtles. I was as happy as a pig in mud. I thoroughly enjoyed our "Koi Odyssey". And, I think Harry did too, but am thinking he's going to insist on taking the car next year!!
Not great pictures, but here are some of my new babies that are, by the way, in the QT tank, not the ponds at home.

Wow, its been awhile since I had a chance for any updates. Where do I start? Just got back from Nashville and the AKCA annual Koi Seminars. What a great pond tour. Beautiful ponds, mega bucks! Got to visit with a few couples that we have met over the years, too. Attendance was a little down, but we still had a good time. We drove ourselves out and Harry reluctantly agreed to take the truck this time instead of the little car. The little car is great on gas mileage, but has no room to bring anything back, which Harry loves and I of course hate. I had figured it would only take an additional 100.00 or so for gas, but he knew with the things I bought to put in it, that it would be closer to 1000.00 by the time I got home. Well, I don't have that kind of free spending money, but I went with a "secret stash" just in case. The vendors at the trade show were all quite friendly and the talks were, well ...so soo...not sure I really learned anything new, but nice refresher courses anyway. For us, it's just getting to talk to old friends and driving around the area to see the sites. We spent a day at Pres. Jackson's Hermitage House and an afternoon at a nearby town called Franklin; site of one of the most deadliest civil war battles. So lots of history in that area. We ate downtown and bar hopped all the "Honky Tonks", as they are called there. One evening we went to the famous Opryland Radio Show which was held at the Ryman Auditorium, since the new building was flooded in the recent floods. We really didn't see much sign of their flooding damage, but then again didn't go into those areas of town. And, because of the floods we didn't get to see the Opry Land Mills Hotel and its botanical center and shops. Maybe next time. On Sunday, we took the pond tour associated with the seminars. Oh man, there certainly were some beauties. I did feel sorry for the pond owners, because most the ponds were covered with foam from spawning fish. Not the usual superior water quality, but real life happening in their ponds. Stuff most people don't get to see. I'm sure when they set the date for the seminar, spawning never entered their minds. Regardless the ponds were beautiful and the fish were, in general, huge.

My own fish spawned Tuesday night. What a mess. Millions of eggs everywhere. Harry did a huge water change. The fish seemed really tired this morning. They've been gorging on eggs in the pond. No feeding for at least a day or two. Saw lots of scales in the bottom of the pond, so know they have to be pretty beaten up. I'll be watching them closely to make sure I don't get an outbreak of ulcers. Harry keeps doing water changes, so feel like I'm wasting money by putting any water conditioners in there. The string algae is growing like crazy now that the water temps have finally warmed up . We're just pulling it out as best we can.

Still trying to catch up work, but will try to get back tomorrow with pics of my new fishies. Fun, fun...

Nashville is under water

Just a little over a week left before we leave to go on our vacation to the AKCA annual koi seminars. I was so looking forward to visiting Opryland Mills Hotel and that area. I've been looking at these fabulous pictures of a boat inside, floating down this stream surrounded by plants and this huge botanical garden. Well, if you haven't heard, Nashville is flooded. So everything close to the river is under water. I guess our seminar hotel, the Milinium, is high and dry so the seminars will go on, but there will be no tours of these fabulous areas this year. Just 2 years ago when we went to the seminar, everyone was asking about Cedar Rapids and how the people here were doing. Now, Nashville is going through the same thing. Regardless, I'm still looking forward to going.
The weather has really been cold hasn't it? My pond temps Sunday morning were back down to 50 degrees again. I surely hope my fish don't get sick. They have not spawned yet. My records show it was June 6th in 2009 when they spawned last year. I'm sure it will be that late again this year. It's crazy. Most people's fish have already spawned. People think I'm crazy when I tell them my ponds have not warmed up enough yet. But then, if they had spawned, all the little guys would be dead, because it's now too cold for them. Even the frogs have finally quieted down.
I spent all of mother's day out in the garden planting, and digging, and tilling. Got a new mini rotor tiller for mother's day! What a great gift! It works great and I love it.

Finally the fish are out!

Finally we got the koi out of the basement and into the ponds! After about 4 consecutive days in the low 70's, I felt like the pond was close enough to the basement pond temps to put the fish out. I began the day by vacuuming the ponds. Harry blew the filters and settling chambers. Millions and millions of toad eggs were everywhere. They have been particularly loud all week. And non-stop too. I'd wake up in the middle of the night and could hear them out there. (Even with the windows closed) I worried that the neighbors would be complaining, but they have always been pretty cool about my ponds and the noise I make. I recently bumped into one of the neighbors that walks her dogs early in the morning. She said she got close to the house and could hear water running someplace. It didn't dawn on her that it was my waterfalls. Said she was embarrassed to say, she was looking all over for the problem area. Looked in the manholes and everywhere listening for the source of the gushing water. She just knew it was a water pipe broke someplace. Finally, her ears traced the noise to my yard. Which, she knows I have the ponds, so she said she felt so stupid. But, they had been off for nearly 4 months; she wasn't used to hearing them again. We laughed together.
So anyway, it's nice to see life in the upper, smaller, pond again. It's the pond I can see from my kitchen table. Of course the GFCI wouldn't work. It showed signs of definitely burning up. So, Harry will have to replace it. I've had several GFCI ( Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) burn up on me. They don't just trip they turn black and I've even had them melt down. Guess they are doing their job, but I'm always glad they are outside!! And, I never know the cause. Whatever I plug into them seems ok. So the extension cord is strung across the pond to run the aerator till I can get Harry to replace the plug. Which he won't like, cause it's a tight place with plants all around and he knows I'll yell at him for stepping on them. So, he'll loudly cuss them and maybe even me under his breath.