I have two fairly small ponds that I have connected with a stream...... see the building stream/waterfall thread. The top pool is a round pool that is intended to be used to water cattle or to be used as a swimming pool (I do not know how many gallons this one is) and the bottom pool is about 400 gallons I think (about 6 feet across give or take and about 18 - 20 inches deep). I plan on having that bare with the exception of a single lotus plant in a big rubber tub. The stream has three small waterfalls and is about 35 feet long so that should help with aeration. I found out from Randponder that I accidentally included a biological filter in the stream because I put sand and stones in the bottom. :-) I have a rose arbor that I built with a bench underneath sitting right next to this pond and it would be a wonderful place to sit and watch the fish. Is this big enough to keep koi in? If so, how many would you recommend? Should I keep a combination of golfish and koi? I have some waterlilies. zebra rush and papyrus in there now with some feeder goldfish.
Koi Question
If you already have some goldfish in there I don't think I would go for any koi as they do get big and they are " heavy poopers" The amount of water you have is probably about right for the goldfish. Don't get me wrong I like Koi. But when they get 2 1/2 feet long they definatly need more water and realy a little deeper. Too many fish cause more stress on the pond , fish and the whole little ecosystem you are trying to create. Unless you plan to get rid of the koi after a few years and start over with little ones again, all the time." I could say, they are edable, ??????"
My pond is about 3,000 gallons and I feel that I am streching the limit of fish in mine. I have around 60 pluss all the babies. Come spring time I usually have plenty to give away. I have some I try to keep. as I like way they look. I try not to like the little ones too much.
Thank you so much for your reply! I will take your advice and just keep goldfish in there then. The goldfish get big enough to enjoy just as much as I would koi. The problem with goldfish is that they will usually swim away when I come by the pond and the koi that I have seen seem to swim towards you. Oh well, just gives me incentive to build a bigger pond, and then another stream. and then................. :-)
Try feeding them in the same place each time and just a little at a time. kind of tease them. and take a little time while feeding. I think they will soon feel safer and know that when you come and watch them, they get those tasty little morsels. They will soon be folowing you as you pass the pond.
However, soon it will be too cold to feed them. I have already stopped feeding mine as the water temp is right at 50degrees in my pond and they have slowed down their systems so no protien feed. as they will not be able to digest it. In other words it will only rot and this would cause an ulcer, that would kill them.
I know what you mean about wanting a bigger pond. I have added to mine allready. and increased the size of the waterfall as well as the pump. and I still want to have a longer stream bed with gravel. even if I have to wrap it around a little. or even come from another direction than what I had originally planed. Oh well - - - -Hey enjoy ponding.