Sakura8

I'll be jetting off to Sweden to meet my boyfriend. He's already been there visiting his family for a week. I'll have internet, tho! He goes over there every year to see his family, and this year I got invited along, too!

I'm not surprised water lettuce is becoming illegal. Both plants have a habit of taking over in native waterways. Triploid grass carp are sold here to attempt to keep those plants under control in ponds and lakes. Better get some while you can!

Yeah, we went to two, Mercer and California Caverns. Mercer stays at 55 and California stays at 53 degrees! It was so nice in there. You need to do a tour of at least Mercedes California is way out, but it is worth it! There was a house that was on top of the hills with a crazy view for sale, 69 acres, 2000 sq foot house with a 3 car garage. The most impressive thing, an airstrip with a hanger! Guess how much too!

I was really interested to learn that, too. They raise the hardness to grow them from fry, and then let the water get softer as they age. It seems like different breeds of koi develop differently in hard and soft water.

If I had a choice between water lettuce and water hyacinth I would go with hyacinth. It makes a beautiful purple bloom. I think I have a picture of it in my pond pictures album.

I think fret is all our fish know how to do. I'm getting ready to travel overseas for 10 days and the biggest worry on my mind is my goldfish tank.

Soft water is anything under 8dGH, so your hose water falls in the category of moderately hard. Maybe show koi need really hard water (to develop certain color patterns), but for pet koi your water is just fine. They just need "not soft" water like goldfish do. With regular water changes to keep the KH up, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Out of curiosity, I went looking into koi and GH (to see if I could find a solid number like for cardinals) and found that a lot of Japanese breeders actually have soft water.

That is awesome Sakura! I may have to invest in some of your fish when you do create the line.

I am on vacation and I am about to go into mercer caverns.

I'm really glad you aren't in a panic anymore. Ponds can be a lot of fun and scarey at the same time. Glad you were able to get some floating plants! Those should really start to knock out the nitrates once they get going. I've never heard of high nitrates limiting the appetite of a fish, but I do know they are really bad for growing fish.

How hard is the water you have been using? I thought you said the hose water at your house didn't go through a softener? If it's harder than what he recommended, you don't need to worry about the crushed coral. And you can keep on doing massive water changes without a worry.

That's really great. I will talk to them and let them know. Thanks Sakura.

Sorry it's taking me so long to get back to you (blegh work). I know you're worried about your big babies. With an established pond it would be abnormal for them not wanting to eat, but since you said they can still be shy I don't think it's that abnormal. As I start to feed my guys again in the spring it takes them a few weeks to get used to me feeding them again. Since you haven't been feeding them much maybe they just need to get used to it again. You could always try soaking their food in garlic juice.

I think I want some of the swordtails, aren't they the almost koi looking ones? They are super nice...

Yeah, if they give birth when I get them, maybe I will have some nice food for my girls, or I will have some little buggers swimming around until adult hood. Then I will have to do something with them...

Wow that does sound like an amazing vet school. The vets that graduate from there must be making the big bucks!

My koi have left all plants completely alone even the floating ones. Maybe with the drop in temperature your little guys will lose their appetite. One can hope.