"Peter Smith" wrote in message
...

Newbie Spring Start Up

Group: rec.ponds Date: Mon, Apr 10, 2006, 9:17pm (EDT-1) From:
lid (Koi-Lo) wrote:

A koi in a 60g pond? You do realize healthy koi grow rapidly and can
reach 2 1/2 to 3 feet long. One koi needs at least 125 to 150g itself.
Healthy outdoor goldfish can reach almost a foot long and need 20g or
more per fish.

Well, I think it's not a koi then, it might be a big gold fish
It has barbels though.

If it has barbels it is a koi. :-)

I got the fish last year and it didn't get any bigger then it is now (4
or 5 inches).


Then something is wrong as they grow rapidly when young and well fed and
kept in clean water.

The stuff on the liner is the necessary bacteria that converts deadly
ammonia and nitrites to nitrates. It's not a good idea to remove it.

I know all about cycles and all.
I have had fish tanks since I was 12 years old.
I have had sal****er tanks, sal****er reef tanks and have a 45 gal.
freshwater tank that I had since 1986.
So I'm familiar with Ickthology .
But can't quote or spell to well.

Please use an ammonia and nitrite kit to make sure they don't surge
and kill all your fish.

I set it up the same way last year with no problems.
I don't have the money for test kits that I use once.
I can tell if something is wrong by their behavior But, thank's, I'll
take water samples down to my local aquarium for testing, good point.

I start feeding mine when the water gets over 50 F or so.

I read that 55 to 60 at night time temps.

I'm not out there at night so don't know how much it drops after sundown. I
check around noon. If the temp is over 50 and they're begging I feed them.
They have all day to digest it before sundown. So far so good.

Not feeding will also keep the Ammo down for a week or 2 till the cycle
is complete.

I wont starve my fish that long. I do feed lightly in new setups.

The water is now crystal clear, 8 hours later.
When I posted newbie, I meant to the group not the hobby.
Thank's for all you help.

Pete : )

You better buy a sharp shovel and a liner if you plan to keep that koi.
:-))

--
Koi-Lo.... the ReelMcKoi
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
rec.pond's FAQ are at:
http://www.geocities.com/justinm090/faq.html
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