I just moved to a new home that included a pond with 6 koi....fairly
large koi (about 8"?). The pond is concrete lined, oval shaped and
about 600 gal. The previous owner "winterized", which amounts to
shutting off the pump/filter. He is knowledgeable and available for
questions, but I'd also like to find other ponders in the area ) This
is north-central Indiana. We guess the pond depth at about 2-2.5';
should have measured, but moved late fall and it's been busy-busy-busy
since. I have always wanted a pond, and this one is a surprise. We
aren't feeding the koi, although I have read that some do feed during
winter. So far, all that I have done is clean some of the gunk (leaves)
from the bottom....that stirred up so much sediment that I was afraid it
would harm gills, so did not proceed since the pump is shut down. I was
gifted with a nice 100w heater and just started that up two days
ago...the pond is iced over, but the heater is apparently doing it's
job. I lived in warm climate for a number of years, but remember
Indiana winters with 25o below! I am told that koi can freeze solid and
survive....I have no idea ) We are not inclined to spend a great deal
to keep koi, but would like to keep them healthy. Hope to change
landscaping around pond to more natural plants and get some water lilies
and other water plants. May eventually enlarge the pond, doing work
ourselves.

"Norminn" wrote in message...

About all I can say, is welcome to the interest,
and I hope you will enjoy it.
It sounds like you have an excellent start.

(ehh,, OK, I'll add one thought. IMHO some removing
of 'gunk' is normally OK, just try to not 'stir' it all up more
than needed. IMHO in the winter, with fish at low metabolism,
seems better than while water is warm. In past I have
really horribly stired it all up, and fish came out fine
once the silt settled & water cleared.
And, related, after the racoons had their fish feed party,
the water was really icky/dirty/dark, but when it finally
settled, the remaining fish were OK & glad to see me.)

I just moved to a new home that included a pond with 6 koi....fairly
large koi (about 8"?). The pond is concrete lined, oval shaped and
about 600 gal. The previous owner "winterized", which amounts to
shutting off the pump/filter. He is knowledgeable and available for
questions, but I'd also like to find other ponders in the area ) This
is north-central Indiana. We guess the pond depth at about 2-2.5';
should have measured, but moved late fall and it's been busy-busy-busy
since. I have always wanted a pond, and this one is a surprise. We
aren't feeding the koi, although I have read that some do feed during
winter. So far, all that I have done is clean some of the gunk (leaves)
from the bottom....that stirred up so much sediment that I was afraid it
would harm gills, so did not proceed since the pump is shut down. I was
gifted with a nice 100w heater and just started that up two days
ago...the pond is iced over, but the heater is apparently doing it's
job. I lived in warm climate for a number of years, but remember
Indiana winters with 25o below! I am told that koi can freeze solid and
survive....I have no idea ) We are not inclined to spend a great deal
to keep koi, but would like to keep them healthy. Hope to change
landscaping around pond to more natural plants and get some water lilies
and other water plants. May eventually enlarge the pond, doing work
ourselves.

welcome...and thanks for sharing.

A month late, welcome! You seem in a good place. With winter, just let your koi sit and they will do fine.

On 2/3/2013 1:59 PM, Phyllis and Jim wrote:
A month late, welcome! You seem in a good place. With winter, just let your koi sit and they will do fine.

Thank you.....we had a couple of very warm days that caused the ice on
pond (glorified bathtub) to open up....there was a lot of bird activity
around the pond at the time. It is now frozen over around the heater
with some snow cover...last time I checked, there were a few bird
footprints in the snow around the heater. Hoping the racoons stay away )

On Thu, 7 Feb 2013 10:56:23 EST, Norminn wrote:

On 2/3/2013 1:59 PM, Phyllis and Jim wrote:
A month late, welcome! You seem in a good place. With winter, just let your koi sit and they will do fine.

Thank you.....we had a couple of very warm days that caused the ice on
pond (glorified bathtub) to open up....there was a lot of bird activity
around the pond at the time. It is now frozen over around the heater
with some snow cover...last time I checked, there were a few bird
footprints in the snow around the heater. Hoping the racoons stay away )

What state or location approximate, are you? I had one year I tried just a
bubbler in a stock tank (Zone 7 here) no fish (IIRC). Problem that it
didn't just freeze on top, it froze on the sides, and pretty soon air
caught under the ice and lifted not only the ice cap & sides, but the
baskets of plants that were frozen into it. A heater would definitely have
prevented that, but it was a sight to see. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

It is really good to have koi fish..........and you have 6 fishes......wao......take care of them carefully.