Ichabon - small and large
 

I picked up two 10 lb bags of Ichabon for the GF and koi. It was $74 for
the 20 lbs. I'm curious to see what difference this food makes. Of course
the fish love it, but they love the cheap stuff, kitty and puppy chow as
well.
--

Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
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~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Ichabon - small and large
 

"G Pearce" wrote in message
...
Hi Carol, - I do the same thing and mix the 2 sizes so both large and
small fish can eat it - My pets think it is "candy" and can't get enough
Gale :~)
===========================
They really do like it. :-) I started by mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 with the
old mix of trout chow and puppy-kitty mix. It sure smells better than the
trout-chow. In fact the trout chow has no aroma at all.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on rec.ponds.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Ichabon - small and large
 

On Fri, 21 Apr 2006 01:45:58 -0500, "Koi-Lo"
wrote:

"G Pearce" wrote in message
...
Hi Carol, - I do the same thing and mix the 2 sizes so both large and
small fish can eat it - My pets think it is "candy" and can't get enough
Gale :~)
===========================
They really do like it. :-) I started by performing a 1/2 and 1/2 with my tricks.
I charge $20.00 USD and give change. I have made love in puppy chow,
trout chow and koi feed, and they all smell but that trout chow smells more
natural if your not into bathing.

Love
Carol Adamo Gulley aka Koi Lo the street crack whore
--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder ! Koi-ahoi mates....

Ichabon - small and large
 

Koi-Lo wrote:
I picked up two 10 lb bags of Ichabon for the GF and koi. It was $74
for the 20 lbs. I'm curious to see what difference this food makes. Of
course the fish love it, but they love the cheap stuff, kitty and puppy
chow as well.

You feed your fish dogfood?

You should not give Fish food that you feed your husband.

Ichabon - small and large
 

Over the years there has been a lot of discussion of food. Lots of us
(including us) use catfish food. about $12 for 50#. The fish seem to do
well with it (9 years of growth.)

Jim

--
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog A Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net
"RedKingFire" wrote in message
news:CvP2g.3270$BO2.1320@trnddc02...
Koi-Lo wrote:
I picked up two 10 lb bags of Ichabon for the GF and koi. It was $74
for the 20 lbs. I'm curious to see what difference this food makes. Of
course the fish love it, but they love the cheap stuff, kitty and puppy
chow as well.

You feed your fish dogfood?

You should not give Fish food that you feed your husband.

Ichabon - small and large
 

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
.. .
Over the years there has been a lot of discussion of food. Lots of us
(including us) use catfish food. about $12 for 50#. The fish seem to do
well with it (9 years of growth.)
=============================
I've also been using catfish, trout, puppy and kitty chow - mixed together.
This is the 1st time I bought such expensive food in years. I want to see
if it's true that you feed less and get less feces/mulm in the pond. So far
they're consuming about the same amount of the expensive food that they were
the cheap food. The filter-pads are clogging just as fast.....
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Ichabon - small and large
 

I've also been using catfish, trout, puppy and kitty chow - mixed together.
This is the 1st time I bought such expensive food in years. I want to see
if it's true that you feed less and get less feces/mulm in the pond. So far
they're consuming about the same amount of the expensive food that they were
the cheap food. The filter-pads are clogging just as fast.....

You shouldn't be feeding as much, koi will eat themselves sick if allow.
Why there are the temperature vs time considerations. So if you were
feeding 1 cup/day cut it to half.

Ingrid, wouldn't you agree with this? ~ jan

-----------------
(Do you know where your water quality is?)

Ichabon - small and large
 

Let us know as you begin to get results.

--
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net/personalpages/pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog A Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net
"Koi-Lo" wrote in message
...

"Phyllis and Jim Hurley" wrote in message
.. .
Over the years there has been a lot of discussion of food. Lots of us
(including us) use catfish food. about $12 for 50#. The fish seem to
do
well with it (9 years of growth.)
=============================
I've also been using catfish, trout, puppy and kitty chow - mixed
together.
This is the 1st time I bought such expensive food in years. I want to see
if it's true that you feed less and get less feces/mulm in the pond. So
far
they're consuming about the same amount of the expensive food that they
were
the cheap food. The filter-pads are clogging just as fast.....
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Ichabon - small and large
 

"~ janj" wrote in message
...
I've also been using catfish, trout, puppy and kitty chow - mixed
together.
This is the 1st time I bought such expensive food in years. I want to see
if it's true that you feed less and get less feces/mulm in the pond. So
far
they're consuming about the same amount of the expensive food that they
were
the cheap food. The filter-pads are clogging just as fast.....

You shouldn't be feeding as much, koi will eat themselves sick if allow.

Jan, I did cut back a bit yesterday because the pads were clogging just as
fast. They're in good flesh. They came through the winter in fine
condition. They'll gain some weight in the fall as I feed them real well
the last few weeks before the water temp goes below 50. My fish aren't
obese as I don't overfeed them. I don't like the "stuffed sausage" show
type look I see in some of the magazines. I'll try and get some new pics of
them in the next few weeks.

Why there are the temperature vs time considerations. So if you were
feeding 1 cup/day cut it to half.

Ingrid, wouldn't you agree with this? ~ jan


--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Ichabon - small and large
 

Jan, I did cut back a bit yesterday because the pads were clogging just as
fast.

This could have nothing to do with feeding... We don't feed the fish at the
Demon Pond at all, and I just heard today that the pre-filter needs
cleaning. Didn't even make it a month.s Whereas mine at home, w/fed fish,
I've yet to clean since last fall when I went to slow MO. ~ jan

-----------------
(Do you know where your water quality is?)

Ichabon - small and large
 

"~ janj" wrote in message
...
Jan, I did cut back a bit yesterday because the pads were clogging just
as
fast.

This could have nothing to do with feeding... We don't feed the fish at
the
Demon Pond at all, and I just heard today that the pre-filter needs
cleaning. Didn't even make it a month.s Whereas mine at home, w/fed
fish,
I've yet to clean since last fall when I went to slow MO. ~ jan

===================
What is your filter material made of? Ours is some very expensive thick
white material we bought at a LFS that caters to the pond crowd. He only
carries the best products. It's like white brillo but tougher and less
dense. It's about 2 1/2" thick and seems to be made of some kind of
extremely tough plastic.
--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's* on rec.ponds.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Ichabon - small and large
 

What is your filter material made of?

I pre-filter with the screen door stuff.

Then it goes to open cell foam, that is only cleaned once/year.

Ours is some very expensive thick
white material we bought at a LFS that caters to the pond crowd. He only
carries the best products. It's like white brillo but tougher and less
dense. It's about 2 1/2" thick and seems to be made of some kind of
extremely tough plastic.

Sounds like Matala, I think it is called. Can you find a picture on the
web?

Maybe your filter isn't big enough? ~ jan

--------------
See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

Ichabon - small and large
 

Moments before taking that leap of faith into the pond ~ janj at
was heard opining:

What is your filter material made of?

I pre-filter with the screen door stuff.

Yes, I have that also. I wrap it around pumps to make smaller filters. It
does work well and hoses off easily.

Then it goes to open cell foam, that is only cleaned once/year.

I haven't seen that around here. The algae and other solids go through it?
My filter material seems to clog more with algae and plant bits than
anything else.

Ours is some very expensive thick
white material we bought at a LFS that caters to the pond crowd. He
only carries the best products. It's like white brillo but tougher
and less dense. It's about 2 1/2" thick and seems to be made of
some kind of extremely tough plastic.

Sounds like Matala, I think it is called. Can you find a picture on
the web?

I have the black Matalia for sure and it hoses out easily. I didn't see the
snow white filter material. It's as open as the black but the pads are much
thicker and don't hose out as easily. It's stiff and hard to work with.

Maybe your filter isn't big enough? ~ jan

I don't really know how large the filter *pad* should be per koi. I wish
there was a way to figure that out. But then there are other critters in
the ponds as well - small green frogs, tadpoles and loads of newts all
adding to the filter's burden. :0( There is never an ammonia or nitrite
reading in any of my ponds. Algae comes and goes even with the large number
of plants. Our homemade filters work as well as the Tetra filters but are
shallower and have a larger area to catch the solids. Again, even in the
less populated tanks the solids appear to be mainly algae and plant bits.

When I sold all those young koi (over 300) a few weeks ago and drained the
680g tank.... I couldn't believe my eyes! There was virtually NOTHING on
the bottom but a coating of algae,... no mulm, no plant parts... nothing!
There was nothing to clean.

--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
*Note: There are several *Koi-Lo's*
on the pond and aquaria groups.
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Ichabon - small and large
 

I haven't seen that around here. The algae and other solids go through it?

Not open cell foam, it doesn't let anything thru (the way I have my filter
set up). Thus you have to have a good (large) pre-filter prior to them
going to the bio-filter.

I have the black Matalia for sure and it hoses out easily. I didn't see the
snow white filter material.

I don't really know how large the filter *pad* should be per koi. I wish
there was a way to figure that out.

There is a formula at www.akca.com under the koi health advisor articles.
Unfortunately I can't remember where it is located, if in pond construction
or filtration.

How many gallons is your filter for the 2000 gallon pond and is the pump in
the pond? ~ jan
--------------
See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

Ichabon - small and large
 

"~ janj" wrote in message
...
I haven't seen that around here. The algae and other solids go through
it?

Not open cell foam, it doesn't let anything thru (the way I have my filter
set up). Thus you have to have a good (large) pre-filter prior to them
going to the bio-filter.

You must have a much different set up than I do then. My water pumps are
set in plant baskets wired together to keep the large debris from clogging
or damaging the impellers. There are no prefilters. What gets sucked up
goes into the filter and across the pads. Then down the bio-blocks and out
the exit pipe.

I have the black Matalia for sure and it hoses out easily. I didn't see
the
snow white filter material.

I don't really know how large the filter *pad* should be per koi. I wish
there was a way to figure that out.

There is a formula at www.akca.com under the koi health advisor articles.
Unfortunately I can't remember where it is located, if in pond
construction
or filtration.

For now I have to work with what I have - until they need replacing.

How many gallons is your filter for the 2000 gallon pond and is the pump
in
the pond? ~ jan

The pond is 2000g and is the largest Tetra filter we could find at the time.
I don't remember anymore since that was 10 yrs ago. It has a lot of blocks,
ammonia is zero but the pad's circumference is not large. It's a barrel
shaped filter. The pump is a BigVersa. I don't think they make them any
more. It's more than adequate to run the filter, the settling tank and a
bleed to keep water moving across the plants. The filters we made for our
680g tanks have less biofilter capacity but much larger pads to catch the
solids.

--
Koi-Lo....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
Aquariums since 1952.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o