Hooray!!!

[blondhairboi]

Alright, I have deicided to make my 400 gallon pond a goldish and wakin pond. The place that sells them is really close and the fish are amazing, they just are not being sold yet as the temperatures are still to cold. Today I picked up 2 plants...a golden sword and a water celery :grin: . They will be going in tommorow as it is to late right now.

[clm]

How exciting. I remember how it was with my first pond and my first fish. 2 pond resizes later over 20 years and I've never looked back. I hope you get as much enjoyment as I have all these years.

Cindy

[blondhairboi]

Well I was going to go with maybe 2 koi and 1-3 goldies but I decided it would be better to not stress the koi and just have a good amount of some nice looking goldies. Anyone got any idea on how many fish I should keep in there....I will have probably 4 wakin and 5-7 goldies? I know I could put more in but I know they breed like crazy and would cause more filter problems. I hope to expand the pond in the future though and maybe add some koi :grin:Could someone give me some more info on the plant called a goldensword?

[clm]

I'd stick with 5 wakin or 5 goldies.....both will spawn before you know it and you'll be digging again or finding homes for them. You'd be surprised at how fast they grow, and while they don't get as big as koi, I've had some goldies 10 - 12". You get 5 of them that size and they take up a lot of room, not to mention they'll be spawning long before they reach that size. I used to put a open for lunch sign by the pond hoping the kingfisher I had hanging around would come in and help himself. I started off with a dozen feeder goldfish and 2 years later I was using minnow traps and nets to try to get over 100 of them out of there.

Cindy

[blondhairboi]

OK, so for my pond I am putting in 5 wakin or comets, whatever one they have in stock as they are very similiar. I suppose with 400 gallons they will have plenty of room to grow and not to mention there will be better water, those darn poop machines. :lol: can someone give me some more information on the goldensword plant???¿¿¿

[clm]

Are you talking about the yucca golden sword? I've seen them, they're supposed to be hardy to zone 4. The garden centre near me has at least 6 varieties of yucca and the golden sword was very pretty. I don't have any yucca in the garden, they're leaves are too sharp with all the cats and dogs I've got to feel comfortable having them. Yucca flowers are supposed to be highly scented though, and rather imposing, I've always wanted to have some.

Cindy

[clm]

Sorry, I should have known you were talking a water plant. I found this on the net. Supposed to be a rush.....zone 6 would be pushing it for me, but I'd try it anyway.

Cindy


Botanical Name:
Baumea rubiginosa 'Variegata'
Baumea rubiginosa 'Variegata' / Golden Sword
Item# 206
$3.99
Product Description



Description An Australian native, this rush produces cylindrical, flat, green leaves with yellow and dark variegation. It grows 1 - 2 feet tall. In zone 8 and above it is usually evergreen.
Potting
Propagation
Hardiness
Care

Grow in a larger container at a depth of 1 - 6 inches. Divide clumps in spring Zones 6-11
Grow in Sun to

[blondhairboi]

here are the two I bought, Water celery on left and golden sword on right. And to the very lift is the pvc that I ran my electrical through for my pump.

[clm]

I haven't ever grown the golden sword, so you'll have to let us know how it does. Water celery I've grown for years. It's invasive, so whatever you plant it in, it will take over. It's pretty though with it's variegated leaves.
I have it in slightly deeper water now than I have before and it seems to be a lot more prolific in mud as opposed to having water over it's crown.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

I've never had luck with water celery being invasive, perhpas i should raise it higher. One thing about water plants is the golden sword will live in the garage in winter. It may survive a milder winter in the pond but the cold weeks we've had here this winter would have made it toast even in 6b

I don't think wakin and comets look alike but then folks have told me I can't tell the difference between koi and comets. So what do I know.

[blondhairboi]

Yea I cant wait to see what will happen in the future. I will also be pruchasing some water lettuce as the place said they cant sell it quite yet as it will be available in spring....although it was in there pond :-P s(little weird)

[Peg]

Here's a neat plant you should try to find. I am going to pick a few up this spring and give them a try.
WATER SOLDIER
Water soldiers are very unique floating plants because they are winter hardy. As winter approaches, they become less buoyant and sink to the bottom of the pond where they are protected from the ice. When the water warms in the spring they re-surface and begin to grow again. They reproduce by producing small plantlets radiating out from the center of the plant. They provide shade for the pond and shelter for baby fish.

[Jackie Ramo]

Me to I want one. I looked for them last year but I may have been late in the season. Saw them on the pond tour I took part in. I may have to go to the water garden clubs plant sale.

[Peg]

Jackie. Hydrosphere (sp) Water Gardens has them for sale. Would give you an excuse to go see the place.
If you can't find any by mid april let me know and we can work something out to try to get some to you.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

:) Since we have recently become a 2 car household again I won't have to beg his highness for the car or take him with me.

[Peg]

That's good to hear Jackie. Maybe you will find your way up here one day this summer. Not a thing showing it's head up here. Sill under snow, but it going pretty quickly. Might see some garden next week.
Peg

[Jackie Ramo]

At the end of Apil beginning of May I have to do a gallery run to Gravenhurst as I am now an artist of the Muskoka Gallery!!! Could swing by.....

[marla]

Here's a neat plant you should try to find. I am going to pick a few up this spring and give them a try.
WATER SOLDIER
Water soldiers are very unique floating plants because they are winter hardy. As winter approaches, they become less buoyant and sink to the bottom of the pond where they are protected from the ice. When the water warms in the spring they re-surface and begin to grow again. They reproduce by producing small plantlets radiating out from the center of the plant. They provide shade for the pond and shelter for baby fish.

Cold hardy for me also or are you in zone 4 too?

blondhairboi, it's so exciting just to here the excitement in your post, I know also exactly how you are feeling. I think you made a wise choice to go with the comets, wakins or even shubunkins which can have some beautiful coloring and all are very friendly and can also be hand fed. But yes you will be over run with babies real fast so find a store that may take them for trade.

[Peg]

Hi Marla,
they say as long as the pond does not freeze solid they will be ok.
So I dont think it would matter what zone you are in as long as you dont have a block of ice for a pond come winter they should be fine for you to.

Blondhairboi,
Glad to see we have another one hook line and sinker :frisbee: . Just when you think it's big enough IT'S NOT :lol: The first pond is always the one you have the most fun with and it's the one that will always stick out in your mind most. Have fun & enjoy.
Peg

[blondhairboi]

:-P Yup I even saw it coming even though everyone said I would want a bigger one, yet I made this one a bit small. Ahwell... there could always be a second pond in the future and it might consist of some koi.Or I could always add about 3 koi and just say the koi have gotten to big...Im gonna build a bigger one :roll: ...... :lol:


Can someone tell me why these people even dare to keep koi in these ponds...
http://www.akca.org/ponds/lessing.html

http://www.akca.org/ponds/walker.htm

After looking at these I am wondering if I could add a few koi....when they get big I could even expand the pond to that patch of grass and bring it all the way around that tree.Gosh I wish I would have made it bigger!!!!!! But then again those little goldfish are just so cute.....and to me just a miniture version of a koi without the price. :-P

[Peg]

Jackie you can come anytime, doors always open for you :grin:

Blondhairboi. People keep koi in ponds that size because they don't know better. I don't say this to be mean, Hell I was one of them. Lack of information is a big reason.When I was givin my first 2 koi I was never told how big they could get or what was needed to keep them. I had heard of koi but that was it. Looks like the people in the 2nd link at least know they are going to have to go bigger.
Peg

[blondhairboi]

Well I am dedicated on the goldifsh now...I was just concerened again...but when I went to the fish store the comets they said were mixed in with the goldies as feeders. :mad: .What should I do or how will I be able to tell the difference? :(

[clm]

Feeder goldfish are just small inexpensive goldfish for people to feed to their oscars or other fish....they're usually very young comets. I stocked my first pond with a dozen feeders and some of them turned into pretty nice fish. You can try a garden centre or find a pond place near you too that may have some shubunkins or a better selection of comets for you to try. Just remember to buy them all from the same place and the same tank at the same time unless you want to quarantine each new addition after you put the first lot in the pond.

Cindy

[Jackie Ramo]

I'd stay away from Feeders. Normally because they are sold as food they are not as healthy or cared for as other fish. Find your local nursery or koi dealer, most of them carry goldfish as well. Also stay away from the real fancy goldfish, they are not fast enough in a pond environment and fall prey to cats and even raccoons.

[dymndgyrl]

There is a difference between comets and common goldfish (which are what feeders generally are) Comets have longer tails- showier finnage. Also sometimes a longer and racier body. Sarrasa's are red and white comets and Shubunkins are basically calico comets.

Cheers.

[Terri]

!welcome dymnd ... a gyrl who knows her stuff :wink:

[Koidaddy]

There is a difference between comets and common goldfish (which are what feeders generally are) Comets have longer tails- showier finnage. Also sometimes a longer and racier body. Sarrasa's are red and white comets and Shubunkins are basically calico comets.

Cheers.

!welcome Didn't Elton write a song about you ?
KD
:-P

[dymndgyrl]

Uh, that would be Seals & Croft!

Thanks for the welcome. I keep fancy goldfish indoors, comets in a 400 g. pond and I hope to build a koi pond this fall!

Found this site thru Canadian Koi & Pond whilst researching Nexus-es.

Cheers

[Jackie Ramo]

!welcome Thanks for the lesson on goldfish. I always thought goldfish were comets, well they are but you know what I mean !wow!

[Koidaddy]

Uh, that would be Seals & Croft!

Thanks for the welcome. I keep fancy goldfish indoors, comets in a 400 g. pond and I hope to build a koi pond this fall!

Found this site thru Canadian Koi & Pond whilst researching Nexus-es.

Cheers

No, no no... it was Elton - Have the record somewhere?
KD :smile:

[clm]

See, you learn something new every day.

I must have been lucky with my feeders as some of them grew up to have beautiful long fins and I even got a couple of shubunkins out of that lot....the place I got them takes baby fish from pond owners, so that's likely why.

Cindy

[dymndgyrl]

No, no no... it was Elton - Have the record somewhere?
KD :smile:

http://www.sealsandcrofts.com/lyricsdg.html

Hey, I know my 70's pop hits! (oops, now I'm daying myself . . .)

[debbies577]

Lol
Was not sure myself so I looked it up,
http://www.sealsandcrofts.com/lyricsdg.html

[debbies577]

Ahh Dymndgyrl, You beat me to it ,LOL Welcome to the site!!!
Debbie

[marla]

Yes, those are some mighty small ponds, the one looks like a preform I have in the basement for tropical plants to winter in. Their koi must be small.