Indoor/QT Tank

[Busy B]

My attempt anyway:-P

This is how far I've gotten. Going to line it with bubble insulation to help protect the wimpy liner I bought local. Maybe it will hold a little heat too.

In a perfect world boards wouldn't be warped and batteries would stay charged but I think it's going to work.

Pump and some fittings are ordered and then I get to figure out plumbing!wow! Should be screaming for help on that!rofl

[Busy B]

Disregard the junk and dead looking plants in the last pic :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Not a techy but it looks good to me. How big is it?

[Busy B]

I'm not a techy either but I tried..

4 x 8 by 33 inches deep.

Still have to put braces in the center and want to put a lip around to hold net or something so they don't jump.

Everything is screwed and alternated each rung so maybe the pressure will be more leveled out...don't have a clue...just winged it.

Advice was given that if it blows it will blow out about 18 inches from the bottom so tie wraps will give it more support.

Pump should be here soon and then it's time to learn how to become a plumber :eek:

[Terri]

I agree if it blows out it will be the bottom portion as that is where the pressure is. Not to shabby Busy, pretty good job. I worry about the screws though(popping out), lag bolts would have been a better option, more strength. If you haven't screwed the corner braces together do so, it looks like they are just screwed into the wall. For the "lip" use more 2"x6"s, like a ledge, this will help support/strengthen the upper portion of the tank and if you use 1 1/2" screws on the underside every 6inchs this will secure the netting(hooking it onto the screws, makes a tight fit so we've found).

Considering the volume it will hold it should serve pretty well, if you had gone any bigger I think the design would need altering... a lot ;) Those 2"x6"s would be much stronger if used "on end" (horizontal) instead of vertical.

RE: plumbing... what are your plans? Are you going to do a side drain for gravity fed or are you going to pump feed this tank?

[Merlin]

Keep asking the questions Busy B that will save me asking them again :grin: .

I am going to be building something similar, but will be using some palets that the computer cabinets we deliver come in on. They are aprox 2'6"wide x 3' long, the top part of the pallet is 1/2 marine ply and then a 3" gap to the bottom beam. .

The idea is that the base will be 3 pallets side by side, the two outer ones will be sloped towards the midle pallet where there will be a bottom drain. ( if anything it will be handy to empty it ) . The sides will be the same pallets but on end giving me a 3' depth. All of the pallets will have the marine ply surface on the inside of the box.
Once the main box is made I will have what is in efect a double wall with a gap of around 3" inbetween the the inner and outer walls. I plan to run extra timber though the gap as this will give it extra strengh to stop any bowing. I will then pad the area out with foam , as this is an outside QT it should help with the temp of the water. Next atach a front and side panels to finish it off ( if you are following me this will be to the bottom of the pallet facing outwards).

( Thanks for the info on using bolts Terri, I had not though of the screws popping out). I will use them on the extra beams.

I am going the way of a box liner as I feel that it would be easier to fit, and no folds for fry to get stuck in, I am then going to link my old box filter to the set up , (gravity fed unfortunatley) to a sprinkler bar above . Submergable pump via a UV will feed it. I have not worked out how many gallons it is, but at the end I should have a tank 7'6" long x 3' wide x 3' deep.

Cosmetic looks will be done at the end . Photos will be taken and posted at each step.

[ozzyrockman]

Busy, get two sticks of 6 foot 1/2" -13 allthread, 4 large fender washers and 8 nuts. Run the allthread thru your two center uprights at the bottom of the tank just as close to the plywood as possible and cover the allthread with something that will keep your liner from being pinching and double nut the ends of the allthread. Cut the end of the allthread off with a sawzall and the wood will bust before the bottom seam splits on the lower sides. Allthread comes in 3,6&12 foot lenghts and is a threaded rod from end to end and usually is pretty reasonably price. That will take care of the bottom and for the top just run two 2X6 cross braces after the liner is in. Done deal. Allen

PS try a comany that specializes in fasteners first before paying top $$$ @ Lowes or HD.

[Rembrandt]

Hey Allen,
Reminds me of "Macgeiver" {sp?}.
Just need some duct tape, a nickel, a 9-volt battery, and a paper clip and..., uh, I think that was a different episode, never mind. :grin:

Seriously, that is a good idea. I still like the idea I got from you on the upflow water filter. Busy, I am conviced that if there is a way to do something, Allen can figure it out and at a very cost effective route as well.
If you have an M&D Supply, they may have the all-thread at a decent price.
(hint?): you might be able to cover that all-thread with a piece of garden hose to protect the liner from contact.

Rembrandt

[ozzyrockman]

Rem, we gotta be carefull not to give some readers any bad ideas to start making things that go boom around the pond :lol: . Boy I miss that show. Just wish I had the working capital do create some of my ideas. Allen

[Busy B]

Thanks Terri...!bonk "design would be modified...ALOT!"...now you tell me!

Not that I expect you to read every thread:frisbee: but the discussion was raised on Greg's indoor thread and I looked at both Greg's and Ian's design and figured I could figure out Greg's easier:-) If I put insulation in the bottom, that will take up a couple inches and water level will be lower, so I'm looking at maybe 28 inches deep for water.

I'm having a crash course between pump fed and gravity fed...still not sure of the difference between the two..Is the barrel filter with the kaldness..gravity?

The pump and kaldness for the tank showed up today as well as the skimmer for the pond. I'm going to have to go back over your barrel thread and try to figure it out, or wait for hubby to come home.

Picked up the lumber for the lip...good tip on the screws for the netting. Little by little..

[Jackie Ramo]

Busy you can put the insulation on the outside of the bottom by moving the tank.

[Busy B]

The tank won't move to put anything under it..maybe in an earthquake but not by hand...heavy!

I moved one of the supports on the wide side and brought it closer to the middle and added another support and screwed them all in with deck nails. 3 inchers. Took almost 5 lbs http://backyardpuddle.com/forum/images/smilies/ eek.gif

Soooooo boys and girls...I need you to hold my hand http://backyardpuddle.com/forum/images/smilies/ icon_wink.gif

I've looked at the setup for the barrel filters. I've got 2 Brute Rubbermaid cans. I can see how the drains all connect but I won't be able to get these cans that close together so that means more of a fitting like the barrels for the bigger pond Ian and Terri have.

Second dilemma is which side does the pump go? :uhoh: From the tank to pump, to the barrels and water exits back to tank ? Most of the layouts I've seen are people using a submursible pump and I have an external.

If the power goes out will the barrels empty themselves back into the pond? That's where the gravity part comes in? Gosh I feel stupid..

And...:roll: In your pics Terri...the waste goes outside? To a sump pit? I don't know where to drain it to...I don't want to walk over lines with the fear of breaking them and if I run them outside, during the winter, I'll have an ice rink. Before I used a sump pump for water changes and filled another bucket to use for watering plants. Would it be a bad mistake to not put in the drains and sump out the mechanical portion?

What a pain , huh?

[Jackie Ramo]

Busy for your set up I'd consider using a sump with a hose and use the water to water the plants, easy and simple, but then I'm into that :-P I just sump out my inside pond so its not a big problem to do and means I can put the sump and hose away so we can have dinner in there.

[Terri]

Busy if you want gravity fed then the external pump goes after the filter, which means you need to install a side drain pipe from the tank into the first barrel --- then the last barrel is piped to the pump and the pump piped back to the tank. The barrels should have seperate waste drains with valves. The bio barrel can be left alone pretty much, the mech barrel is the one to flush... where? Well, what's outside your greenhouse wall? Our filters drain waste water into a ditch we made with liner(where I keep a lot of water plants), the waste lines run through the garage wall into the ditch... even in the winter, the lines don't freeze here though and you get colder than we get... possible delemia...? Maybe you could use a sump pump/hose to remove the waste water from the mech barrel and put the waste water into rain barrels to use later for watering your plants?

I'm having a crash course between pump fed and gravity fed...still not sure of the difference between the two..Is the barrel filter with the kaldness..gravity?
We have both, two systems(two barrel) are pump fed, the other(3 barrel w/4th barrel seperate as skimmer) is gravity fed. Think of pump-fed just as it sounds, the pump is feeding the filter water from the tank. Gravity fed uses water's natural eagerness to find it's own level - you open a gateway from one body of water to another space which is void and the water naturally flows there only stoping when the two reach the same water level, the pumps function is to draw the water back to the original body of water for circulation.

Re: Power Outage... the barrels (if gravity fed) will just stop and fill to the level of the tank so it's important to make sure that there is some room (a few inches) in the barrels for this to happen. If you decide to pump feed the barrels and have them gravity feed back to the tank there's the possibility that the tank will over flow(depends on how high you keep the water level in the tank and how high your water return from the barrels are and that the pumps hose is not to far below the barrels water surface as it will syphon back into the tank.). Am I making sense?

[Terri]

p.s. do install waste drains in the barrels even if you don't use them for the moment, there may come a time that you want to, if you don't have them you have to tear down the system to install them.

[Ian]

Gravity fed system. Always remember that water will always find it's own level. What I mean by this is if you had two barrels full of water connected via pipe the water in both barrels are ONE volume of water. Pull water from one barrel and the other barrel will drop the water level the same. A pond with a 4" bottom drain connected to a barrel and as many barrels or vessels as you can connect via pipe 4" preffered... If a pump is added to the last barrel/vessel and sucks water from that vessel the water from the pond will be sucked throuth that 4" bottom drain. The water gets pumped back to the pond and creates the loope from pond through drain into first barrel then second to third and so on. This means you can filter the water before it gets to your pump. The barrels/vessels have to be the same level as the pond, the top of the barrels is the top of the pond.
Pump fed. The pump is in the pond pushing the water to the barrel (out above the pond) The filter is above ground as in the the top of the barrel has to be above the pond water level to overflow back to the pond. Big disadvantages with it , like blending up the waste first before the filter. I will not go this route ever again. Lets just say it's like night and day with how you water quality will be.
Not sure if I got all the letters in the right places and I'm I sure Terri can fix me stupids... night

[Busy B]

Thanks for the explanation Ian. Much more easy to grasp. Thats how I'll probably do the expansion to the pond...gravity fed.

But for the tank...in your pics...sub pump feeding first barrel. And then onto the K1, then back to pond. Your barrels are raised and I'm guessing that's for the drain lines. Anybody :wink: think it's possible to put the pump after the K1 barrel and still feed it back to the pond? I didn't buy a prefilter with this pump and don't want to puree the ka ka. Hoping for the first barrel to grab that.

I'm at a standstill also not knowing how high from the bottom of the tank to put the flange/bulkhead to start it all. Does it matter? Is it 18 inches from the bottom? If I can figure that part out I can get the hole cut and build the support for the barrels and the pump.

I saw in AES's cat a vibrator pad to set the pump on. Would just a piece of thick rubber do the same?

Bet you all can't wait till I have this thing built, huh? :lol:

[Busy B]

well, well, well...such deep thoughts for such a shallow mind !rofl

I've got the concept for gravity fed now!wow! Sometimes you actually have to experience it to understand it. And I understand plumbing fittings ALOT more! That's after going to stores numerous times to find the right one!

You know how they say, don't buy your pump until your pond is built. Well the same factors for an inside tank:-P When I did the dimensions I originally planned for, I picked out a pump. 2400 gph. Seemed reasonable for the turnover I wanted. The tank and filters filled is 650. Guess you can guess what's happening. The K1 barrel will not have any water in it with the pump I have now.

And your not supposed to neck down before the inlet right? An option would be to put a ball valve before it exits back to the tank, but would that work? Easier to get a smaller pump?

Also forgot to buy a air pump to supply the K1. This is turning into an expensive project but I'll have a winter home for the fish and a QT/hospital tank if I need it in the summer. I can buy new fish!!:)

Working on the net covering now. Found some plastic covering that looks like chicken wire. Will build a support that hinges so I can access the tank.

Slowly but surely..When I'm done, I'll post the pics of the finished product.

[Jackie Ramo]

Easier to split the pump output IMO. I split my 950 to a bioforce 1000 and the TT. Come spring whenthe fish are bigger I can even add a barrel filter off the bioforce, adds more water volume and filtration.

[Busy B]

That may be an option. I have the outlet split with a T to go back to the tank. Maybe I could rig up a TT too..

Decisions, decisions..

[Jackie Ramo]

Downside of a TT for your use is that it cools the water... so in a cold greenhouse its not the best option.

[Busy B]

When it got pretty cold last winter, I just quit feeding. Not sure how it's going to work with the K1 when it gets cold...maybe a heater in the barrel..One aquarium heater worked to keep it in the '50 range last year..probably going to need more.

Air pump showed up today. And I spoke with someone about the ball valve and that was the recommendation..Just tweak it down. Got the pipe cut but had to ask hubby how to glue..can tell I wasn't paying much attention when he was doing the plumbing huh? :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Well be sure to share how to do it... I have to install a ball valve and have no clue. Actually not even sure what a ball valve is :lol:

[Merlin]

In the Uk Jackie a ball valve is a sealed ball of air on the end of a short rod, as the water rises so dose the ball. this then raises the rod which is connected to a shut off valve . As used in most toilet systems in the UK , as the water is flushed the ball drops and the valve opens to re fill the chamber. :)


But I recon you knew that anyway :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

If that is a ball vale than that is not what I want. I want a valve that I can switch the water on and off with... Maybe its a language issue but ours is closer to yours than our cousins to the south most of the time !rofl

[Busy B]

My ball valve had a handle on it :wink:

Ball valve is in place..that was the solution...still the barrell is not quite so full but should work, I hope, for the K1.

Bought some check valves for the airlines and hooked up 2 airstones for the tank. New airpump makes quite the difference with them. Was running a small Rena before and can definately see a difference.

I had metered the water to start but adding in here and there, I'm guessing it's about 700 gallons with the filters. I drained it out and will refill with half pond water and half new.

Got the cover made and pretty happy with how it turned out. So much rain the pond is ready to overflow and mornings are seeing the temps hover at 50'sish. I think they are going to be more happy with their new home.

Still no pics to post..I've taken them but still working from the old laptop until I can get new virus protection for my other PC.

[Busy B]

How time flys when your having fun:twisted:

It's full...ball valve that I put on of course has a small drip leak!bonk But it works. Little foam action going on from the pond water addition. Used tulle in some net bags that I got from a plant shipment. Haven't put the K1 in yet since there's no fish yet, didn't figure it would do much.

Almost killed off all the fish. Had filled the tank and was going to fill the fish tote from last year to store my lilies. Apparently I left it running all night. Got up the next day to see 1 ft of water in the pond. Good thing I had the sump on the top shelf. Was going to empty it down some to catch the fish but !wow!

Daughter may come over tomorrow to help move them. I think they'll be happy.

[Busy B]

It didn't blow out like I feared. Maybe a quarter inch in the middle is all it moved. Center support and outside railing went on easy. Put some marine spar varnish on the lower outside. Wasn't sure about putting it around the edge so I didn't. It's settling into the ground nicely. Under the floor covering is years and years of worm castings so it's nice and soft.

It's done...next project :grin:

[Jackie Ramo]

Busy it looks awesome!! really it does. I'm cribbing notes here as I have to find a new filter for the inside pond this year. Darn folks at Cyprio want over 60.00 for a sponge and an O ring... shit! I can build something bigger and easier to clean for that kind of money and didn't I write and tell them so... although my other notes were answered that one was not :lol:

I'd put the K1 in anyway as bacteria does build if ever slowly from just any kind of debris in the water.

[Busy B]

DD got my muck bucket for transport so I'll get them in maybe tomorrow and throw the K1 in there.

Forgot to thank TomC for his advice also. He helped from a distance :grin:

Also thanks to Ian and Terri for taking the time to document how their's went together. I used some of their ideas and others I saw.

I'm happy with it and sure the fish will be too...beats being a fishscicle! :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

Is it cold enough to move them in? I'd not move them all at once if you don't have to. Let the filter build up, easier to keep the water quality.

30C here yesterday, looks like Tweet will have an extended stay outside this year... I hope so anyway.

[Jackie Ramo]

Bought the ball valve and connectors today, will have Terri look at them when next she comes by.

[Busy B]

Hey hey..your on your way! :grin:

We've had light frosts a couple times so far..Want to get them out before my hands go numb and I'm fightin the ice to move everything. Leaves are starting to blow too so after their out, I can keep up better with the cleanup.

Don't know what to do with the hole I had dug..probably put a tarp in it and fill it up so the sides don't slough so bad and hit it in the spring.

[Jackie Ramo]

We are still in summer mode although the nights are cooler, nice for sleeping. Frost !wow! not for a while here yet.

So yes, if you are that far along with fall I'd bring them in while the water is still liquid :lol:

[Busy B]

They are in.

With my little fiasco and almost pumping the pond dry...well the water was lower. Easier to catch them that way, anyway. Moved all the lilies inside to last years tote, thinking I'll be needing to work on the pond expansion in the spring. It just keeps raining so not much use to shovel dirt now.

Lilies moved, waders on...off to the pond I go :grin: Lots of leaves have made their way into the pond, so it was quite messy. Chase them back and forth..trying to 'be one with the fish' :lol: Caught a few..transport to the tank. All going well. Last 3 decided they were quite happy where they were at. So alrighty then...I'll pump more water out to limit their movement. Few more inches...waders on..in the pond...on my @ss first thing! :eek: Lucky for me only got my shirt wet, water didn't go in the waders. Caught 2..last one was "I'm not going anywhere!" Slipped again, broke my net. So now I'm trying to scoop him with just the webbing. Few more passes back and forth and he swam into the net "I give".

I think their tickled over their new home...can you tell if a fish is tickled?

K1 is in, airstones are working...need to tweak the air for the K1 barrel. Tulle in the bags is not working out so well...grabs stuff but still some channeling going on. Also need to put something so the K1 doesn't drain back to the first barrel. Found that out when I did the first water change.

All in all...success story so far.

[Jackie Ramo]

Now where is Kiefer with his video when we need him :frisbee:

Had a good chuckle at your expense. But the fish are in and only a bruise or two to show for your efforts. Hope hubby comes home in time to appreciate them.

[ozzyrockman]

Nicely done Busy, looks like a resort for koi :grin: . Allen

[Busy B]

Thanks Allen!

Where ya been? Projects??? :grin:

[Terri]

Fish are in a no pics!!!!! BusyB!

Also need to put something so the K1 doesn't drain back to the first barrel. Found that out when I did the first water change.
If you can get a hold of some stainless steal you could make yourself a grate to put over the pipe work between the barrels. Ian did this for the 3 barrel system. He made in this shape ] to fit and allow more waterflow. **sorry horrible at explaining that but will see if I can dig up a picture later...**

[Merlin]

WOW !wow! You have been Busy , Busy:) Very impressive you have done a great job, puts mine to shame . :frisbee:. glad you did not have too much of a problem with bowing. I wish I could add some more on to my filtration system, but that is a job for next year ( got to knock the BBQ down first and then re-build it somewhere else in the garden). No fish in mine yet but hoping to net a large carp out of the pond in the next couple of days, as his new owner will be picking him up next week, and it would be easier if he was in the QT. ( Jackie this is the one that I was treatingfor an injury before it was collected, will photo before it goes).

Apart from that I have a few carp in the boat pond that I am sure will be happy in the QT over winter. :)

[Jackie Ramo]

Merlin I look forward to the pic to see how he has healed up. you promised pics of fish ages ago and have not delivered :grin: I'm sure the boat fish will love the new Qt for the winter.

Just moved the large plant pot into the greenhouse pond here. Have 13 babies in there going to a new home, well most of them and then big Tweet comes in soon. I will leave him out until the last minute as that small area is hard on him. Not as hard as being under the ice though.

[Busy B]

Terri...Terri...Terri...

Not once in the three years that I have had fish have I ever posted them. You know the song and dance, they ain't purdy, but their mine!rofl

Like there are so many options to buy fish in Alaska, without shipping them in. Must be why I haven't bought any in over a year. When I bought them, most were under 5 inches so can't say I've had alot of growth..want any more excuses:-P

OK...just for you....please hold the laughs and giggles to yourself please!bonk

[ozzyrockman]

Now for the real question, did you name them? When I was growing up each of our animals had different names and we had an average of about 70 dairy cows, two horses, a dozen rabbits, a half dozen goats and anywhere from 10-30 dogs at any given time. The only critters that didn't have names where our chickens and I guess there was a reason for that especially when it was time to stock the freezer :lol: . Allen

[Busy B]

Why of course! Except for when bringing them in, I couldn't remember them all!

The biggest of the batch..funky looking grey thing, is TenDalla...guess how much she cost? :grin:

We had the gamut of animals too once upon a time..my favorite were the fancy chickens. Had one about 8 inches tall, called Coca Cola...Funny to see an 8 inch bird crowing!!

Back on topic...:roll:

I'm guessing I'm going to need to put a heater in the K1 barrel...water right now is 60...gets colder and the bio won't work right? What's the lowest temp it can go, for it to quit working?

Since I have alot of splash coming from the pipes back to the tank, I'm guessing that will cool it even more...

[Jackie Ramo]

I am so sorry to see you have Tweet living there :frisbee: First pic, looks just like him when he was younger.

[Terri]

Busy... Busy... Busy...
:grin: It's about time you showed off your wet pets,... not sure what took you so long!? LOL You've got a couple of lookers there ;-) The white/black spot with red head looks like one WayneS has(used to be in our pond years ago, we called it Stumpy).

What's the expected low temperature in the greenhouse over winter? Bio activity slows to a sluggish crawl around the 50F mark, with temps below 55F you should not be feeding very much at all. If you can maintain the bio and tank temp around the 55F mark do so and feed sparingly while still doing weekly water changes of 10%. Adding 6mil poly plastic over the tank itself will help a little with heat loss.
Trying to keep the temps in the 60F range, you will find that the fish are ALWAYS hungry and quite active.., which means more work for you with filter flushing and w/c's.

[BonnieIN]

Wow, you've been a busy bee there girl friend!

Looks great!

[Busy B]

Thanks Bon :grin:

Man I wished you lived closer Terri...I'd reach out and smack you!

Wonder if more people are like me...like their fish but a tad bit intimadated to show what they really have..I'm guessing the answer is yes.

I keep the ghouse between 45 and 50 so may have to turn up the heat a notch. Last year, I didn't feed much at all, but still did the weekly w changes. When it was pretty cold outside, I did put a heater in...going to take more than one this year.

Jackie...my fish is sweet...nothing like Tweet :lol:

[Merlin]

Thanks Bon :grin:

Man I wished you lived closer Terri...I'd reach out and smack you!

Wonder if more people are like me...like their fish but a tad bit intimadated to show what they really have..I'm guessing the answer is yes.

I keep the ghouse between 45 and 50 so may have to turn up the heat a notch. Last year, I didn't feed much at all, but still did the weekly w changes. When it was pretty cold outside, I did put a heater in...going to take more than one this year.

Jackie...my fish is sweet...nothing like Tweet :lol:
You hit the nail on the head Busy :( , I was like that, after seeing so many beautiful fish and ponds on the forums, I thought mine was a tad naff . Then at the end of the day I thought what the heck and posted the pics anyway. :)

[Jackie Ramo]

Gosh, people always seem to like the ugly fish in my pond, not the ones I consider worth while and for that matter even those in the know tell me my fish are baitagoi :lol: Never stopped me from showing them off. I love them, even with warts.

Busy your fish look great, have no idea what you think they should look like... If you had a grand champion up in Alsaka Luke would faint dead away :lol:

[luke frisbee]

Actually BB,
even if you weren't in frigidin' Alaska ...well ya are and that is as weird as it gets...and i love weird.....you got some good fish...and some other fish !rofl
Why would you want any more?

[Busy B]

I guess I've been brainwashed :twisted: Someone told me that most pond mutt's equals "pretty fish" so I've held back on posting..altho it is possible that maybe a couple of mine are close to some semblence of a variety...like the ogon!rofl

I want more...like a nice shiro utsuri..don't have a kohaku...can't decide between a sanke or a showa...that's why I'd like more. There's 1 shubunkin and 3 comets in the mix...one of those fish has a deformed mouth discovered as he grew. It has hindered his size...so in time, after the bigger pond is done, I may be able to squeeze in a couple more. Thats when I can be more selective. I've been lucky *knock on wood* for someone that didn't have a clue when they started, the originals are still with me.

Luke I can't believe you like any of them!wow!

[Jackie Ramo]

Busy stop hanging out with those fish snobs, you know the ones that if it isn't Japanese it isn't a real koi, folks. Giving people complexes seems to be those folks favourite thing.

Healthy fish that give you personal enjoyment are more important than a bit of shimi here or there

[Terri]

Man I wished you lived closer Terri...I'd reach out and smack you! :twisted: should I buy an airline ticket?

What pleases YOUR eye is the MOST important thing when it comes to choosing koi. Even Ian and I have different tastes, don't always agree. If you love koi, keeping/growing koi, then no one elses opinion matters as to "quality" of YOUR fish - Japanese or not. Having said that, the longer you are in this hobby the more refinded your eye and tastes become, what you once liked changes somewhat, or so I've found.

One should never be hesitant to share their joy. Pretty fish means exactly that, it's a PRETTY fish. Now if you ask for a judgement critique be prepared but if you're just showin' off who cares! :grin:

I have noticed that some hobbyist feel this way about their ponds as well... it's all nonsense, whether it's a small plastic tub, a liner DIY pond, or a $$ jobby, it's yours and should be shared with a smile.

[Busy B]

Ahhh feel all warm and toasty inside :grin:

That outlook comes and goes..I like what I have...should tweak this...that fish is so cool..what kind is it?

That would be why I haven't bought any more...besides the fact I can see now how big they get. When I look at those 2-5 inchers at the pet store, nothing is catching my eye and saying take me home...so maybe I'm learning more about koi appreciation.

Don't want to be a snob...just want to have fish I enjoy...just as we all do.

Crazy huh, how this went from a tank to koi appreciation :lol:

[Terri]

Can't have one with out the other Miz Bee :grin:
(crazy tanks fish - roll with it LMAO)

[Busy B]

I resemble that remark...crazy :grin:

[luke frisbee]

well if you'd have numbered the fish I could have said which ones....

[Jackie Ramo]

Said which ones what, which looked tastey perhaps :frisbee:

[Dave in Innisfil]

Didn't I read somewhere that koi were originally bred for tablefare ?

[Busy B]

Numbered them?? I'm lucky to be able to post a picture!

I think early on, yes Dave, Carp were for food...later as they noticed color developing on some, they started selecting and breeding. If that's what these weak brain cells can remember :wink:

[Jojopotato]

Busy how could you keep those pretty fish from us? Want Ugly you should see my Goldies.. However I can't get pics of them just yet as they still think I'm up to no good... Since the last time we met I had a net... :) :grin: I even walk buy and they run and hide...

[GregBickal]

Very nice !!

[Jackie Ramo]

Hey JoJo, good to see you. Throw in a few pellets everytime you walk by, that will restore your reputation.

[Busy B]

I've gotta say I love my new tank! Ian the filter setup is a godsend after what I had going for me last year! I finally have something that grabs the goo outside of the tank instead of dealing with it inside of the water column. The K1 isn't building much of a biofilm but I'm attributing that to the fact I haven't turned the heaters on yet. I only feed a small amount every other day. Small amounts of waste at the bottom of the tank but with the airstone and the fish's movement, it heads to the mech portion.

Thanks so much Terri and Ian for explaining and showing how to!

[Jackie Ramo]

Hi, Ian !welcome how are you Hope you have time soon to come by andvisit the diy challenged

[Dave in Innisfil]

I'll be endeavouring to attend Ian's next clinic for those plumbingly-challenged.

[Jackie Ramo]

Well Dave maybe if we gang up on him. I've been asking for him to do something at the koiclub meetings but lately he's been avoiding them.

[Terri]

I wouldn't say "avoiding", work keeps him pretty tided up, sometimes so much so we(our family) rarely get the pleasure of his company ;-)

[Jackie Ramo]

:frisbee: :frisbee: That was supposed to get a rise out of Ian, not his loyal true blue wife !rofl

[Terri]

oh...... :-?


!rofl

[Merlin]

Didn't I read somewhere that koi were originally bred for tablefare ?
Your quite right Dave and as Busy mentioned it was only when they started to develope colours, that the owners decided to keep breed them as pets. In Japan there are a fair number of places where you could visit and still see homes with Koi holding tanks outside . Those Koi will be on the table as soon as they are big enough, as fish is still considered a main source of food:) .