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So I'm in the planning phase, and would love a naturalistic, or i guess "aquascape" style pond. i had originally wanted to put koi in it, but heard from everyone that since koi are nothing but dirty, filthy carp, they are too messy for aquascape ponds (too much c**p getting caught under rocks, etc.).
so now I'm wondering what kind of fish would be better? i never considered goldfish cause i thought THEY were very messy, is this true? what would be a good choice? i would love something with color, but that may not be an option. any help would be appreciated!
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| Hey Matt, thanks for the reply but i dont think you understood what i was asking. I dont want koi. Koi are off the drawing board for right now. I have not built the pond, i'm in the design/conceptual phase. i've been over on koiphen.com for a while and have been learning the benifits of a bottom drain and vortex chamber and settling chamber and all that good stuff. also, like you said, i've been informed quite passionately about the amount of nastiness that builds up under rocks and whatnot. what i would like is something natural looking, with good plant cover to keep the algae down and make the pond look pretty, a couple fishies swimming around having fun. not necessarily a river rock bottom, but hopefully something that'll make the pond not look like the boring, ugly swimming pools that some of these fanatics build for their koi!!! maybe i'm chasing an impossible dream, but i was hoping there were some pond fish that produced less pooh than others.
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my ugly swimming pool for koi.
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Carl
"almost any obstacle can be overcome with information; information is truly the oxygen of understanding."
Anthony Calfo
Going Solar
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Group: Forum Members
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nice pond, but i dont think i should have to point out that there is a difference between a well designed and decorated pond like yours, and the ugly swimmingpools that i have seen. i understand that there are many people who put the emphasis on the koi, not the pond, so you'll see pictures of big, over-engineered ponds with aerated bottom drains and three-level returns and multiple vortex filters and yadda yadda yadda, with all the plumbing and piping and filtration exposed around what is essentially a cinder block tub thats been top-coated and filled with water. i'm sorry, but that is boring, and indeed ugly, to me.
of course, at least they HAVE PONDS while i do not, so chalk it all up to jealousy on my part!! 
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i agree with you. i was just pointing out that it doesn't have to be ugly. i think a liner pond with rocks on the bottom full of fish crap is ugly. if you have rocks it doesn't really matter too much if you have a bottom drain.
we are taking care of a friends house/pond right now and her pond is only 1000 gallons concrete with a bottom drain at one end and an undersized pump and very little crap makes it to the drain. her waterflall returns in the middle and so one end of the pond has no circulation.
these are the kind of thinks to think about.
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Carl
"almost any obstacle can be overcome with information; information is truly the oxygen of understanding."
Anthony Calfo
Going Solar
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my Goshiki was a real stunner and has won several trophies. unfortunately she is past her prime. the nice red area behind her head is all black now.
the Ogon got an internal injury in spawning last month and died. she was about 33" and raised from a pup.
the gin rin Kohaku is now a gin rin shiromuji.
the big Kohaku was also injured spawning a couple of years ago but 1/2 of her body is scar tissue now. the whole middle section, very freaky looking. looks like a burn victim.
which brings up a nother danger of rock ponds, spawning injuries. i have no sharp edges or rocks in my pond and yet my fish can still get injured. one got thrown over the 8-9" rim of the pond and was found the next morning dead.
i do have a couple corners in the pond. very smooth, covered with algae but hours of being bashed against even that can take it's toll. i would not put any convex corners in the pond were i to do it again.
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Carl
"almost any obstacle can be overcome with information; information is truly the oxygen of understanding."
Anthony Calfo
Going Solar
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ah reefski, now i see your point. by the way i'm blown away by your pond, i like the wall accent, very nice and it all fits the overall style of your decorating.
well, i had hoped that someone had the hidden secret of rocks in a pond being made to work. alas, i have to stop kidding myself. thanks for all the help gang!
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I HATE KOI SEX!
they get so tired and worse as we said. and the smell from hours of sex is pretty powerful. but we can't tell them to stop, just try to protect them from themselves.
a couple years ago i had one male that scraped the dorsal fin to the bone such that the first two rays were nothing but bone. my daughter helped me treat him by taking him out of the pond and cutting them off as close to the spine as we could. the bones were >1/8" and took a bit of force to snap off.
he healed up fine and you can't tell watching him in the pond. i am sure a koi judge will notice next time i show him though.
another piece of free advice that will save you a lot of money in the long run.
spend a lot now on the pond. then you won't have to redo it in a couple of years when your addiction worsens.
we went from #1 1000 gallon pond at my wifes office straight to #5 that you see here. 20,000 gallons. i knew i would not get permission to tear out a smaller pond to make a larger one.
i think at least 5000 gallons is a good size.
here is a good source of info and it's all free.
http://www.akca.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=62
check out the basic course design. articles are written by true experts with many years of practical experience.
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Carl
"almost any obstacle can be overcome with information; information is truly the oxygen of understanding."
Anthony Calfo
Going Solar
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Group: Forum Members
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some of the injury pictures
topical meds, and antibiotic shots and he made a full recovery minus the first two rays of the dorsal fins.
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Carl
"almost any obstacle can be overcome with information; information is truly the oxygen of understanding."
Anthony Calfo
Going Solar
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