Pond Diary

We update this section frequently, as our never-ending obsession with Koi keeping continues to spiral out of control.  This section is also used to announce special deals and new additions to our online store.  View our mission statement. 

8.24.08 - Have a question?  Visit our FAQ...

Want to purchase Koi from us, but you're not sure about shipping charges?  Want to know our business hours or location?  Are you a pond professional and curious about discount pricing?  Want to know the best way to contact us?  Whatever your question is, please visit our site FAQ.  If you can't find your answer there, please let us know. 

8.8.08 - Look for our ad in these fine magazines...

When comparing ourselves to our competitors, it’s pretty obvious that we pride ourselves on being different. While many vendors form close alliances with one supplier and push this product line almost exclusively to their retail customers, we have taken a completely different approach. We carry virtually every quality product line in the industry at the lowest possible prices. For example, some dealers carry and push only Advantage Bead Filters. Other dealers exclusively stock Evolution Aqua Nexus Filters. There are other dealers who only offer GCTek AquaBead AlphaONE Filters. Each of these dealers, of course, proclaims their respective products to be the absolute best on the market. Each may be right.  Unlike most of our competitors; however, we recognize there are several quality product lines out there. So in order for us to truly offer the best possible value to our customers, we are proud to carry them all. From Advantage to Aqua, from GCTek to Evolution Aqua, from Wave to PerformancePro – you’ll find it here!  Our selection is truly unmatched, and new products continue to be added to our online store each week.  We also offer FREE shipping on several of our most popular items.

We also pride ourselves on being different when it comes to advertising. Like most of our competitors, we purchase ad space in several well known magazines; including Koi Nations and Ponds Magazine, just to name a few. As an e-business, you will also find our paid banner ads on several popular Koi and pond-related websites. But unlike most of our competitors; however, we have also taken a grass roots approach when it comes to advertising. We haven’t forgotten where we came from. So, in addition to our paid ads in these traditional outlets, you may also find our ads in the trader section of your local newspaper, in your local Pennysaver, and perhaps most notably, on Craigslist.  As private hobbyists ourselves, we would often utilize these resources to search for bargains on Koi and pond supplies. So as dealers, it only made sense for us to use these same avenues to offer bargains to our potential customers. We are simply taking the bargains traditionally found only at yard sales and factory liquidation sales, and offering them to potential customers on a much larger scale.

Thanks for visiting JoesKoi.com -- the online Koi and pond BARGAIN superstore, where CHOICE and VALUE collide!
 

7.11.08 - High quality Japanese Koi Available Now...

A nice selection of high quality Japanese Koi are is now available in our online store.  These beautiful living jewels would make a welcome addition to any backyard pond.  Hurry!  Our Koi tend to sell out quickly...       

7.8.08 - UNBEATABLE deals...

We shop online quite a bit ourselves, so we know you're going to shop around for the best possible deal before making a purchase.  In order to help ensure we are giving you the BEST deals possible, we have decided to highlight our unbeatable prices on several products throughout our online store.  We doubt you'll find a better advertised price on any of these products from another online vendor, but we also realize the Internet is a very big place.  So if you do happen to stumble across a better advertised price from one of our competitors on these items, simply let us know.  We will match, and in most cases, beat any competitor's ad on on these products -- guaranteed!  So, as you browse through our online store, be sure to checkout our products highlighted with the "UNBEATABLE DEAL" icon pictured above.  And buy with confidence, knowing you are truly getting the best deal possible on these quality products.          

7.7.08 - FREE shipping available on most products...

In addition to our everyday low prices and unmatched selection, we are now offering FREE shipping on several products sold in our online store.  Selected pond pumps, aerators, filters, UV sterilizers, and more!  The price you pay at checkout is the price you pay.  No need to worry about high shipping costs!  Hurry, this special sales event will not last long.  Just look for the "FREE SHIPPING" icon pictured above.  Thanks for visiting! 

6.28.08 - Great deals on Koi Food...

Not only do we offer one of the largest varieties of quality Koi food you'll find anywhere, but we also offer some of the BEST deals!  We carry all the top brands you want, at prices that are hard to beat!  If you're looking for great deals on Koi Food, you've definitely come to the right place! 

6.27.08 - New additions to our eBay store...

Visit our official eBay store at JoesPonds.com!

We recently added several new items to our official eBay store.  Among the quality products recently added are Dolphin Air Pumps, Pondmaster Air Pumps, and much more!   Visit our eBay store at JoesPond.com today!  You can also find our sale items on the main eBay site by searching for "JoesPonds." 

6.26.08 - EasyPro Complete Pond Kits...

Great deals on EasyPro Complete Pond Kits!

Everything you need to build a professional grade pond all in one box!

We've received quite a few inquiries lately about all-in-one pond kits.  Well, as always, your wish is our command!  JoesKoi.com is now proud to present UNBEATABLE deals on EasyPro Complete Pond Kits.  These kits are available in mini, small, medium, and large sizes to suit your specific needs.  These kits eliminate all the guesswork involved in building a professional grade pond and offer a HUGE cost savings in the process!  More bargains coming soon...     

6.24.08 - AquaBead Filters now on sale...

In keeping with our mission to provide only the highest quality products at great prices, we are currently offering special sale pricing on all AquaBead Filters sold in our online store!  Hurry, these deals won't last long!     

6.5.08 - 10% Discount on all Advantage Bead Filters...

We are extremely pleased to announce that we now offer Advantage Bead Filters in our online store. Many consider these filters to be the very BEST in the world, and they may be right! Advantage Bead Filters are also covered by an unconditional one-year satisfaction guarantee. Not only do these top-of-the-line filters provide complete mechanical and biological filtration for ponds up to 15,000 gallons, but they are also extremely simply to clean! To celebrate this exciting addition to our product line, we are offering a 10% discount on Advantage Bead Filters for a LIMITED TIME ONLY. If you're looking to upgrade your existing filter system in the near future, this is your chance to get a great filter at an UNBEATABLE price...

6.3.08 - Our visit with William Lim, Owner of W. Lim Corporation...

Last week we had the pleasure of visiting with William Lim, owner of the W. Lim Corporation -- makers of top-quality pond products, including Wave Series I Pumps, Wave Series II Pumps, Dragon Series Pumps, Wave UV Sterilizers, and much more!  We are extremely proud to offer UNBEATABLE prices on all W. Lim products!  Visit our Upcoming Events page to see additional photos and details from our visit.  

5.30.08 - Asagis have arrived...

You asked for them, so here they are!  We recently acquired a nice selection of quality asagis.  Size on these domestic beauties range from 8" to 14".  There are even a few longfins in the mix for the Butterfly Koi fans our there.  Individual photos will be posted in our online store in the very near future so stay tuned.  Pricing will be from $75 - $200 each.  As always, special package deals are available!  Contact us for details.

5.28.08 - Great deals on Nexus EAZY Filters...

We are extremely happy to announce that we now offer the full line of Evolution Aqua products, including Nexus EAZY filters in our online store!  We now stock one of the largest varieties of pumps, filters, Koi nets, Koi food, and there's still a lot more to come!  New products and values continue to be added to our site at an astronomical pace and we have you to thank!  We don't call ourselves "the online Koi and pond supply bargain superstore" for nothing!  Stay tuned...

5.13.08 - Our Mission Statement...

Business is starting to take off and we have you to thank!  With success comes responsibility, and as such, we thought it was time to share our business philosophy and long-term goals with the rest of the Koi Kichi world. 

Click here to view our mission statement.

5.4.08 - Our eBay Store Officially Open for Business...

Our eBay Store is now officially open for business.  In addition to the quality products already available in our online store, our eBay store will also contain a huge selection of other items we simply don't have room (or time) to post here in our online store.  You can visit our official eBay store directly by going to JoesPonds.com.  You can also find our auction items for sale by searching for "JoesPonds" on the main eBay site.  Thanks again for the support!  

4.28.08 - More Products Added, Even More Coming...

More products are being added to our online store on a daily basis, so be sure to check back soon to see what's available.  Blackwater Premium Koi Food was just added today.  Wave pond pumps and UV sterilizers, Hakku air pumps, and DreamPond Koi nets are available now.  In addition, our online store also features both DreamPond and Pearls of Paradise show tanks!  Products we hope to have added within the next week include Hikari Premium Koi food, and a full line of both Aqua UV and Laguna pond products.  As you can see, things are really starting to happen -- and we have you to thank! 

4.26.08 - New Site Design...

If you’ve ever visited JoesKoi.com before, you probably noticed we’ve done some major remodeling to our site. Now that our transition from private hobbyists to professional Koi dealers is finally complete, we thought we’d celebrate by giving our site a long-overdue makeover. Don’t worry, from a content standpoint, nothing has been lost. Our world-famous D.I.Y. projects, photo galleries, and pond videos are still here for you to enjoy. But with new products and Koi being added almost daily, our online store is growing extremely fast. It just made sense for us to tweak the site now for what, we hope, lay ahead. Whether this is your first time stopping by, or if you’re a regular visitor, please let us know what you think of or new look by taking a moment to sign our guestbook. Thanks!
 

4.24.08 - Pond & Koi Supplies Available Now...

It's official. Our online store is now open for business. We have great deals on everything from pond pumps to show tanks, air pumps to pond filters, from bulkhead fittings to Koi nets. Heck, we've even got 55-gallon barrels on sale for all the DIY'ers out there! So check it out and let us know what you think...

4.20.08 - New Photos Posted...

Now that I've finally figured out how to use my digital camera, I spent most of this afternoon taking new photos of our sale Koi.  Not to pat myself on the back, but I think the photos came our pretty well if I do say so myself.  If you're interested in quality, healthy Koi at affordable prices, please be sure to check out my online store.  I've already received several inquiries from persons interested in the Hoshino beauties I mentioned a few days ago, but so far they are all still available for pre-order.  Stay tuned... 

4.18.08 - High-Quality Hoshino (Koda) Imports Available for Pre-Order...

Greetings, my fellow Koi fanatics!  More great news!  I've just secured an awesome assortment of high-quality imports from Hohino of Koda Koi Farm, one of Japan's top breeders.  Size on these imported beauties ranges from 17" - 22".  I got a great deal from my supplier, so as usual, I'm looking to pass the savings on to you!  These Koi won't actually arrive for another few weeks and will still need to be QT'd before sale, but I am offering special pricing for those of you interested in purchasing these guys early.  Once these Koi are actually posted in our online store, prices will be $600 - $800 each -- which is significantly below retail for Koi of this quality.  But if you act now, I am willing to let these beauties go for $500 - $700 each.  If you'd like to add one of these beauties to your collection, please contact me.

4.15.08 - Better Photos Coming Soon...

Happy tax day, everyone.  I think I've finally figured out how to take quality Koi photos using a digital camera, so expect to see all new photos posted in our online store within the next week or so.  Looking at the beautiful Koi in our sale tanks then looking at some of the horrible photos I've taken thus far, I finally took a few minutes earlier this week to figure out how to use my camera.  Now that I finally know what I'm doing, expect to see all new photos in our online store very soon.  Stay tuned...

4.11.08 - Matsuba Madness has Arrived...

Great news!  I recently had an opportunity to acquire several high-quality matsubas from Hanover Koi Farm.  These domestic beauties just arrived and are still in QT, but they will be available for presale in our online store very soon.  Sizes range from 6" - 14" and as you can see from the photo above, they are real stunners!  Click here to visit our online store.  Get yours soon, as I expect these to go quickly...

4.5.08 - Tosai Available Now...

Man, things are really happening fast!!!  After receiving countless requests, I am proud to announce that we now have tosai available in our online store.  Visit our Assorted Tosai page for details. 

4.3.08 - Airport-to-Airport Shipping Coming Soon...

I've received several inquiries from site visitors asking me to offer airport-to-airport shipping.  Well, amigos, I'm proud to announce that I expect to begin offering airport-to-airport shipping in the very near future.  Shipping fees for airport-to-airport shipping are generally about one third the cost of traditional door-to-door shipping via UPS/FedEx.  So regardless of where you're located, you no longer need to fear high shipping charges.  Very soon I will be able to ship Koi to customers in New York, Florida, Texas, and practically everywhere else in the U.S. for under $70 per box!  Details to come... 

3.6.08 - Headed to the Bay...

I just found out that I'll be spending all of next week in San Francisco.  My (real) job decided to spring this on me at the last minute.  At least they're putting me up in a 5-star hotel in the Financial District, so I guess things could be worse.  Hopefully I'll still have access to email while I'm away, but I'm not sure.  So if I take a bit longer to reply to your emails than normal, at least you'll know why.  I receive dozens of emails every day from site visitors, and I just want to let you all know that I appreciate the support! 

I am planning to drain our grow-out pond this weekend, so expect to see quite a few new Koi added to my online store in the near future.  I'm also expecting to make a few purchases within the next month, so stay tuned.  In addition to my special "buy two, get one free" package deal, I am also offering an additional 10% discount to repeat customers.  It's just my way of saying "thanks." 

2.10.08 - New Pond Filters Installed...

This weekend I built and installed DIY filters for both our sale ponds.  As you can see from the picture above, they seem to be doing the trick so far.  I hope to add this new filter design to our DIY Projects section in the near future.  Stay tuned...

1.21.08 - Sale Ponds Finally Completed!

It took a bit longer than I anticipated, but I'm proud to announce that both 1,000-gallon above-ground sale/holding ponds are completed.  I had some leftover paint from when we redid the house, so I went ahead and painted both ponds.  Pretty nice, don't you think?  These ponds will be used as Koi spawning tanks this spring and as a temporary holding tank for fry and other Koi I plan to sell.  I've been trying to photograph all the Koi I currently have for sale; however, my schedule is still pretty hectic so I'm still only about 10% finished.  Please keep checking my online store as I hope to have all available Koi photographed within the next week or two...

12.22.07 - Back Online...

I've been extremely swamped over the past month or so, so as a result, I decided to bring down this site for a while.  If all goes well, I hope to have both 1,000 above-ground ponds up and running within the next month and to begin offering onsite visits to prospective customers by appointment only every other Friday.  I have received hundreds of requests from site visitors wanting to come down to see my pond setup and Koi in person, but due to my hectic schedule, this hasn't been possible.  All things being equal, I still prefer to use my online store for all transactions.  Pricing of Koi will not change if you decide to make an onsite visit; in other words, you will not receive a better deal if you stop by personally.  Don't get me wrong, I don't mind visitors.  Like most pond owners, I love talking about my ponds and Koi.  I simply don't have the time right now to devote to running a traditional store.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me. 

Happy holidays!

11.13.07 - Above-Ground Pond Construction...

This weekend I began construction on two 1,000-gallon above-ground ponds.  Dimensions on these ponds is 4' 6" wide X 8' 5" long X 4' deep.  Once completed, these ponds will serve as sale tanks for available Koi and as spawning tanks during spawning season.  I ran into a couple snags due to a few cracked 2X4s, but one way or another, I hope to have both of these ponds finished before Thanksgiving.  Stay tuned...

11.8.07 - Want to Avoid Shipping Costs?  Personal Delivery Available...

So far the response to my online store has been extremely encouraging.  I've already sold several of the 19 Koi I originally posted and receive dozens of inquires each day from potential customers.  To help avoid shipping costs, for a nominal fee I am also willing to personally deliver purchased Koi to customers within Southern California's Inland Empire.  If you are interested in this option, please contact me.  I hope to post additional photos of available Koi in the near future, so come back soon...

11.1.07 - Online Store Finally Opens...

After months of planning, I am happy to announce that our online store is finally open for business.  To celebrate this momentous occasion, we are offering package deal pricing.  Simply purchase two Koi from us at our already low regular price and choose a third Koi of equal or lesser value absolutely free.  You won't find a better deal on large pond-quality Koi anywhere!  Additional photos of available Koi will be posted in the near future so stay tuned... 

Click here to visit our Online Store!     

10.24.07 - My New Additions...

Behold, the latest additions to my humble herd.  I purchased a pair of imported 16" Kase doitsu kohakus and a domestic female 17" yamibuki ogon.  Needless to say, it's definitely about time to start culling so keep an eye on our Koi for Sale section...  

10.22.07 - I Must be Crazy...

I thought my pond building days were over, I really did.  But what can I say?  I was wrong.  I'm planning to construct a 1,000-gallon holding/sale pond in our backyard shed before Christmas.  This pond will be used to store fry from next year's planned spawning and other small Koi I plan to sell.  Once this is finished, I will begin my next project -- a new Koi pond!  This new Koi pond will be constructed in the remaining grass area in our backyard.  Dimensions of this pond will be approximately 12' X 20' with a maximum depth of 6'.  Total water volume of this pond will be over 5,000 gallons, making it more than twice the size of our existing Koi pond.  If everything goes according to plan, I hope to begin construction of this new Koi pond sometime in March and have the entire pond completed before June.  The digging is the hardest part, so if anyone out there would like to help, please contact me.  This would be an excellent opportunity for any of the newbies out there to gain first-hand experience building a pond.  Thanks for visiting...      

10.16.07 - Koi for Sale Coming Soon!

I've received hundreds of inquiries from site visitors over the past couple months about our available Koi for sale.  Well, patience my friends, because the time is nearly here.  I hope to begin construction of an indoor Koi pond (sale tank) in our backyard shed within the next couple months. Once this pond is up and running I plan to photograph approximately 100 available Koi and post these pictures in our online store.  Prices for these available Koi will range from $20 to $300 depending on size, quality, etc.  I will also offer quantity discounts for persons who purchase 3 or more Koi.  I hope to offer shipping in the near future, but for the time being, Koi will be available for onsite pickup only.  If you are looking for a variety in particular, please contact me.  In addition to selling some of my existing stock and fingerlings from future spawnings, I also hope to become a reseller for quality domestic Koi producers.  Stay tuned...

7.15.07 - Fry Update...

Our remaining fry are approximately two months old now.  A few measure over 3" in length; however, most still range in size from approximately 1" to 1.5".  We have a total of 500 or so surviving fry out of two spawns.  Updates to follow... 

5.25.07 - Fry Growth & More DIY Projects...

The fry from our first Koi spawning are now 10 days old and doing well in our 10' Intex pool.  I do 20% water changes every other day and have continued routine feedings of baby brine shrimp, green water, string algae, plankton, and powdered Koi feed pellets.  Our second batch of fry, which are now 7 days old, have been moved to our 100-gallon goldfish pond.  This pond has been empty ever since I moved all our goldfish to our turtle pond.  It has remained well-filtered; however, so it should do nicely.  So far, the second batch of fry seem to be doing fine in their temporary home.  If everything goes as expected, I hope to begin culling both batches of fry within the next few weeks. 

I built a fry holding basket out of 1/2" PVC piping and screen netting (see pictures above).  After culling, I plan to use this basket so I can safely keep the baby fry in our 5,500-gallon grow-out pond.  This pond is presently home to approximately young Koi ranging in size between 3" and 8" and three channel catfish; all of whom I'm sure would gobble up the fry in no time if given an opportunity.  Pictures and instructions for building this DIY fry basket have already been added to my DIY section.  

In addition to my fry holding basket, I also constructed a DIY pond aerator (pictured above) to help keep the water well-oxygenated in our designated grow-out pond.  This was another simple project, which only required a piece of 1.5" PVC pipe, a 1.5" PVC end cap and a flex tube connector.  Don't worry, this project has also been added to my DIY section.  I actually built two of these aerators; however, at the present time I'm only running one as I'm waiting to purchase a more powerful pump in the months ahead. 

5.19.07 - Fry Day 4 Update...

This morning I went to visit my friend Ken Lieu at Barstow Koi Farm.  He had a gorgeous 15" show-quality kin utsuri; however, it was a bit out of my price range.  I'm definitely going to purchase one of these beauties within the next year, but for now I'm focused on trying to care for all these fry.  Ken did give me some really good advice; however, which I am trying to heed.  I went ahead and moved my fry to the 10' Intex pool in my backyard.  I'm hopeful this will give them sufficient room to grow a bit more so I can begin culling in the next week or two.  I will continue doing 50% water changes on a daily basis to help keep the water parameters in check.  The second batch of Koi eggs started hatching this afternoon so I'll probably have at least a few hundred additional fry to play with in the next 24 hours or so.  I emptied the last few goldfish from our goldfish pond and will likely place this second batch of fry into this pond until I begin culling.  I know it's too small, but I really have nowhere else to put them right now.  I suppose I can always set up another pool, but I'd rather not shell out anymore money.  Worst case scenario, this second batch of fry will end up as feeders in our cichlid tank or turtle pond.  As always, I'll keep you posted...

5.18.07 - Fry Day 3 Update...

The fry are still doing well.  It's amazing how fast they grow.  They've probably tripled in size in just the last 48 hours.  There's still too many to count, but if I had to venture a guess, I'd say there are probably at least 5,000 fry altogether.  I did another 50% water change this afternoon and have begun light feedings using green water, baby brine shrimp, blanket weed, and crushed Koi pellets.  I've definitely got a lot of culling to do, which I will plan to start in the next 5-7 days.  So far I've only spotted a few dead fry, which I'm almost positive were damaged when I moved them with the net from one tank to another.  Another interesting development is for the very first time I'm beginning to see color difference between the fry.  Approximately half of the fry appear to be a bright yellow/orange color while the other half remain all white.  Culling is definitely going to be a challenge because, honestly, I have no idea what to look for given my mixed brood stock. 

On a related note, I had yet another flock spawning in my Koi pond this morning.  I returned home from work to again find my spawning brushes full of eggs.  Since I wasn't home to witness the actual spawning I have no idea who the parents are.  I'm fairly confident the female this time around was a 22" butterfly gin rin mutt Koi, but it may have been a 22" showa as well since she doesn't look quite as eggy today as she did yesterday.  I have absolutely no clue who the males were this time around, but just for kicks I went ahead and placed the spawning brush back into one of my indoor aquariums.  I can already tell that a large portion of the eggs are fertile so I'm expecting them to hatch within the next 48 hours. 

Assuming the second batch of eggs are from a different female, it should be interesting to see the differences in the fry.  Crazy as it may sound, I'm still not finished spawning my Koi yet.  I still have a nice 18" female kohaku that appears to be extremely eggy.  I'd love to do a planned spawning with her and two of my kohaku males.  If nothing else, I would feel better seeing her thin out since she looks like she's about to explode because she's so full of eggs right now.  I'm expecting a second set of spawning brushes to arrive sometime tomorrow, so if things go according to plan, I will attempt my very first planned spawning tomorrow evening.  I will be using a 10' Intex pool as a spawning / grow-out pond for any resulting fry.  I'll let you know how it goes...

5.17.07 - Fry Swimming Now!

My fry are now two days old and seem to be doing well.  They are swimming and for the very first time, they're actually starting to resemble fish.  I did a 50% water change when I got home in the afternoon and also added a filter.  There are literally thousands of fry split between my two indoor aquariums.  If I can somehow manage to get a handful of fry to survive for six months or so I will feel like I've really accomplished something.  I'm also still hopeful that some of my other Koi will spawn as well.  I checked the spawning brushes this morning but nothing.  Updates to follow...

5.16.07 - They Hatched!

It took less than 3 days for the Koi eggs to start hatching.  I returned home from work this evening to find several thousand Koi fry swimming around.  I removed the spawning brushes, did a 100% water change, and fed them some brine shrimp.  I also went ahead and put some seaweed in the tank, which I also believe will serve as a food source.  I'm planning to do another 100% water change when I return home from work tomorrow afternoon and will also add a filter to help keep the water quality from deteriorating quite so bad.  For those of you who are interested, I also took a short video of my fry.  You can view it in my Pond Videos section.  This is my first year any of my Koi have spawned so I'm really excited.  Can you tell? 

I rinsed out the spawning brushes and returned them to my Koi pond.  I'm hopeful that my some of my other females will spawn sometime in the next week or so.  One of my Koi, an 18" female kohaku appears extremely bloated like she's about to pop.  I'll keep you updated.  Since none of my Koi spawned last night, I'm guessing they weren't too fond of my DIY spawning mop.  Oh well, at least it sounded like a good idea.  My spawning brushes are currently in the Koi pond and I will check in the morning to see if there's been any activity.  I also have another set of spawning brushes scheduled to arrive on Friday so I'll never be caught without spawning brushes again.  More to come...

5.15.07 - My Koi Spawned!

As luck would have it, none of the Koi eggs I picked up from Brad turned out to be fertile.  Oh well, at least I got some spawning brushes out of the deal.  All the eggs rotted away and  disappeared entirely within a few days.  The fact the eggs weren't fertile explains why they smelled so bad.  After coming to this conclusion, I went ahead and rinsed out the spawning brushes and placed them in my Koi pond.  Much to my surprise, within a matter of minutes I began to notice something different in my Koi.  I left the spawning brushes in my pond overnight and the next morning I woke up to witness some of my Koi spawning.  My female 28" gin rin chagoi was being chased by one of a 22" kohaku and a nice 18" showa.  My Koi continued their spawning behavior until the next morning. 

After running some errands, I returned to my pond around noon to find my spawning brushes covered with eggs.  I immediately brought both spawning brushes indoors to our heated aquarium (pictured above).  I treated the eggs with medication to prevent fungus and am keeping the tank well aerated.  I did a 20% water change after 24 hours.  About half of the eggs appear to be fertile (clear) while the other half appear to be unfertilized (white).  I will continue doing 20% water changes on a daily basis until some of the eggs hatch.  Shortly after they hatch, I will remove the spawning brushes, rinsing them thoroughly and return them to my pond.

In the meantime, I constructed a DIY spawning mop (pictured above) in the hopes some of my other Koi will spawn as well.  I have three females that definitely look "eggy" to me -- including a 20" gin rin butterfly, 24" gin rin sanke, and an extremely plump 18" kohaku.  I have already posted photos of my homemade spawning mop to my DIY section.  I ordered another set of spawning brushes; however, they probably won't arrive for a week or so.  More to come...

5.10.07 - My First Attempt at Raising Koi Eggs...

I ran into Brad, a fellow Koi keeper from Southern California while surfing through one the many Koi forums I belong to. Since Brad's Koi generally spawn every spring and he had no real desire to try to grow them himself, he offered to give away his koi eggs to anyone interested.  As it turned out, that person was me.  My beloved wife, Gabby and I went to pick up the eggs last night and I am anxiously awaiting what happens next.  I've already picked up some brine shimp, which I plan to feed to the Koi fingerlings once they hatch -- hopefully in the next day or two.  After all the dust clears, the best case scenario from this experiment will be that I will have a few hundred pond-quality Koi that I can either keep, grow-out, sell off, or simply give away.  The absolute worst case scenario will be that none of the Koi fingerlings survive and I simply have breeding media to use for next time.  Updates to follow...

5.7.07 - Grow-Out Pond Completed...

This past weekend I finally got around to converting our 15’ above-ground swimming pool into a grow-out pond. All things considered, I’m very happy with the way everything turned out. This was my very first time using an external pump, after having used submersible pumps for each of my earlier backyard ponds. A single 7,000 GPH pump was used to power the entire setup, and filtration was provided by a DIY filter setup consisting of five 55-gallon barrels filled top to bottom with commercial filter pads. I used 2” PVC piping and 4” ABS piping for all plumbing. This grow-out pond is now
home to approximately 25 Koi ranging in size between 4” and 10”. Most of these Koi, with the notable exception of my two Marusei chagois, will eventually be culled. Keep an eye on my Free Koi and Koi for Sale pages as I’m planning to make some of these available very soon.   

4.7.07 - Koi Prices...

The two koi pictured below both originated from Ogata Koi Farm in Japan; one of the most respected koi breeders in the world.  Those familiar with koi varieties will instantly recognize both koi as being asagis, one of the earliest koi variations dating back to the early 1800s.  Both koi are two years old, measure approximately 22" in length and would surely be a welcome addition to any backyard pond.  Granted, I'm not an expert when it comes to grading koi, but based on what experience I do have the only significant difference I can see between the fish below is the price. 

4.5.07 - Koi Stocking, Revisited...

The vast majority of Koi keepers -- including yours truly -- simply do not have the necessary space, funds, desire, and/or necessary approval from our "significant other" to build a massive pond in the backyard. If everyone were to adhere to the "ideal" stocking rule of one Koi per every 1,000 gallons of swim area, then most of the backyard ponds that I've seen would only be sufficient to support 1 - 3 adult Koi. If I had a $10K grand champion swimming around in my pond, then I would defintely lower my stocking rate to help protect my investment, but I do feel this stocking rate is unrealistic for most of the Koi keepers I've come to know. A more realistic approach, in my opinion, is to base your stocking rate on your filtration setup (how much can it handle?), feeding rate, frequency of water changes, etc. Provided nitrite, ammonia and nitrates readings continue to read "0" and your fish remain healthy, I have personally seen Koi reach well over 30" in a pond that would be considered grossly overstocked compared to the ideal. I'm not saying it's ideal or even healthy to try to cram 50 Koi together into a shallow 1,000 gallon backyard pond, but I have seen several instances where Koi remained healthy, lived extremely long lives (30 years or more), and reached large sizes (30 inchs or more) in a pond that would be considered extremely overstocked compared to the ideal 1,000 gallons per Koi. It wasn't long ago that I heard 500 gallons per Koi was the ideal, and before that, 200 gallons per Koi. Husbandry skills, frequent water changes, adequate filtration, and using a QT for all new additions are as important - if not more so -- than trying to adhere to a theoretical ideal which, again, is unrealistic for most Koi keepers. Just my two cents...          

4.2.07 - My First Gin Rin Chagoi...

After longing to add one to my ever-growing herd for quite a while, this weekend I finally found what I was looking for.  I landed a gorgeous 28" gin rin chagoi female from my friend Joe at Jungle Exotics.  In addition to my gorgeous chagoi, I also added an equally impressive  24" gin rin showa.  As I promised my wife, I'm officially done buying any more Koi...at least for a long while.   In the meantime my focus will return to converting our 15' above-ground pool into a grow-out pond so I can sell off some of my unwanted Koi.  Stay tuned...              

3.23.07 - Back from Gardena...

I spent virtually the entire day at the ZNA Koi Show in Gardena, California.  While the show itself doesn't technically start until tomorrow, March 24, I still had a great time.  I finally got a chance to meet a few of the other Koi kichi's whom I've spent so much time chatting with online for the past 3 - 4 years. It's nice to finally be able to put a few faces with the names I've come to know so well since venturing into this crazy hobby.  Some of the fellow Koi fanatics I had an opportunity to meet while in Gardena include Gary R, Carlos, Janem, Don (KoiCop), Aquitori, Russell Peters (PSKoi), among several others.  It was also nice seeing my good friend, Ken Lieu from Barstow Koi Farm. 

I also had an opportunity to meet Kevin from Genki Koi, who was gracious enough to drive all the way down from Santa Clara to deliver Marusei chagoi to those of us who entered the Koiphen grow-out contest.  In addition to my new 8" Marusei chagois, I also wound up purchasing an additional five Koi while attending the show.  I purchased three Koi, including my first yamibuki ogon and a very nice sanke from Joe at Jungle Exotics.  I also purchased a nice 10" kararimono from Simi Koi, and a 6" white matsuba, commonly known as a "skeleton Koi" from Ken at Barstow Koi.  My new Koi are pictured in the thumbnails above.  Larger photos have already been added to my Koi Pond gallery.  More to come...         

3.22.07 - I Couldn't Wait 'Till This Weekend...

A few days ago I mentioned that I was planning to build a DIY fence out of Plexiglass to keep my newfound herd of aquatic turtles from wandering off and, more specifically, from finding their way into our Koi pond.  My original plan was to build the fence sometime this weekend, but since the Gardena Koi Show is tomorrow I didn't want to risk spending a small fortune on a few Koi only to see them possibly killed by one of our turtles after it somehow found its way into our Koi pond.  The Plexiglass fence was actually a lot simpler to build than I thought it would be.  I was able to put the entire thing together in less than an hour and it was also far less expensive than I originally anticipated.  Photos of my DIY Plexiglass fence have already been added to our DIY section so be sure to check it out. 

I'm looking forward to visiting Gardena tomorrow, which will be the very first Koi show I've ever attended in person.  My beloved wife has graciously agreed to go with me, if for no other reason but to serve as the sole voice of reason when I'm tempted to blow a few grand on a glorified carp.  I'm planning to meet up with Kevin from GenkiKoi at three o'clock or so to pick up the two Marusei chagois I purchased as part of the Koiphen Growout Contest.  I'm sure I'll take a ton of pictures at the show so expect to seem them posted on this site in the near future.  Thanks again for visiting...

3.20.07 - DIY Plexiglass Fence Coming Soon...

In order to prevent our beloved turtles from wandering out of their dedicated area, next weekend I'm planning to build a DIY fence out of Plexiglass.  Our turtle pond area is currently surrounded by netting; however, I know from experience that turtles are extremely talented climbers so it's only a matter of time before they figure out how to escape into our main backyard area.  My basic idea is to simply use 4' X 5' pieces of Plexiglass and connect them using wooden stakes to form a wall.  It sounds easy, but I'm not the most handy guy in the world when it comes to building such things.  In any event, expect photos to be posted to our DIY section in the near future. 

I'm also looking forward to attending the Southern California ZNA Koi Show in Gardena this coming Friday, 3/23.  I'm planning to take my camera with me so you can definitely expect to see photos posted on this site in the near future.  My main reason for going to the show is so I can pick up the two Marusei chagois, which I paid for last month as part of a grow-out contest.  Still, I'm sure I'll end up spending a small fortune while I'm there.  Updates to follow...       

3.6.07 - New Turtle Pond Residents...

A few weeks back I announced that I was looking to adopt a few pond turtles in need of a good home.  I figured, at most, maybe I'd find someone willing to part with one or two turtles.  Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate the number of responses I ultimately received.  To everyone who trusted me enough to give me their beloved pets over the past few weeks, I just want to say thanks once again.  As promised, your turtles will be loved and well cared for.  The turtles are eating well and seem to be enjoying their new home.  Photos of our new turtle pond residents have already been added to our Pond Pets gallery.  Once again, I sincerely thank you!!!     

3.1.07 - The First-Ever "Virtual" Koi Show...

Like a burst of lightning, it hit me – an idea so brilliant, so awe-inspiring, so incredibly ahead of it’s time that I couldn’t help but stand back in amazement at my own genius. Alright, so maybe I’m exaggerating here just a little, but my idea was a good one and now it appears as thou it’s actually going to happen. The first ever “Koiphen Virtual Koi Show,” the brain child of yours truly among so many others who undoubtedly had the same idea, is tentatively scheduled to take place sometime in late March, 2007. The rules and details of the contest are still being ironed out, but this contest definitely looks like’s it going to happen. I can’t wait!
 

2.25.07 - Filter Bio-Media; Alternatives to Matala...

One of the most popular features on this site is my DIY section, especially my DIY pond filters page.  Often site visitors will ask me what media I recommend for pond filters.  Just about anything can be used as filter media, provided of course, that it is non-toxic and provides sufficient surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow.   Over the years I've had success using several different types of bio-media.  I originally started out using a mix of small landscape rocks and swamp cooler filter pads, both of which can be found at any Lowes or Home Depot.  This worked great; however, the rocks were extremely heavy which made cleaning rather difficult.  Later on I started using cut pieces of plastic pop bottles, disposable plastic cups, and pieces of 1" PVC pipe.  These worked even better, and were considerably lighter so cleaning out the filters was much easier.  About a year ago I upgraded to a commercial filter media, which is pictured below.  I bought a total of five 90' X 24' rolls of this stuff on Ebay for under $250, including shipping!  This was enough to fill a total of six 55-gallon DIY pond filters.            

Most so-called Koi experts consider Matala pads as being the best filter media on the market.  Most of the professionals I've spoken with use Matala, so who am I to argue?  It works great.  But the one major drawback I see to using Matala pads is they are relatively expensive.  A 24" X 36" sheet of Matala pad will generally cost upwards of $40 or so -- not including shipping.  To accommodate a large pond, one would need to purchase several of these pads.  At $40 or more a pop, that could wind up costing quite a bit!  It would take at least 10 - 15 of these pads to fill a single 55-gallon DIY pond filter; that's $400 to $600 for each filter!  Luckily, I found an alternative that works equally well, and so far, cleaning is not much of a chore.  Simply rinse out the filter pads whenever you do your annual filter cleansing.  I noticed a significant improvement in terms of water clarity and quality shortly after adding these pads.  They handle fines extremely well, and provide maximum surface area for bio-filtration.  More to come...

2.19.07 - Barstow Koi Farm Visit...

My family and I went to the Calico Ghost Town this afternoon to watch a Civil War reenactment.  It was our first trip to Calico in over three years, but as usual, we had a great time.  Calico is only about 10 miles away from Newberry Springs, home of Barstow Koi Farm, so I couldn't resist stopping by to say hello.  As I expected, they basically sold everything at the San Diego show over the weekend so they're wasn't much left to see.  In any case, it was still really nice getting a chance to talk to Ken Liu again.  If you're ever in Southern California and want to see some great Koi, I highly recommend visting Ken and family at Barstow Koi Farm.  Click on the logo below to visit their official website.     

I often work seven days a week so it isn't easy for me break away on weekends to visit a show, but I'm hoping to make it to the Gardena show next month.  Ken gave me a great idea to go to the Gardena show on Friday, which will give me a chance to get "first pick" of the Koi I wish to purchase.  Ken tells me this is what a lot of the pro's do.  Funny, but the idea of hitting a show a day before it actually begins never entered my mind.  I'm going to try to convince my wife to go with me to the show, but she's not really into it.  She puts up with this obsession of mine because she loves me, but to her, Koi are just really expensive fish that give me an excuse to keep digging holes in our backyard.  More to come...

2.17.07 - My Experimental Fingerlings...

About three months ago I stopped into a local pet store on my way home from work to pick up some Koi food.  Now buying Koi food at a pet store is one thing, but as a general rule of thumb, I would highly recommend against purchasing any actual Koi from a pet store.  From my own experience, I can tell you that most pet shop Koi are of extremely low quality.  Some of them may appear to have "potential" while still young, but as they grow, they will almost certainly deteriorate -- sometimes to the point where you feel genuinely embarrassed for having them in your pond. 

"How in the world did that ugly fish get into my pond?"  Every new Koi keeper will eventually ask himself this question at least once while relaxing near his backyard pond.  It may take a moment or two, but eventually the reality sits in and you suddenly remember how this came to be.  That ugly 12" horror show swimming around in your pond was once an adorable 2" fingerling.  If you only knew then what you know now.  But it's too late.  You've already grown attached to the ugly bugger so culling is out of the question, and no other Koi keeper (except a newbie) would be willing to take such a monstrosity off your hands.  So there you are, stuck with an ugly Koi you can't get rid of.                      

If the scenario I've just described sounds familiar, don't be alarmed.  It happens to the best of us.  I've been in this hobby now for nearly four years and yet I too fall victim to temptation every now and again.  Pictured above are two of 6 gin rin Koi fingerlings I purchased during my aforementioned pet store trip.  I've always been especially fond of platinum ogons, and the fingerling pictured on the left has a truly brilliant, reflective quality.  He'd be a definite show stopper if only he were 2' longer.  I'm also a huge fan of butterfly koi and the gold fingerling on the left reminded me of the goldfish from the Disney Pinocchio cartoon.  I've seen adult koi of this variety before and I think most people would appreciate their beauty even if they weren't particularly big fans of butterfly Koi.  Don't even get me started on the whole "butterfly Koi aren't real Koi" argument.  Anyway, all 6 fingerlings are currently residing in our heated 55-gallon indoor aquarium until next spring, when they'll be moving outside to our Koi pond.  Hopefully at least one or two of them will be worth keeping in the years ahead.  If they don't, oh well, at least they were cheap and I can always post them on our Free Koi page later on to see if there's any takers.     

2.16.07 - Grow-Out Pond Plans...

Last summer I purchased a used 15' round above-ground swimming pool.  I thought it would help us escape the summer heat, but much to my surprise, it was seldom used.  For the most part the pool has just sat there, unused, ever since I set it up.  Below are a few photos of our pool as it currently sits in the boat storage area in our backyard.  No, I don't have a boat, but I am hoping to buy one sometime in the near future. But that's a story for another time. 

Being the complete maniac I am when it comes to caring for my beloved Koi, I've decided to convert this pool into a grow-out pond before spring arrives.  All things being equal, converting this pool into a pond is going to be a lot easier than digging a new pond in our backyard-- not to mention a lot cheaper!  Plus, as an added bonus, I won't have to worry about my beloved wife having me committed to an insane asylum when I ask her for permission to dig yet another hole in our backyard. 

Holding 5,400 gallons of water with a depth of 4', this pool should do nicely.  Adhering to the one Koi per 250 gallons stocking rule recommended by most so-called expert