Koi Garden

Black Tuesday at the Koi pond.

2010-07-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

In the last few posts I have talked about losing some fish and the challenges of fighting diseases in a pond. This makes it a risky time in any pond, but more so when the temperature is changing. Two fish have died (Rhu and Patty) and the disease has progressed to others in the pond (Tawney).

Summer is also a time of vacations and travel. Traveling while treatment is progressing is also very risky. Treatments usually occur over many days and things can change wildly over that time. Symptoms can worsen and new symptoms may appear which may require changes in your treatment plan, all the while you are gone. Plus putting such pressure on friends or neighbors who are feeding the fish is just not right, or productive. Unless they are familiar with Koi, they will not be in a position to help with the treatment process.

At the Koi Garden pond we had just that happen: a vacation was planned for a long time and I had to leave with a treatment plan partially completed. The other thing that complicated matters is a heat wave in Seattle that raised the temperature over 90 degrees. The higher temperature changes the water chemicals very quickly and can cause additional problems. The treatment did not go as I had planned or wanted. We had enlisted friends to review and feed the fish while we were gone. But the higher temperature caused green water which obstructed any views of the fish, so health problems could progress… Because they could not see the fish, they assumed that things were hunky dory.

Not so much.

Returning from a week long vacation to find all the fish dead is a bad way to return home.

This is a sad time at the Koi Garden. I will have to spend some time thinking about how to progress with the pond.

RIP Koi Garden Fish....

Black Day at the pond

2010-07-17T19:35:00.000-07:00

We had two important tasks to accomplish: Watch and help Patty through the treatment plan; and making sure the rest of the pond did not go the same path as with Patty.

Patty initially appeared to respond well to the Malachite Green, but it was a short-lived victory. Applying medicine to a hospital tank is tough. The medicines need to be applied to a small space, so the correct calculations must be made. Also since the medicines are so strong and the fish is so weakened by disease, the fish may not be able to survive the treatment. And that is what happened to Patty. After a short time in the hospital tank, Patty succumbed to the disease. The disease had progressed too far. Despite direct intervention of moving the fish forward and backward to keep water flowing through the gills, I was not able to revive Patty and keep the fish alive.

No time to grieve. Losing Patty was terrible, but there is no time to waste. The rest of the fish we exposed to Patty for a few days before I found and moved the fish into the hospital tank. This means that the pond and the fish that live there are at risk and must be treated very quickly.

While Patty’s treatment was progressing, I took some time to get a good look at the rest of the fish in the pond. Things to look for include fish color, movement, feeding, anything out of the ordinary that hints that the fish might be ailing. In the Koi garden pond, the rest of the fish were doing fine with the exception of Tawney, the long fined Tancho Showa. Tawney was sulking on one side of the pond, not swimming with the rest of the fish. There was no visible fin rot, but when fish do not fight for food with the other fish, there is a problem; and judging from what happened to Patty, Tawney had a BIG problem.

Since the pond needed to be treated, I decided to treat the whole pond with the fish inside it. I removed the plants to make sure they did not interact with the medicines. This could be a problem for both the plants and the fish. Plus, once the treatment plan is completed, we will place the plants back in the pond again. I applied the Malachite Green to the pond (with 1 ounce per 500 gallons, dosed daily). I also turned the heater way up in the pond, almost to the maximum. Normally, I would never need to heat the pond in July, but this summer has not been normal. I had turned the temperature off because I had thought summer had arrived. But when the problems arrived, the temperature had dropped to 55 degrees. At that temperature, the fish’s immune system is working, but not as well as it would be at 75 degrees. These items seemed to help; there was a visible reaction within a half hour. They all started being more active, looking for food and swimming around more. Based on this outcome, I will keep the temperature slowly increasing until it gets over at least 70 degrees.

All fingers and extremities crossed!!!!

Patty is found!!!!!

2010-07-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

Patty was hiding at the bottom of the Koi Garden pond. I was worried that Patty was eaten by one of the critters that frequent the garden. Luckily, that was not the outcome of the Patty search. I found Patty along the bottom of the pond, hiding among the pumps and plants.

But all is not well. A lethargic fish is not a healthy fish. And Patty was lethargically hiding at the bottom.

No feeding.

No swimming.

A little bit of rot on the long flowing fins.

And a very stressed pink color.

All indications of a very bad situation.

I immediately sprung to action.

First step is to get the fish out of the pond and into a hospital tank where intense treatment can be applied. In Patty’s case, it is quite easy to catch a sick fish with a net. They don’t move fast and are really not feeling well.

The hospital tank, in this case, was a large bucket with an air pump, bubbling constantly.

I quickly look at my Koi reference books to try and get a feel what the offending sickness. I use my favorite book for koi knowledge(The Tetra Encyclopedia of KOI). The fin rot indicates that bacteria is eating away the long flowing fins. The pink color indicates stress and sickness on the white fish. I added Malachite Green to the water. It is a mixture of formalin (think formaldehyde, icchhh) and some chemical that produces bright blue stains (OK, I have no idea why it is called Malachite Green….). This chemical kills any exterior bacteria that are attaching the fins.

It is also a good habit to call your Koi network to confirm treatment. For me, I call Diane Torgeson of Oasis Water Gardens. Diane confirmed the Malachite Green treatment but also warned me NOT to use salt water treatment at the same time. Whew, I use saltwater treatment for a general treatment. It improves functioning of Koi gills and assists the koi’s natural defenses by increasing the slick feel of the fish, restricting bacteria’s ability to get to the fish. But in combination with Malachite Green, the salt water will burn the fish; Ohhhh No… Dianne also recommended additional treatment with antibiotics. Both of these treatments are multi day treatments. The Malachite is applied each day for at least 3 and possible more days. The treatment plan for the antibiotics is a 10 day plan, with drugs applied to the hospital tank every day.

With the correct treatment plan in place, I embarked on the toughest part of any hospital stay: the waiting….

Calling all Cars, Missing fish

2010-07-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

Alert!! Missing Fish! Alert!!

11-12 inch long koi.
Beautiful metallic platinum white color.
Slim stylish figure.
Thin facial structure.
Long flowing fins.
A long time resident of the Koi Garden pond, at least for the last three years.
Patty was last seen swimming two days ago, in and around the Koi Garden pond..
Other residents of the pond were not able to give additional information.

If you have seen this fish, please contact the Koi Garden Guy, immediately.

I had been leaving the pond uncovered for the last few days.
I know.
I know.

I was risking the wrath of the local animals which spend the days, and nights scheming about how to get to my expensive little pond dwellers. I see the eagles and herons circle with hungry looks toward the Koi Garden. I have already written about the Raccoons and their relentless scheming. But the weather was so nice and I wanted to give them as much sun as possible…. So I left the pond screen off… and Patty is missing.

There are presently no clues as to the whereabouts of Patty.
I have looked around within the pond as best as I can with the green water and can see no Patty.
I have also looked around the adjoining garden for any carcass remnants (Oh No!!!), but so far I can not find anything that might indicate a Raccoon feeding fest.

I am holding out for the best.

Maple garden????

2010-06-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

Since the longest day has come and gone, one might hope for some good weather. Well some has finally come, at least one day’s worth. Well actually the weather has recently gotten better, but I am still hoping for the day when wearing shorts is a normal activity.

But the plants don’t seem to mind too much, especially in the Koi Garden. As my blog readers will know, Maples are a favorite in Japanese gardens. I have reviewed the bible of Japanese Maples: Japanese Maples by Vertrees in earlier posts. We have even posted about bringing Maples inside for a piece of the garden during the winter. But don't think for a minute that they will stay that small; they will grow very fast, and will require pruning. Of course even the dwarf maples will require trimming to keep their shape. Of course we cannot show all the Maple trees I have trimmed this year, because, ahhh, they were all the neighbors trees and I disposed of the evidence immediately; and forget before and after pictures..... So IXNA on the ECRETESA. LOL.

Still, I thought it would be nice to post some photos of the maples in my garden.

Birds of Wrath!!!!!

2010-06-01T19:30:00.000-07:00

One of the challenges of a koi pond is the constant fight with predators. I have documented ad nauseum about my wars with the local raccoon clan. But there are other predators for the koi pond owner to be aware of. One of the local Koi ponds in our neighborhood has a particular problem with herons. This pond, which has been documented in earlier posts, is a natural style pond with a waterfall, lush plants and overhanging trees.

Apparently the herons fly by, see the pond, and the brightly colored residents and drop down for a closer look. They then hop into shallow areas of the pond, where they stand motionless until a unsuspecting fish swims by. The fish is then unceremoniously skewered and quickly eaten. Not at all a neighborly thing to do, especially to beautiful and expensive Japanese koi…. No, No siree, Bob, definitely something to be restricted or avoided altogether…

In the Koi Garden pond, I have solved this problem in a number of ways. My pond has very steep sides. Heron cannot walk down the sides as they can with a natural pond. The shape of the Koi Garden pond is very even which also allows for use of a wooden frame with a plastic screen. It keeps the predators out but allows the sun and water recirculation. It also has the benefit of keeping any leaves, etc out.

This problem becomes larger with natural or irregularly shaped ponds that don’t lend themselves to ponds screens. In this type of pond a plastic screen just doesn’t work well, especially if you want to remove the screen for certain occasions, such as cleaning or picture taking.

For ponds where a plastic screen won’t work, other solutions come into play. One of the most interesting ones I have seen to use hang fishing wire in between adjoining trees. The herons see the wire and avoid it like the plague. They have a wide wing span and don’t want to get caught up in the fishing wire. The fishing wire spans the space between trees over the pond high enough to not affect either access or the view of the pond. In fact this pond owner has even attached ornamental metal leaves that move in the breeze for a festive look. These metallic, flashing leaves also threaten the herons.

Mission accomplished!!!!!

Birds and Bees in the Koi Garden

2010-05-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

We have had many visitors to the Koi Garden so far this year. Many family members have visited us and stopped by to see the happenings.

But we have also had visitors of a smaller variety: The Birds and the Bees have come to the Koi Garden; literally!!!!

One of the later additions in the last few years has been a very nice “Goldenchain” tree (Laburnum). While not a tree that normally is found in Japanese or Chinese gardens, I just love the cascading flowers every Spring. It makes for nice photos, both close up and further away. And with all those flowers, the trees have become magnets for both Bumble Bees and Hummingbirds. Both of these are welcome visitors!!!

Another of the visitors has set up residence. A small bird has moved into one of the bird houses built from license plates. The bird house was placed behind the Goldenchain tree and close by both water and bird feeders; a pretty smart bird!!! While we have heard no chirping coming from the bird house yet, there is quite a lot of movement in and out, with one bird bringing lots of food in. I am speculating that his partner is in the house tending to the eggs. I will keep you informed re and new inhabitants of the Koi Garden in upcoming weeks.

Grave robbers in the Koi Garden

2010-05-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Last week I posted about the death of one of my fish in the Koi Garden; a nice Kumonru named Rhu.

After a quick burial in the garden, I thought that would be the end of it. Apparently my nemesis thought otherwise. Within a day the fish was dug up and removed, with nothing left but the disrupted soil. Hmmm, not exactly the neighborly actions one would expect and hope for in the Koi Garden.

A quick perusal of the surrounding areas yielded no remains as might be expected with say a cat or possibly a squirrel. And while I didn’t look at any front porches around the neighborhood, I have heard of no reports of any “gifts” for their owners from any cats, either.

No, I think that this is the work of my nemesis from the past, the Raccoon. It might even be a family affair as it was in the past. In the past it was the plums and pears, now it is the fish.

For new readers, the Koi Garden has always had issues with this Raccoon and his ilk in the past. They had wreaked havoc on the lilies and sword plants. They also had a penchant for playing with anything floating in the pond. They loved the glass floats we have and had a special game they played with the floating thermometer. They must have really liked the thermometer as I am sure they stole it for their own nefarious needs. We now use a plastic screen to keep them away from the pond fish and the plants, at least early in the spring when the Raccoons are setting up their circuit that they use for the summer.

Nope, this is just an escalation of the ongoing war I am having with my nemesis, the Raccoon. I am thinking that he was just cruising by seeing if we had forgotten to place the screen for the night, and smelled the deceased fish. I bet he/they scooped up the fish and headed off, probably to their local Raccoon eatery….

A death in the Koi Garden

2010-05-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Spring is a risky time in the Koi Garden. The water temperature rises and with that, so does the risks for the fish. While rising temperatures allow internal immune systems to take hold, it also allows viruses and harmful bacteria to grow and flourish as well. In some cases the harmful bacteria grows faster than the fish’s ability to fight them. This can lead to diseases and even quick deaths.

This is what has happened to some favorites in the Koi Garden. Rhu, a great looking Kumonru died very quickly this week. One morning he was found dead in the pond. Cause unknown. Call it Spring Fever. A great loss. Rhu was introduced to our readers in previous posts and will he will be missed.

When dead fish are found in the pond it is very important to remove the fish very quickly to reduce the chance of any disease transferring to the other fish. A detailed review and analysis of the dead fish must be made to get some idea of the problem. Do not touch the fish with bare hands. Gloves should be worn; gardening gloves work well for this task; and they should be thoroughly washed afterward. The fins should be checked for any problems like fin rot, ich, or any other malady. Pry open the gills; the color should be a nice reddish, pink color. The gills should be complete and healthy looking. If the gills are damaged in any way, it could be an indication of the disease that the fish succumbed to. It is also very important to test the water as well. Watch out for high levels of Ammonia and Nitrites. They can stress the fish and extended periods of stress can cause death.

This is the time where good reference materials are a must. In previous posts, I have talked about a favorite book of mine. In my gift recommendations I have talked about a few good books that could be a great help. This is the time to talk to your Koi gardens friends. In the Koi Garden one great resource I have is Oasis Water Gardens. Diane Torgenson is a great source of assistance to any problems I might have.

In the case of Rhu, it might be of interest that the fish did change color. It was almost not possible to recognize Rhu. Readers might remember that a Kumonru is a fish that can change color based on temperature, water chemicals, and other factors. When I pulled Rhu out of the pond he had a lot larger amount of red coloring, far more than he normally had.

Rhu was placed to rest with a burial in a corner of the Koi garden. It is the same area where I have placed other fish that have died in the past. While I never like to lose fish, having them give nutrients and growth to a nice Hydrangea is at least something positive out of the whole thing.

Japanese maples by JD Vertrees book review

2010-05-02T17:32:00.000-07:00

Any Koi Garden library will have lots of books about Koi. But a real Koi Garden library will also have a lot of books about the plants that make up the garden as well. I am not talking about water plants; those are well covered in the pond books. I am talking about real plants like trees, shrubs, etc. And any gardener worth his or her salt (well not really salt, but you know what I am getting at…) would have a book about maple trees. That is because you just cannot have a Japanese garden without maple trees; nope, no sire, Bob; just not possible. And same goes for Chinese gardens as well….

Ok, so once you agree on the necessity of a book on maple trees, the rest is easy. What you say? How can it be easy to find the best book about maple trees in the world? Why, because there is no question about the best? It is “Japanese maples, third edition by J. D. Vertrees”. There is one “best book” about maple trees, hands down, and this is it. No ifs ands or buts. It is hands down the best book about Japanese maples.

Well maybe not the best, there is a fourth edition now available (just out in February this year). I have the third edition, but I have heard good things about the second edition and Amazon reviews like the fourth edition. I will report back when I get a chance to review it....

Why are J.D. Vertrees’ books so good? It is because he was to maples what Gates and Jobs were to PCs. He was the geek’s geek of all things about Japanese maple and this is his life's work. And it not just me that think so. The Washington Post had this to say about his books: ”The ultimate book about the aristocrat of trees ... the only English-language reference devoted to Japanese maples and one of the preeminent texts in the world for the propagation, identification and cultivation of this exceptionally useful plant.”

The Koi Gardener has looked up the maples that inhabit my garden and found great descriptions of both the Inaba Shadare or Dissectum and the always favorable Sango Kaku or Palmatum (Coral Bark maple). Both of these are hardly “garden” variety maples (Get it? I love it when a good pun comes together…).

There are more than 600 descriptions of varieties and 500 photos that will cover all the Japanese maples that any Koi Gardener will encounter make this book a great gift and an indispensible addition to any Koi Gardeners’ library. Get it or gift it!!!!

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

2010-04-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

I visited a different type of garden this weekend. No, not really a Koi Garden type garden, but a grand garden, just the same. The type of garden that you might take a helicopter to see completely….

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is that type of garden (show) (http://www.tulipfestival.org/). It goes on every year for the month of April in Mount Vernon and the surrounding areas. There are fields and fields of colorful Tulips. It is really quite impressive. Now Tulips are not the type of flowers that you might normally find in a Koi Garden but colorful they definitely are! Here are some photos. Enjoy!!!

This festival is based on working farms. These are businesses that sell all these Tulips during the month. In fact, most of the Tulips have already been harvested. Therefore put off that helicopter tour 'til next year...

I will take fish food with that warm water

2010-03-21T19:31:00.000-07:00

Despite what the calendar says, it’s time for the fish to wake up. They are waking up on their own, and they are hungry. Watching the Koi is a good indicator that it might be getting close to the time to start feeding them a low protein food again, but really, its not like the fish stop shivering or put up a sign saying “Feed me!!!”.

I use water temperature as the final guide. Over the holidays, you may remember I got one of these nifty remote temperature gauges, so I can plan out my Koi Garden days from the warmth of my house. Nice.... Once the temperature starts getting higher than 50 degrees F, for extended periods of time, the fish will be able to digest the food they eat. The fish’s immune system also turns on by that time and helps the fish fight the waking bad bacteria and diseases. The increasing temperatures also allow the beneficial bacteria of the filters to start the Nitrogen cycle.

With all this happening, it is a risky time for the fish, plus I have not even mentioned my personal war with the Raccoon, but again I digress. In a normal spring, the temperature gradually increases over 50, with multiple dips back into the 40s and even 30s. I think this stresses the fish and increases the risk of sickness. Therefore, in the Koi Garden, I try to reduce the risk with the help of an aquarium thermometer which is placed in the external filter assembly. This has heated the water flowing from the filter to the pond and reduced the fluctuations in the water temperature, especially when the temperature drops below 50 degrees F.

The heater should also allow the beneficial bacteria to take root and begin to do their job cleaning the water at the earliest possible time. At the same time, I have also turned off the UV sterilizing filter, to make sure the beneficial bacteria have a fighting chance. At this time, I am going to put up with green water if it means the filters get started correctly. Better to have a healthy Koi that I cannot see due to green water than an unhealthy Koi clearly visible in the bottom of the pond…..

Testing the water chemicals during this timeframe is very important as things can change within days. In the Koi Garden the Ammonia and Nitrite levels have not been too high yet, but if they do rise above safe levels, water changes may be necessary. I will keep my eyes on this in the future.

Rhu the Dragon Fish

2010-03-07T13:33:00.000-08:00

One of the most interesting fish in the Koi Garden pond is Rhu (Roo). Rhu is a long finned Kumonryu. The name means "Nine Crested Dragon", hence its nickname as the dragon fish. The Kumonryu is a Doitsu koi that has a jet black pattern that emerges like billowing black clouds against a white background. The black patterns is variable and unstable, disappearing with changes in the water chemistry, temperature, diet, and even stress levels, reappearing sometimes as a completely different pattern.

That’s right a variable pattern! Rhu will change its black appearance based on water chemistry and temperature. Kumonryu are also always doitsu, meaning that they either have no scales or a few small rows of scales down the middle of the back and the side lateral lines. This scale less body seems to make the color shapes more distinct, especially as they change over time.

The Koi Garden Kumonryu, Rhu also has long, very shiny fins adding to its distinctive look. The amount of black Rhu has makes him hard to see unless the water is very clear. With Rhu, the black may be moving around, but the red color he has on his head and belly does not. The red color has been improving over the few years I have had him. The high protein foods I feed out fish may have improved the red coloring. The red coloring is almost as bright as Metallica’s. Rhu’s black coloring with the red underneath is especially striking when a black colored fish breaks the surface and turns over, exposing the red coloration. I think that the surprise of a black fish breaking the surface is one of the most appealing things about a black Koi in a pond.

Among Koi Garden aficionados, a black Kumonrhu has a reputation as a good luck fish. Most Koi Gardeners have at least one in their pond for good luck. While I have only the data from our one pond, I can conclusively state that Rhu has brought a lot of good luck to the Koi Garden pond over the years. I will keep a close watch on Rhu’s black coloring to see what shape he brings to the Koi Garden as the water temperature warms up this spring.

Stay tuned!!!

Hibernation is not in the cards!!!

2010-02-28T17:04:00.000-08:00

We are in the midst of a mid winter thaw or an early spring. It really makes no difference which as either way it has a great effect on the Koi Garden. First it was the Crocuses.... Really gorgeous ones, they are just too early.

Next it was the Cherry trees and their blossoms.

The cherry trees are blooming very early, in fact most are already dropping their petals. Now even the earliest of the Magnolia trees, the Starlota is already in full bloom.

Definitely not your typical Koi Garden in February.

But there is a negative side to all this great weather. Pollen counts have risen precariously; and with it come the allergies. Allergies affect the Koi Garden guy, but I am guessing that the fish don’t suffer from the same malady (at least I have received no requests from the Koi for Benadryl). But there are some negative aspects of the early warm weather on the Koi Garden. The pond water that was green most of the year, has never really gotten cold enough, long enough, to kill all the algae and clear up. Therefore the water has stayed green, maybe even gotten more so instead of a normal winter where the cold water clears up all the algae.

Checking the water chemical levels is not something I bother to do too often in the winter, but with the spring temperatures and green water, I figure I had better do so. After checking with the test strips, only the Nitrates appear high. Since the Nitrites and Ammonia are not high I am less worried about the high Nitrates. A higher Nitrate indicator essentially means that plants would do well in the water. Well, Algae is a plant and I already know it is doing really well, too well; hence the problem. If the rest of the chemicals levels are good, the green water is not a show stopper problem, but what good are fish if you cannot see them???

Hmmmm, Decisions about UV lights will have to be made. Turn it on too soon for too long and the UV light will kill the algae and cause Ammonia levels to increase to hazardous levels for the fish. Do nothing and the green water means you cannot see any of your fish. Decisions, decisions…

The water temperature is now near 50 degrees. If this is true, I will have to start thinking about feeding the fish as they will no longer be dormant and will be hungry! Normally these are issues we deal with in April, not late February or early March. Previous testing indicated to me that the water temperature indicator runs about 5 degree too high. This means I will hold off feeding the fish for a little longer. I may even turn on the filter heater if the pond temperature starts fluctuating each day.

So much for the long dormant winter…..

Strange goings on in the Koi Garden

2010-02-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

Winter is a time of projects, and we have done our share of projects here at the Koi Garden over the years. Pond projects that disrupt the Koi are usually done in the summer when they are awake and active. The immune system of the fish goes dormant in the winter and therefore they cannot take the stress of any changes in their environment. Therefore this time of year is for the other projects.

But be afraid. Be very afraid!

An installation of bamboo flooring in the downstairs office and the adjoining bathroom kinda burst out the door into the Koi Garden. And yes, that is a toilet in our back yard...

While your neighbors might not mind your individualistic tastes in lawn ornaments, it is probably best to take into account how this will affect your fish… Don't let any of the chemicals and paints get anywhere near the water. Saw dust or any construction dirt will cause big problems if they get in the pond water. Don't even think of using the pond as a workspace. The vibrations of power tools like saws and drills gets magnified and propagated throughout the pond. And if your pond is covered in ice, don't think for a minute that it buffers the fish from their surroundings. Ice will act as a conduit for any sound or vibration that hits it. It is best to keep any work far away from the Koi pond.

Remember Koi are people too..

Photography in the Koi Garden

2010-02-07T20:51:00.000-08:00

When I started the Koi Garden blog, I wanted to cover both the intricacies of a Koi Garden and also the art and fun of photographing the Koi Garden. The format of a blog allows, no requires, many photos, but other than that we have not really done huge amounts of discussion about photos.

Well, because I got a great holiday present, I will spend this blog focusing (oh, that was good… read on…) on some photography in the Koi Garden. I received an used 55mm f2.8 Nikon Micro manual focus lens. But don’t worry; this was no garage sale special. This lens was originally made in the mid 80s. Yes, mid 1980s, as in big hair 80s. Since that time, the lens world has been taken over by the auto focus, lighter weight, multi purpose zooms. But try as they might, in my view, the new lenses cannot hold a candle to the great old ones (hmmmm, mixed metaphors?). And the great thing about Nikon cameras is that the great old lenses work on the new cameras almost like the new ones. Ok, what is up with that? Can you imagine a present day Porsche allowing you to pull out the engine and plop in a 1985 engine? I thought not!!! But I digress… The point is in the case of old Nikon manual focus lens, they just don’t make them like they used to.

The nice thing about this lens is the clarity. It is very clear wide open at f2.8 or f 32.0. That’s right f32.0. That means the depth of field (DOF) for this lens is huge. Things that are normally out of focus can be made in focus with this lens. See the Heather photo where I take a photo at f2.8. This results in the smallest DOF possible. There is only one part of the Heather plant that is in focus. The rest of the Heather is blurry; very blurry. Of course, in the photo world, out of focus can be good. They even have words to qualify the quantity of out of focusness.... Bokeh...

The DOF also allows me to keep the entire series of leaves and buds in focus. This is an Akebia (silver Akebia, if you must ask) that has popped due to a few days of good weather. Oh and by the way these leaves are lots less than a inch in length. That is some magnification!

When you attach a nice flash, or use the one build in to a D300, you get a striking photo like this.

The Inside Koi Garden reaches Spring

2010-01-31T20:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I wrote about a way to get an early spring by bringing the Koi Garden inside. Well, we have some results.

No Seattle has not become warm overnight, but the Inside Koi Garden is showing us some spring. It doesn’t take too long for the Inside Koi Garden to acclimatize to the warmer weather inside. They act just like they would in the spring, only for our mid winter benefit.

Enjoy a bit of spring in your winter and imagine how it will be with the snow six inches deep outside....

A good read for the weather

2010-01-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

One thing that any Koi Garden aficionado will have (in addition to the Koi Garden of course) is a nice collection of books. While some people (including yours truly) love the internet and use places like this blog to provide them with great information, there is really nothing like leafing through a book dedicated to your Koi Garden fanaticism. Some of my favorite Koi Garden books made it on to my Holiday Gift guide. In addition, from time to time I will review other books in more detail.

One of my most favorite books on keeping Koi is “The Tetra Encyclopedia of Koi” Tetra Press. This book is one of my “go to” books for any problems or questions I might have about Koi and the gardens that they live in.

This book was printed way back in 1989 but is still relevant. Each of its 200 pages is full of great information and beautiful photographs of the fish, the ponds and the gardens.

It consists of two basic sections:

Part one focuses on Practical things about the Koi hobby.

A brief history of Koi; Koi anatomy; landscaping, pond and filter construction and their effect on the health of the Koi; buying and keeping your Koi, including change of seasons; Koi anatomy and caring for the health of your Koi; and breeding and showing your Koi. The section about Koi pond and filter construction is especially useful, both to provide needed design considerations but also to open your mind to how beautiful some Koi ponds can be and how well they fit into the rest of the garden, something that is always on the mind of a real Koi Gardener…

The section on health care is very good and the part of the book I use the most. I have used it so much that the book naturally opens up to this section. It provides information on symptoms and pictures of all of the diseases that can afflict your fish; how to tell them apart, what is their cause and what to do to combat them. Some of the fancier drug treatments may have changed over the years but the basic treatments and the diagnosis of the individual diseases themselves have not. Even now, I use this section as a starting point for any analysis of health problems. I may eventually go talk with the owners of my favorite Koi store to decide on the best method of treatment, but this section of the book lets me do so with a lot more knowledge.

Part two focuses on all the different Koi varieties.

It covers fourteen of the main varieties and has informative bits about the subgroups as well. This area is another where this book shines. It talks about the history of the variety and how the fish variety evolved. It also covers the reasons the variety is grouped together and what to look for if you are looking for a particularly good specimen for your Koi Garden. It teaches you what makes a good verses bad example of that variety from a showing point of view. It even covers some behavioral differences between the different varieties. This section will provide you more than you could ever want to know and certainly enough to impress the snobbiest of Koi aficionados at your next Koi show. And really, who can put a price on that?

Finally two Indexes (a general index and a Koi variety index) and a Glossary complete this book and allow the user to keep track with all the Japanese words and Koi varieties.

Again, this is a great book as a reference or a gift. I have provided this link to purchase this book from Amazon. Curl up in the cold weather with a nice tea or coffee and enjoy the book!

Ochi big fish in a little fish's body

2010-01-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

One of our newest fish is Ochi a, small Ochiba Shiguri. He is a grey fish with dark red-brown sections of color. An Ochiba Shiguri is reputedly a Soragoi mixed with a Chagoi (a large brown koi). I personally think that these fish look more like a Kohaku, similar to our Koko, mixed with a Sorogoi, but I digress.

The end result of this debate of the hodgepodge of genetic history is just a nice looking fish.. This type of fish is a favorite in most Japanese ponds. The Japanese meaning for Ochiba Shiguri is “falling leaves on water”. Cool.

Our Ochiba Shiguri is a small fish that also has gin rin scales. Gin rin scales are shiny, highly reflective scales. They make this fish shimmer as the sunlight hits his body.

It must be tough being the a little fish among a bunch of larger fish. This little guy measures about 4 inches and has to fight for every morsel of food it gets. He is so small that any movement by any of the larger fish almost pushes him out of the pond. But this guy is the “Jack Russell" of our pond. I have seen him take on the larger fish Sorgi a Soragoi , about three times his size. He gets pushed around and then just jumps back into the mix.

I can’t wait till he gets bigger…'cause when he does, watch out. He might be the one doing the pushing around.

Bringing the Koi Garden inside

2010-01-10T15:33:00.000-08:00

Things can get quite slow in the winter around the Koi Garden. Well at least it seems so, but maybe that is because we spend so much time in the house and not in the garden….

Either way, the leaves disappear, the plants will slow down, the colors mute, and the weather gets worse. The days get so short that work starts in the dark and ends in the dark, further reducing the usable garden time. The longing for the spring increases… Oh, what to do? Oh, what to do?

But wait, there is a solution!

Why not bring the Koi Garden indoors? No, really! Well, not the entire garden but a miniscule representation of the garden? Yeah! No reason why not!!!

You can bring small plants and mosses indoors and place them where you can see them and watch them grow every day of the winter. Bringing things in during the dead of the winter allows you to experience an early spring. The plants are tricked by the raised temperature of the house to think that it is time for buds to bloom, for leaves to open, all to your advantage. These new plants require no more effort than any of the rest of your plants. Plus for those of you that have followed me into the realm of moss fanaticism, this is a great use of any moss you have cultivating somewhere.

A trip to your local thrift shop or local garden center can yield a plethora of places to hold your miniature gems (I just love using the word plethora). I use large glass containers to achieve a terrarium effect. Many have small openings on the top or tops to close them altogether. This is especially good when you want to create a moist, warm environment. They can be especially stylish as table arrangements. And I thought so before I got the latest copy of Sunset magazine…. LOL

For those times when you don’t want a glass enclosure, a small bonsai pot works great to help build a little world to bring the outdoors in. Remember the rule of threes when placing stuff. Moss, a little maple tree sapling, and a small, shaped granite stone combine to make a nice, balanced scene.

Both can be kept in the house year round. Just be sure to keep them away from the direct sun during the summer. Until then, enjoy the mini Koi Garden in your house!!!

Santa Loves Koi Gardens

2010-01-03T16:58:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while I come across a product that I just have to report back about. I have written about our 10 recommended gifts for the Koi Gardener. This holiday I received a present off that list. It has allowed me the opportunity to install and try out the product in more detail. It is a product that really makes Koi Gardening a lot easier.

I received a La Crosse Technology WS-9029U Wireless Weather Station with Digital Time. Essentially, it reports both the time and any temperatures of interest to a Koi Gardener; any temperature, both air and water. Plus it is expandable just by purchasing more remote temperature sensors. It is the perfect gift for the fanatical Koi Gardener with a penchant for technology. I have it set up to report on internal house temperature, external air temperature, and the temperature of the water in the pond, all from the convenience of my home. I could purchase an additional sensor to report on the water temperature of the filter assembly, but really, one water temperature reading for the pond is enough, even for me…

Before you think that this is a technological solution looking for a problem, think about the cold winter days that you can avoid walking out to the pond and measuring the temperature. The argument becomes even stronger if you have snow and ice covering the pond. I now look forward to those days, when I can check the temperatures from the warmth of my house…. Plus it will serve as round one in my war with the Raccoons.

Installation is straightforward and easy. About the only problem is finding the right batteries for both the base station (AA batteries) and remote sensor (AAA batteries)...

Best of the Holidays from Koi Garden Guy

2009-12-22T10:30:00.000-08:00

The Koi Garden is trimmed and ready for the cold frost season. The fish are snug, protected and resting at the bottom of their pond (or so I am lead to think…).

The Koi Garden Guy wants to wish everyone a very Merry Holiday season.

The Koi Garden Guy is traveling and visiting family so this will be the last post of the year.

And just in case everyone forgets the main reason for the Holiday Season, I have included the Koi Garden Holiday Gift recommendations below for any last minute gifts.

The pond of the rising sun

2009-12-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

One of the most photogenic members of the Koi Garden pond is a fish we call Tawny. Tawny is a Tancho Showa. A Showa, as mentioned previously in Metallica’s bio, is a "black fish with red and white markings”. The Tancho part of the name comes from the single red marking on the head. These fish are prized in Japan as many of the red markings are circular and reminiscent of the red “land of the rising sun” circle on the Japanese flag.

Tawny is also a long fin. These long fins and tails make a beautiful fish that produces some very elegant pictures because of the way these fish move through the water. The genes that produce the long fins and tail also produce long “whiskers” making these fish the wise old men of the pond as they grow older. In the case of Tawny, this has also produced a smaller, daintier fish as well. I love the way the long fins photograph. Not only do they produce nice long lines, but they also produce interesting waves in the water.

While Tawny may be dainty, it still holds it own when the food appears. The smaller size may mean Tawny gets pushed around by the larger fish, but that doesn’t stop this guy from getting in there for the food. Go, little man, go!

If Tawny does have any faults, they are in the red markings. The red of the Tancho markings are a little weak. Having the red a little darker and richer would make Tawny a better fish. The red of the Showa markings could also be improved as well. In fact, originally the only red on Tawny was the Tancho markings on the head. The red on the body consists of a weak, small mark near the tail of the fish. The red color only appeared recently as Tawny grew larger than 6 inches in length, as sometimes happens in Koi. It might get stronger, but my hope is that it disappears altogether.
Only time will tell!

Brrrr, winter has arrived!

2009-12-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

The temperature has dropped for the last week and is staying well under any sane temperature (this AM we woke to a 21 degrees, in Seattle no less).

But the Koi Garden is ready for winter. The heater has long been turned off and the temperature has dropped nicely and evenly. As I have talked about in earlier posts, the heater is used to even the temperature out as it falls to the winter levels. There are some ponds that stay heated year around so the fish don’t even know that winter has arrived. I call those ponds San Diego ponds…. But our goal is not to do that. We like the seasons! We just want to make the transitions smoother.

I have raked the leaves up to keep them from getting into the pond to foul the water. I also got all the leaves out of the crushed gravel. A Zen Garden with dirty gravel will just not do!

The lilies and irises have been split and cut back in preparation for the cold season. Cutting them way back allows them to go dormant and focus any new growth on the root structure.

The water has cleared up some as the temperatures dropped so it is almost possible to see to the bottom of the pond.

But most importantly, the pond is covered with the safety cover. Jumping fish are not a problem this time of year as the fish are mostly sleeping. But it does keep the leaves out and stops any raccoons, herons or eagles stopping by looking to have a sleeping Koi for breakfast.

The Koi are sleeping without a worry in the world….

Oh and for all the shoppers who are just starting their search to find that perfect gift for their Koi Garden family and friends, we have moved the Koi Garden Guy’s Holiday gift recommendations to a special carousel at the bottom of this site. This will be available for the next few weeks to save you the effort of perusing old posts.

Koi Garden Guy's Gift Guide part II

2009-11-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

Last week I covered the items 10 to 6 of the Koi Garden Guys recommended shopping list. This week I will finish off the guide.

5. Koi Cufflinks. Just what the smartly dressed Koi Garden owner should be wearing this season, preferably in a nice spring party in your Koi Garden.

4. Comprehensive Koi book. This book is one of the best. It is the first places I go to find answers for any questions I have regarding the Koi Garden.

3. Ceramic Warming stools. No Koi Garden should be without them. They should be placed near the pond for the best viewing of the pond. Make sure to place them so they become warm from the morning sun (get it? Warming stools?). There is no place better to have a warm cup of coffee or tea.

2. Japanese lantern. A Rustic Lantern is must-have item for every Koi Garden. The more rustic, the better. Make sure you cover yours with a nice blanket of moss. (For tips on getting moss to grow just right, please check my earlier post.) While you can buy them on Amazon, you can find beautiful ones at your local Japanese garden store. I've showcased my beautiful lantern in several previous posts in addition to the moss post.

1. Bronze Heron. This can be a highlight of your Koi Garden. I've found this nice one for you on Amazon, but you should be able to find nice specimens at your local garden art store. One of our favorite stores Oasis Water Gardens, has some very pretty ones.

Koi Garden Guy's Holiday Gift List

2009-11-22T15:52:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season right around the corner, the Koi Garden Guy has put together a top 10 Koi Garden Holiday Gift List for the Koi Garden fanatic on your shopping list.

10. Solar Chinese Lanterns. Minimum three lanterns, but this is one case where you can overdo it. Unless your garden is huge, don’t use more than five. For wet climates, bring them in during the bad weather season. Remember, they are solar based, so position them where they get the sun.

9. Koi Tote Bag. Carry stuff in style. Since plastic store bags are now passe, why not save the environment while advertising a great hobby?

8. Indoor/Outdoor Weather station. This station not only tells you the correct time (probably updated by atomic Gnomes in Colorado), it also tells you temperatures. Both temperatures in your home but also the water temperature of your Koi pond. Not the air outside your window, or near the pond, but the water temperature of the pond! It does so wirelessly, so you can read it from the comfort of your living room.

7. Bonsai Plant. No link for this one, but you can find some at your local Japanese Garden Stores. For those people who live in harsher environments, a Bonsai plant is a great way to enjoy the Koi garden indoors during the winter. Then when the summer comes around again, you bring the Bonsai outside and place it in a shady section of the Koi Garden. Voondebaaarrr!

6. Pond Water Test Strips. I have talked about these before. They are a great way to keep in touch with all the chemical stuff going on in your pond. No more liquid chemicals, counting drops. Dip the strip in the water and compare the colors to a standard attached to the container. Brilliant!

Next week we will have the final five of Koi Garden Guy's holiday list.

Metallica, but without the bad music

2009-11-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

Perhaps the most striking Koi we have here at the Koi Garden is a nice Metallic Showa.

Showa koi are typically called "black fish with red and white markings." This is because the Showa koi's base color (the main color of the belly, the mouth, and the base of the pectoral fins) is black. My Koi-aphile friends say that metallic Koi have “an abundance of reflective iridocytes into their skin”. What more normal people say is that a metallic Koi has a great looking metallic shine to their skin. What we at the Koi Garden say is that we have a beautiful metallic Koi that we have named Metallica.

We got our Koi at one of our favorite Koi store (Oasis Water Gardens www.oasiswatergardens.com). We bought this Japanese Koi with a few of our other ones in a group, when they were about 3 inches long. Buying Koi at that length is always a bit of a crap shoot. It takes a while for Koi to show their true colors, if you will. Reds take some time to develop. The blacks of an infant fish will change as the fish grows larger. Plus infant fish are tough to keep alive. Once a fish reaches 12 inches it’s chances for survival get a lot better.

But this Koi has always been a little different. Even when he was a small fish, he had a dark black base with a beautiful orange/red diagonal swath on its head. That mark and the colors have stayed or even gotten better as the fish grows larger. Metallic is now over 12 inches. He has a beautiful shape representative of a nice male Koi. He also has an interesting personality. He grabs his food and shakes his head as he takes control over those pesky food pellets! If nothing else, the other fish give him wide latitude affording him little competition for a good meal.

My nemesis has a hot tub?

2009-11-01T20:45:00.000-08:00

Well, what can I say, it might be war. It also might be a faulty pool thermometer. I don’t know. But I really have a suspicion that my nemesis, the raccoons are back. Or maybe nemesi? Is that a word? Or is it nemesis’? Either way, some background is required.

Because the weather changes a lot this time of year, I use a floating thermometer, the same kind used in swimming pools and hot tubs, to monitor temperature. I check it every few days and if need be, turn off the heater or turn it back on as needed.

That is where the problems began. I looked to check the thermometer the other day and could not find it. I looked everywhere. I had removed the string holding the thermometer because in a 3 foot by 10 foot pond, how far can a floating thermometer wander? And what self respecting Koi Garden pond owner would damage the look with an ugly, algae ridden string draped across the pond?

A pool thermometer doesn’t just walk away on it’s own. And I don’t think a new thermometer would just sink on its own? Of course because the water has been warm lately, it is still very green and I can’t be 100% sure it isn’t at the bottom.

Nope, it must be the Raccoons. I know it is them. They have come back and taken the pond thermometer for their own nefarious needs. The gauntlet has been thrown. They have sent a message. It is now mano a mano. Man vs Raccoon.

An over-reaction, you say? A fictional foe, you might think? An early onset of SAD (Seasonally Affected Disorder)?

I think not.
There have been other signs that they are here. A disrupted set of glass floats. A moved bamboo water outlet. There are even signs on the pond cover has been bounced on while playing with the water outlet. Even a broken floating ceramic turtle; the head was ripped off.

The gloves are coming off….

More later.....

Fall Colors in Seattle Japanese Garden

2009-10-25T14:58:00.000-07:00

The Fall color provides a great excuse to see other Japanese Gardens. And when the weather cooperates, we cannot miss the opportunity. We have shown the Seattle Japanese Gardens earlier in the spring. This weekend we went back to see the fall colors.

Because there is so much to see, this week we will focus on the gardens and not the beautiful inhabitants that live in the pond. The pond water was not very clear and we had enough trouble reducing the number of beautiful pictures to an amount that we could show on this blog. In fact, if you want to see more photos of the Japanese Gardens, we have created a Picasa web site to see the complete set of photos. See the pictures at this web site. Contact Koi Garden Guy for purchases and prints. Enjoy!!!!

Photographing Japanese Gardens are one of the only times where an overcast sky is a good thing. The overcast sky allows for use of a lower exposure and brings the colors into the photo better. Also this is a public park that gets a lot of mileage with people and their families. So it might be hard to completely get people free photos. It might make sense not to even try. There are lots of nice family shots and the people interactions are very nice.

The Seattle Japanese Gardens does make special provisions for photographers. Certain Tuesdays during the best weeks of the year, photographers can have a free run of the gardens, before they are open to the public. At those times, tripods are allowed. The cost for these times is 30$ and sign-up is required. During the normal times, tripods are not allowed. The legs cause trouble with all the families, etc. Check the web site for more info.

Meet Sorgi, Blue Gray all over

2009-10-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite fish here at the Koi Garden is a very nice GinRin Soragoi called, I think aptly, “Sorgi”. A Soragoi is a blue grey Japanese Koi with a darker grey outline to each individual fish scale. GinRin refers to the bright, very shiny scales. The combination provides a nice shiny blue grey fish with highly visible, defined scales.

For Koi with Doitsu scales, the effect is even more striking as there are fewer scales, so the outlined scales stand out more.

There are a number of interesting things about Soragoi Koi. For some reason they are usually very calm fish. It might be because Soragoi are closer or more related to, the older type of Koi; in effect more muttly. It might even be that the “calm gene” in Koi is quite close to the “grey fish with reticulated scales gene” and as they are bred for the grey, reticulated scales, the calmness comes along for the ride. I don’t know what it is but they are a very nice fish to have in your pond.

Our Sorgi is always the first to come up to the surface and great you. He is the first to stick his head out of the water and suck on your finger; of course it could be he thinks it is food…. And Sorgi’s calmness gets transferred to the other fish. All of the fish become calmer when Sorgi comes up to the surface. Hopefully this happens only for humans and not for an itinerant Raccoon, otherwise Sorgi might not grow too old…. One of the Soragoi’s relatives, the Chagoi (Brown Koi) is the other type of Koi that is reputed to be tamer and friendlier. It’s all in the genes!!!

Another nice thing I have seen about Sorgi, which I think applies to all Soragoi Koi that I have seen, is they all seem to have a beautiful, classic body shape. As you can see in the photo, Sorgi has a nice symmetrical even shape.

One other distinguishing feature about Sorgi is he loves to eat. He will eat longer and more voraciously than any of our other Koi. He is one of our largest fish and we expect him to grow much larger still. He also picks fights with the other Koi to get more food. A regular eating machine!!! In fact, in Japanese Koi competitions, Soragoi and Chagoi are usually the largest fish there.

Sorgi is one of the oldest Koi in our pond and we hope to have him breed in the future. Genes like that need to be promoted.

It’s almost time to fall back, but not into the pond

2009-10-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

Just like with clocks, there are some things that must be done each year at the Koi Garden Pond. As the temperatures drop, both in the water and in the air, the plants will start to change color and die back. The water will begin to change as well losing the algae that cause the green color and will eventually become clearer. In addition to the changes inside the pond, the leaves in all the adjoining trees are changing color and will start to fall into the pond.

This is an important time for the pond. The dropping leaves and die back of the pond plants can introduce a lot of biomass into the pond in a short period of time, putting real stress on the Nitrogen cycle. As we talked about in earlier posts, this can really screw up the chemicals of the Koi pond. And one thing you cannot mess with is my chemicals in the pond, not after the work we have done to get them in order…

Face it, cutting back the existing pond plants will just sort of speed up what was going to happen anyway and allows us a way to keep the plants from decaying in the pond. We have already gotten the benefits of the plants, both visually and with respect to pond health. It only goes downhill from here… at least till next spring. Trimming the pond plants back also allows me access to any gardening and repotting needs. Lilies are notorious for outgrowing their pots. They are also a very easy plant to break up and split into multiple pots. And as any aficionado of Japanese gardens knows, you cannot ever have enough lilies…

Once we have cut all the pond plants back and or done any required repotting, we can place them back in the pond. They go dormant and will do just fine in the water during the winter. Now we can place the pond cover over the pond. This will not only keep the falling leaves out of the pond, but also keep any Koi-hungry predators from getting at the Koi.

At this time, it could also make sense to do a partial water change. This gives the pond a bump start in cleaning up the water. As the water temperature drops, the algae that makes up the green water, will start to die back. By manually reducing the algae, we are reducing the possibility that large amounts of dying algae will cause a spike in Ammonia and we have already talked about the evils of Ammonia and the Nitrogen cycle… The water is also very high in nutrients. So reserve it for your favorite plants!

Out & About in the Koi Garden Neighborhood

2009-10-04T21:27:00.000-07:00

Keeping Koi is a popular hobby in Seattle.

Many people keep Koi ponds, some of them hidden, throughout the neighborhoods. There are probably countless people keeping Koi in aquariums as well. Those hobbyists will also probably end up having a small pond in the future as their Koi outgrow their glass enclosures.

Up until now, I have shown many photos of the Koi Garden. However, in the future I intend to show other ponds as well, both private and public. Some will be formal, public Japanese Gardens, while others will be personal ponds. This is one of those.

This pond, which belongs to my neighbor Miss M., is an older pond, with some beautiful boulders, rocks and older, established plantings. Maples, pines and ferns can all be seen in the picture below.

You’ll also notice that the water is perfectly clear and it is so without a filter system. That is one of the signs of a well designed pond. For this pond, it is probably due to the larger size and fewer fish in addition to the substantial shade, inhibiting the green water growth.

One of the beautiful features of this garden is the graceful bridge, a common element of more traditional Japanese gardens.

And of course, no pond tour is complete without at least one picture of its inhabitants. And these lucky fish will have lots of room to grow in the years ahead.

I hope you enjoyed seeing Miss M’s garden as much I do.

A chill is in the air….

2009-09-28T20:47:00.000-07:00

Well the summer is gone, at least for now.

This drop in temperature affects the inhabitants of the Koi Garden Pond as much as it does humans. While we can scurry for the fall sweaters and sweatshirts, the Koi cannot do so. Even though a large percentage of the Koi Garden pond is situated underground, which moderates any temperature changes, the water still does change according the air temperature. I just checked the water temperature today and it has gotten down to 58 degrees F. It was in the 70s a week or so ago.

There are two parts of temperature change to be concerned about: The resultant temperature; and the speed in which the temperature changes.

Now the 50s are not really a problem for the Koi. You can continue to feed the Koi, just switch the food to a lower protein variety. As we mentioned in earlier blogs, temperatures less than 50 degrees are where you have to be more concerned. That is when I stop feeding altogether. So imagine the problem if/when the temperature raises over 50 again? Do you start feeding again? Continue not feeding? And what about the food previously eaten but not fully digested? All sorts of problems can and do occur. It is better to go through the temperature change through the 50s just once or twice a season.

So, back to our old friend, the aquarium heater. We use the heater to regulate the pond and filter water temperature. It won’t keep the pond above 50 degrees all winter, but it will slow the decline. And that is really what we need to do anyway.

Much better than trying to fit a sweatshirt on a Koi...

Allow Me to Introduce You to KOKO

2009-09-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

Occasionally we will be introducing some of our fish. Each one has their own personality and each is really quite funny once you get to know them. We have purchased most of our KOI from Oasis Water Gardens in Seattle, WA (www.oasiswatergardens.com/). The owner, Diane Torgeson, has wonderful fish directly from Japan and is of great assistance in choosing the right one for you.

We have also named each of our fish – partly to distinguish them from each other and partly to remember what type of fish they are.

For example, KOKO is a KOHAKU (or was…more on that later). A KOHAKU is a Japanese Koi that is white with one or two large red spots of color across the body. With KOHAKUS the color is usually on the upper half of the body and doesn’t extend below the horizontal line. And according to the Japanese koi rules, the color should not extend onto the tail or into or below the eyes. As KOHAKUS grow larger, the red spots will likely separate with more white becoming visible inbetween. With KOHAKUS, the red and the underlying white should be the only colors on the fish., But just because a koi may fail these rules, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t still beautiful fish.

Sample Japanese KOHAKU

Now back to KOKO. After having KOKO for about two years, she started developing black spots. They have grown progressively more pronounced. It is not a bad look, just introduces a problem. Those black spots mean she is not a KOHAKU, but instead a SANKE. A SANKE is a fish with the big red spots of a KOHAKU, but also has smaller, black spots. OK, Fine, she is still a beautiful fish, even if her name doesn't correspond to her class. We will not confuse her by changing her name....

KOKO is a voracious eater, which might explain why KOKO is one of our largest KOI. KOKO was about 3-4 inches when we got her 3 years ago and now she is about 13 inches. She apparently thinks that food should come to her as she sits there with her head halfway out of the water, mouth wide open during feeding time. She looks like she is screaming “Feed me” but won’t really move to the food. She wants delivery!

KOKO has a sway back that also removes her from winning any Koi modeling contests. But I think that makes her more endearing. We are not sure when she got this but we think she may have been born with the problem which just became evident as she grew up. The sway back may also be related to a seizure she had when she was a smaller fish. The pond environment and or diet may also have been factors. Who really knows?! . This is a good reminder to keep a clean pond and provide a proper diet for healthy fish!

KOKO, like our other fish, has some distinct personality and heath quicks. For example, she is very sensitive to Ammonia. She is our “canary in the coal mine.” She will show ammonia damage earlier than any of our other koi. Her lips get swollen and her fins always get Ick; You cannot miss it!!!. When she starts indicating these problems, it means we need to really focus on the water quality of the pond quick! But we never wait for KOKO to show these problems before acting. As we indicated in a previous post, timely testing of the water is manditory, especially in the spring and summer.

This year we have solved most of our filter problems and the fish are able to eat as much as they can, without introducing any undue amounts of Ammonia into the water. This has definitely helped KOKO's back problem and we are hopeful that it will only improve with time.

Safety in numbers or mass insanity?

2009-09-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the annual Washington Koi and Water Garden show. It is one of the premier Koi and garden shows in the northwest. This year was the 18^th annual show and was held in conjunction with Aki Matsuri (A celebration of Japan's rich cultural heritage). Basically, this just means a bunch of cool Koi and gorgeous Japanese stuff all in one place. For someone wanting to learn about this stuff, this is about the best place in the world to do so. Just jump right in. And when in doubt, ask anyone for help. At places like this, the common element is Koi and water garden fanatics, so everyone is very helpful.

There were many ways to gain some knowledge at this show:

Koi judging

This was one of the main reasons for the Washington Koi and Water Garden show. A team of international Koi judges was assembled to judge the entries to this show. For the people who enjoy memorizing encyclopedias, here is a nice thorough description of Koi judging criteria. For the rest of the world, suffice to say that Koi are judged on shape, color pattern, the actual color itself, and overall quality. In future Koi Garden posts we will cover each Koi in the Koi Garden in detail. At that time we will get into what makes each Koi great, and how tough it is to achieve. Koi enthusiasts bring their special Koi in from all over the northwest to be part of this judging. At the show, there must have been 30 odd individual tanks. I could spend the entire post showing the beautiful Koi being judged here, but you get the idea.

Koi College

At the Washington Koi and Water Garden show there are Koi and garden classes that cover everything from the history of Koi and Koi health to Koi ponds in a Japanese garden. These sessions were great and free to the public. The people that put on these sessions were really bright and experienced. Again a heartfelt recommendation from The Koi Garden Guy as a way to become a Koi Garden fanatic!!!

Koi and Garden Pond Stuff Sales

At shows like this, it is always a great place to pick up some Koi. The show has Koi of all shapes and sizes. Not only can you buy show quality Koi at the auctions, but you can buy the littler ones about 1-2 years.

For the kids, you can also get the one inch long Koi. What a great way to get the kids involved and hooked at an early age. Kids are really ready to get into this stuff.

But be careful on what you buy. The one inch Koi that was such a hit with the kids will grow fast and could even grow into one of the three feet long show beauties that you can see at this show. The Koi Garden Guy recommends building your Koi Garden accordingly!!!!

What would a show be without the ability to buy some really neat stuff? This show is no different. In addition to the great displays and booths put on and managed by everything from pond pump, filter and linings companies, there were garden accessories companies, fountain companies, artwork, books, tiles, aprons, even Koi paperweights. Remember the goal is to fill your house will all things Koi and Japanese Garden!!!

Auction of Koi, Koi stuff and pond paraphernalia

Humans like a great deal, and Koi and Japanese Garden people are no different. One of the main parts of the Washington Koi and Water Garden show is the Koi Auction. There was an auction of live Koi fish and also donated Koi paraphernalia. You haven’t seen furious bidding until you have seen Koi enthusiast bid against each other for a Koi. Simply amazing!!!

Can't keep a good moss down

2009-09-06T13:00:00.000-07:00

Seattle is not known for sunny weather, but the summers are actually quite dry here. Keeping a moss nice and moist and green, much less alive in the summer requires some thinking, in addition to some timing and working with the weather!!! The rains just have returned and are helping out but even in Seattle, you cannot count on the rains.

I have always been impressed with the moist moss in Japanese gardens. I will dive into the Seattle Japanese Garden more in future posts, so stay tuned for them.

In order to cover one of my nicest Japanese lanterns with moss, first I needed some moss. I had read of ways to grow moss from scratch (yes, I do read stuff like that), but that seemed too long a process. It involved chopping up moss in a food processor and mixing it with milk or yogurt to create a paint for surfaces where you want to grow moss. Nope, not going to happen....

Instead I became a moss thief; yes a moss thief. I “harvested” some really nice moss from the sidewalk down the street. I prefer early mornings; it stops having to do the explanations to neighbors…. I used a metal spatula to remove the moss and a cookie tray to store it. The cookie tray works well in retaining the water, keeping the moss moist and healthy. You can almost not over water the moss at this stage. I would recommend storing the resultant “moss cookies” in a shady place in the yard out of sight from your neighbors… For some reason being a moss farmer is not looked on with the esteem that I think it should be…

My goal was to use my moss cookies to cover my Japanese lantern. I first let the moss settle in for a few days in my moss tray. I later pulled pieces out of my moss tray and pieced them together like a puzzle on the top of the lantern in the most natural layout I could think of. I tried to keep the lantern moist and out of direct sunlight for as long as I could. Babying the moss at this time is needed but a Japanese lantern without the top looks, well, looks nothing like a Japanese lantern… So even though I placed it back in the Koi Garden and made sure it stayed moist and in the shade, especially on hot days.

Now once I had spent so much time and effort in covering my Japanese lantern with a delightful head of moss, I had to keep it that way. In addition to the risk of moss drying out, you need to watch out for birds and squirrels. For some reason, they both think that there is something underneath and will sometimes tear up your work in search of gold or something. This is another reason why I always keep some moss in my moss tray. You just never know when you will need some more moss!

After a while, the moss will adhere to the lantern top and you will be the proud owner of a moss topped Japanese lantern. Once the moss is established, it will handle droughts, ice and snow equally well. It goes dormant in the cold of winter, and if dried out in the summer, it will return after some beneficial watering.

Now that is some really good moss!!!

Peeping Tom

2009-08-30T20:22:00.000-07:00

I had written earlier about the Raccoons that frequent the neighborhood. Well, where there was one, there are now many. The earlier visitor has now built a family of four or five, but I get ahead of myself.

One night this week we heard a few sounds from the Koi Garden and wondered what they were. We had thought it might be a neighbor rustling around his yard?; Maybe a late night party in the other neighbor’s yard?; Looking out the window of the third story of our townhome, we looked through the branches of the plum and pear trees that line the Koi Garden, straining our eyes to see someone on the ground below, first in one neighbor’s yard, then the next... Nothing…

As I was about to give up, I changed my focus and slowly noticed something much closer. Not ten feet out my window, at my own level high above the ground, I saw the reflections of two small eyes looking directly at me. They belonged to a small Raccoon, sitting in the tree. The plum and pear trees are full of good pickings this time of year and the Raccoon was taking advantage of a bounty. That was what this chap was doing, sitting there eating a pear.

I thought about trying to take a picture of the interloper from the bedroom, but decided against it since I would need a flash, and the window between us would make that impossible. I then ventured outside into the Koi Garden to catch the bandits red handed from there. That’s where the photography problems began.

When I left the house, camera in hand, the motion sensitive flood lights made their presence known; first at the parking strip and then in the Koi Garden. Each of them is set to turn flood lights on when motion occurs in their space. And flood lights they are. Those four lights have enough brightness to almost blind a person, especially when you are trying to maintain night vision to see our little noise makers. Every time I moved they would go off, thereby blinding me for the next few minutes. I tried to stay motionless to not upset either the motion detector or the raccoons. That did not work, especially when I was trying to get the camera adjusted to take a shot in the dark.

Consequently I was only able to get this photo. It shows only one of the four pairs of reflected eyes. The rest of the family of interlopers is as yet unrecorded.

For the non believers out there I have added an additional photo of the cast-offs of a delightful night of fruit for the poachers.

I am certain I will get additional opportunities for proof of this family of bandits as there are plenty of plums, cherries and pears still ripe for them to enjoy.

Ammonia is for cleaning, not Koi ponds.

2009-05-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

Every week or less I perform water tests on the Koi Garden pond. This test includes three basic tests. Depending on the results of those tests, I might do some additional more extensive testing. I normally do testing with chemical droplets applied to a sample taken from the pond. Depending on the test, up to two different sets of drops may need to be applied along with a regimen of mixing and waiting. The resultant mixture is color compared to key cards included in the tests. Based on the color key, some action may be required: change of water, addition of some chemicals, etc. I am also trying a new type of test I found at Lowes (Lowes.com). It is a strip of paper with the testing mediums for all the tests painted on the each paper. The paper is dipped in the pond water and then reviewed against a key for color changes. The strips include tests for Nitrate and Nitrite, including pH and water hardness. Despite the absence of a direct Ammonia test on these strips, the convenience alone makes them desirable. In the tests I performed, the strips appeared to get the same results as the chemical drops.

Based on these most recent tests, I got some responses that required an action. But before we discuss the failed test, some background is required. The key to the biological filter is the nitrogen cycle. See below for a figure of the nitrogen cycle (diagram below). Ammonia results from the decomposing Koi waste and any other biological matter that gathers and decays in the pond. Beneficial bacteria called Nitrosomonas converts the Ammonia into Nitrites. Nitrites are converted to Nitrates by a different bacteria called Nitrobacter. Additional beneficial bacteria ingest Nitrates to fully clean the water. Knowledge of this nitrogen cycle and the correct interpretation of the test results allow a person to respond correctly to clean your pond.

When I applied this series of tests to the Koi Garden pond, I got an indication of higher levels of Ammonia than were warranted. In new ponds and ponds at the beginning of the warmer season, it is common to see some Ammonia responses on tests. These indications should reduce or go away fairly quickly as the beneficial bacteria grow. It may take up to 4-6 weeks to get all the beneficial bacteria growing in your filters. In my last tests, I had very low Ammonia, and progressively higher Nitrites and Nitrates. This indicates that the biological filter was “moving through the Nitrate cycle”. To have the Ammonia levels increase rather than decrease indicates that the amount of the particular beneficial bacteria was decreasing rather than increasing or remaining stable.

There are two actions that must be taken:
One, immediately reduce the level of Ammonia in the Koi Garden pond; Two, remove the cause of the increase of Ammonia levels.
1) The best way to quickly remove the Ammonia from the pond is partial water changes. Change 20 to 30% of the pond water and replace it with clean water. The addition of salt to the pond water and having a ph outside the range of 6.8-7.5 can both reduce the toxicity of the Ammonia. Salt should not exceed .2% in a pond but in a bath can go to .3%.
2) Removing the cause of the increased Ammonia is a more complex issue. There could be a number of causes for increased Ammonia. A rapid increase in food, sunlight, an increase in degrading biomass in the pond, an increase in the number of Koi in the pond, and a decrease in the number of beneficial bacteria are all possible causes for increases in Ammonia. In the Koi Garden pond, no additional fish or increased food amounts were introduced. I did not think the amount of leaves in the base of the pond were significant enough for the Ammonia I was measuring. I may have inadvertently increased the dead material as an outgrowth of killing the algae. In a future blog, I will write up discussions about adding plants to a pool and also a tool that works as a great cleaning device.

In previous blog entries I had discussed the green water or algae we had in the pond। To counter the algae, I turned the UV filter on. In a few days the green water was gone. The UV light sterilizes any live organic material in the water so it would have killed the algae and it would have dropped to the pond floor or end up in the filter where it would have acted like any other dead organic material. Pond hygiene is a solution to this problem. This could have added to the Ammonia in the pond. The UV filter might have caused the Ammonia situation to be worse in another way as well. The UV light will not only sterilize algae but it will also sterilize beneficial bacteria suspended in the water. Most of the time, beneficial bacteria introduced into a pond will eventually find a home in the filter medium or attach itself to the pond wall. But newly introduced bacteria will remain suspended in the water for a while and will, if it passes through the UV filter, get sterilized by the UV light. If I had not waited enough time after introduction of beneficial bacteria to the time when I turned the UV filter on, I could have reduced the amount of beneficial bacteria. The solution to this would be to turn off the UV filter whenever I introduce beneficial bacteria to the pond.

Competition with the Koi Garden

2009-05-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

It's all becoming clear to me

2009-05-09T21:15:00.000-07:00

Last week the Koi Garden pond was a thick and dark pea soup. It was difficult to see the fish at the surface much less when they were submerged near the bottom of the pond.

I then turned on the UV filter.
The UV filter does not work in minutes but it does work.

UV filter setup
The water is pulled into the system via a submersible pump at the far end of the pond. It pulls water through a smaller filter assembly. This filter stops leaves and debris from entering but also has enough filter medium to allow for some biological filtering to take place. The water is then split up into two paths. One path goes directly to the larger biological filter outside the pond. The other path goes through the UV filter and then is returned to the pond via a Venturi tube.

This setup has a number of benefits.

First it allows for some water to reach the exterior filter WITHOUT going through the UV filter. This means that some water will not encounter the UV light and its sterilizing capabilities. This is good. Remember, there is beneficial bacteria suspended in the water that you don’t want to diminish, and the UV light’s sterilizing capabilities does have a negative effect on that bacteria in addition to the algae that makes up the pea soup.

Second, by splitting the water paths, it has the effect of slowing down the water that goes through either filter. This allows the UV light and it’s sterilizing effects more of a chance to have an effect on the water. It allows the UV light more time to sterilize the algae suspended in the water. In the other path, it also allows the water going through the biological filter more time to come in contact with the beneficial bacteria and clear the water.

So after being turned on for 4 or 5 days the water clears up quite nicely. The algae which causes the green water is killed via the sterilizing power of the UV filter. Make sure you test the water both before and after using the UV filter. The algae will feed on the ammonia produced by the fish waste. The UV light will also kill beneficial bacteria as well as the algae. So while the UV filters clear the water up to cristal clear levels, they also might cause increases in the ammonia levels, and therefore Nitrate and Nitrite levels as well.

Pea Soup anyone?

2009-04-23T16:27:00.000-07:00

Every spring it comes. And every spring we come up with more tools to fight it. That green, algae filled water that restricts us from seeing the beautiful fish we pamper so much.

I have a nice UV light that will sterilize the water and keep the single cell algae in check very well. The UV light is positioned in the pond in between the in pool filter and the large exterior filter. The UV light is positioned so that only half of the water going to the filter goes through the UV filter, the rest goes directly to the exterior filter. This setup guarantees that the UV light will not sterilize all the water and kill all the bacteria in the water and the filters.

I do not have the filter on all year. I leave the UV light off for the winter and the beginning of the spring. I didn’t want to do anything to reduce the amount of beneficial bacteria in the water until the bacteria filters are up and running. I don’t mind green water for the beginning of the warmer season.

Green water in itself is not an indication of a problem. It could just be that your biological filter is not functioning yet. It is however, very important that you check the water often. You should check for Ammonia, Nitrates and Nitrites. It is also important to check the water PH level; it should be between 7 and 8. Also make sure that the Oxygen levels of the water are high. If you have lowered your waterfalls for the winter, it is time to increase the flow and oxygenation. I think that you should also turn on any Venturi tubes you may have in your pond to get the frothy Oxygen flows.

If any of the measurements are too high, you should remove 1/4 or 1/3 of the water and replace it with new water. Please note that if you do use salt, check and adjust your salt amount after you make any additions of new water.

Can’t hold a good bloom back

2009-04-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Despite Seattle’s best wishes, warmer weather was bound to happen, and it has.
With the cold winter and delayed warmer weather, it was pushed off for a while. But when the warmer weather came, even for a weekend, the flowers and leaves take the opportunity to pop. And pop they do.

In the Koi Garden, we have two Maples, a nice smaller lace leaf, and a beautiful coral bark maple. A few weeks ago, both had leaves were just a bunch of small buds, but now they are open and beautiful.

There is also a weeping cherry on the south side of the Koi Garden that has popped. Photographing Cherries are a game of chance in Seattle. Because the entire branches of the Cherries don’t bloom at the same time, one strong rain can knock the flowers off the branches. I took these flowers a few hours before the next downpour occurred.

For these photos, I have moved the F Stop as far down as possible, and kept the background far away. This leads to the out of focus feel and nice bokeh of the background. The depth of field is really only a few millimeters with these photos. I have also switched the auto focus off to allow me to focus on the exact part of the leaf that I want to.

Expect to spend some trial shots as any breeze will move these enough to loose the focus.
With digital cameras, this is no issue, and, in fact should be part of your technique. Just take a lot more photos and expect to spend more time culling out focus and unacceptable photos.

Popping in the Spring

2009-04-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

The Koi Garden makes use of a lot of plants associated with Japanese gardens. Cherry trees, Maples and Heathers are all part of the mix. I especially like the lace leaf and dwarf varieties of the Maples. Also the Coral Bark Maple is especially striking. The red bark seems to get more intense when the winter is a cold one. We also have a section exclusively of Roses, including some ground cover roses. For the vertical spaces, we have a few varieties of Akebia (Deep Purple, Purple Rose and Silver Bells). I have been told that putting multiple varieties of Akebia together allows for them to generate sweet fruit that can be used for Jams. I will try to focus on each of those as they start coming into their fancy time. This early in the season, we have some pretty Pieris. Look for some close up of the nice bells.

I am also trying to learn about and try some varieties of Bonsai plants. Look for some write ups about those efforts in the future.

This shot is a picture of the buds on a Weeping Cherry we have on the border of the garden. I am expecting some really nice shots of these in the upcoming days as this Cherry blooms.

The Flowering Pieris provide a nice close up opportunity. I have used a low F Stop for a shorter field of vision. This blurs the background of anything only a few feet behind the subject. This technique is great for photography in city gardens and especially fun when you want to highlight small things these delicate bells.

Mediterranean Heather provides a nice purple pop of color at the ground level. Due to the frost damage this winter, we have culled some of the plants that had problems with the freezing temperatures. This has allowed us to add more of these beauties. Again, move the F Stop down and have some fun with the blurred backgrounds.

This shot is of a Coral Barked Maple. It is about 7 or 8 feet tall but still in a larger pot we have located near the Koi pond. We hope to get a few more years of life of this tree in a larger pot. If we move to another place, we can bring this tree along with us. If not, we will have to rearrange the Koi Garden to find a place for this favorite. This particular variety has some gorgeous, delicate leaves that I will highlight in future sessions.

Spring Photos

2009-04-04T17:40:00.000-07:00

Spring is a great time to look over your fish to make sure no problems have taken root over the winter. While the water gets green very early, you can see your fish well enough. You can also take some nice photos of your fish.

Digital photography allows for modifications that are truly amazing.

Picasa (free from Google.com) has functionality that allow you to modify your photos. In addition to the obvious cropping and straightening, you can adjust the contrast, color, and general lightness of the photo.

Within Picasa, there are three buttons that are quite useful, especially for those new to digital photography. The “I’m feeling lucky” button, the “Auto contrast” button and the “Auto color” produce powerful results.

The “I’m feeling lucky” button reviews the picture and makes changes to the lighting and the colors within the picture. It truly makes some very good improvements. The “Auto contrast” button makes similar changes to the contrast within the digital photo. The “Auto color” adjusts the color to make up for any weaknesses in the color representation. I make use of those three buttons frequently. These pictures have been improved with the use of those buttons.

Wake me up in the Spring

2009-04-04T16:48:00.000-07:00

As the temperature rises over 40 degrees, the fish begin to wake up and move around. I wait until the temperature gets over 45 consistently before I start feeding the fish. I then turn the filter heater on, if it isn't already. Having the heater on tends to even out the fluctuations in water temperature from day to night. This year we have had many days where it dropped down to near freezing. In fact, on April 1st we had snow for about 4 hours during the day. Not the typical spring we're used to in Seattle. But the filter heater keeps things fairly even.

The other thing using a filter heater does, is it allows the bacteria that will reside in the filter a chance to grow earlier. This year I introduced bacteria capsules into the central water entrance of the filter April 1st. The central water entrance is also where the heater assembly is located so it provides a nice environment for the bacteria to grow. These bacteria tablets are available at most pond stores. (I purchased mine at the neighborhood Lowes.) I also spent some time performing water tests for Ammonia, Nitrites, and also Nitrates. If any of those get too high, I pump ¼ of the water out (onto the lawn) and replace it with new water from the tap. I try and check the water every week, maybe more often as you are trying to establish your filters.

Winter is Back!!

2009-02-28T17:43:00.000-08:00

Winter is back.
It is not fair. People in Seattle are not used to lots of snow. And I think end of February is too late to have lots of snow and cold temperatures. But this year, we have.

I have had to decide whether to turn on the filter heater again and again. It also didn’t help that the temperature gauge broke. . Oh well, off to support the local Koi shop.

Also it is good to keep an extra eye on the Koi to see if any problems are occurring. I have a few long finned Koi and sometimes one or two of them seem to get more problems with the fins. If the fins are showing signs of getting frayed or being eaten you may need to deal with it. It could be a number of things. You should perform a complete set of water tests. I also use Salt added to the pond to help out. Salt takes some stress off of the fish by making their systems work more efficiently. It also irritates their scales and increases the slimy covering on the scales. This covering helps protect the fins from what was causing trouble with their fins.

Good Moss!!!

2009-02-01T10:58:00.000-08:00

With the damage that the recent frost has wreaked on the Koi Garden, the moss keeps right on thriving. It is funny how something that you work to remove from the rest of your garden, you work to keep in the Koi Garden.
In fact, I have a salvaged cookie tray filled with moss just for replacement purposes. Weird.

I use moss for covering new lanterns, placement in other plants like Maples, and even Bonsai plants…..

Winter has arrived

2008-12-20T21:13:00.000-08:00

Well the freezing weather and snow has arrived.
The cold weather that hit Seattle recently has gotten so cold, I was concerned about the filter freezing over and the ceramic container breaking. I had recently turned off the filter heater and this cold snap was enough to make me turn it back on. At these temperatures, it is not strong enough to raise the water temp too much, just enough to keep the filter and the pond from freezing over.

The water stays cold enough to freeze on the screen, making some very nice icicles. The fish are visible and moving around in the water. At these temperatures, they are sensitive to noise and harassment. The fish sometimes even lay down and sleep. I have thought more than once that one of them was dead, but the fish were just sleeping.

The screen fills up with snow as well which makes for some nice photos.

Notes for Photographers: When photographing in snowy times like this, sometimes you need to modify the photos with software. I use Picasa from google (Google.com). It allows me to lighten the photographs to compensate for the cloudy, snowy weather. Picasa allows for many more, quite complex types of improvements to the digital photos. And it is available for a nice price... Free.

December winter prep

2008-12-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

Even as the temperatures drop
into the 30s, the Koi Garden
still teems with life.

An early morning walk through
the garden allows time and
the light to find some small,
busy neighbors.

The winter die back allows for the Koi Garden to shine in other ways. It does make the fall/winter cleaning worthwhile.

In the northwest, filter temperature is a constant problem. I use a small aquarium heater placed inside the filter assembly to help keep the filter working.

The heater keeps the temperature above 50 degrees, measured in the pond at the alternate corner. This allows the fish to feed earlier in the spring and longer into the fall/winter. Koi go dormant at temperatures under 40 degrees and should stop feeding under 50 degrees. When the temperature bounces over and under that 50 degree level and you are still feeding your fish, there is a chance that the Koi will not be able to process the food, thereby getting very sick. By using a heater, you can help remove this risk as the transition through feeding and letting the fish go dormant a lot easier. Also, in the spring, as the temperature is rising again, the harmful bacteria and viruses wake up from dormancy faster than a Koi's imune system. Having a filter heater can help make the transision from 30s and 40 to over 50 a lot smoother.
It also allows the filter to remain at a higher temperature allowing the beneficial bacteria to work more efficiently. Since the pond temperature is now falling close to 50 degrees and the outside temperature is mostly well below it, it is time to turn the heater off for the winter. The Koi will be fine as long as the pond doesn't completely freeze over.
I prefer to turn the heater off at the plug in, rather than remove it from the filter. This allows me the option of turning the heater on for a few days if the pond start freezing over in a cold snap.

In preparation for the winter, I also put the winter screen on the pond. It is a wood framed monstrosity that has a metal screen that I built a few years ago. This allows light and all the elements like rain to get through, while keeping the raccoon away. I don’t use this screen in the summer or while I am around and enjoying the Koi Garden, but in the winter, it is a nice way of keeping predators at bay.

2008-11-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

Even in bad weather the Koi Garden is growing. The moss that seemed so dead during the summer springs to life. The pots that looked so dingy from dust now spring to life exposing a shiny glaze after a rainy day....

Coy Models

2008-11-02T07:01:00.000-08:00

You will notice that the koi never seem to want to pose, except for the mouth open one of Metallica (my metallic showa posted earlier). Why not use the movement to your advantage? This photo of a long finned, ginrin, showa was taken with the following settings (1/60 sec, F11, 400ISO). The long fins are just asking for a timed exposure!!!
Take away note: Digital film is essentially free. Take as many photos as you possibly can and then cull them. Even being ruthless, you will still have some gems!!!

Sorgy the Sorogoi

2008-11-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

With the darker background, Sorgy, my three year old sorogoi jumps off the page! Notice how the evenly reticulated ginrin scales are highlighted in nice even rows. I have relied on Oasis Water Gardens in Seattle for my Koi needs for the last ten years! They are great! (www.oasiswatergardens.com)

Oh, there is food involved?

2008-11-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Koi are shy models, and just like cats, have a mind of their own. However, unlike cats, koi can be easily influenced to model for just the right shot.

Take away note: Use food to train koi to do just about anything you want. I have heard of people attaching a food dispensor to a bell and chain which the koi we re able to pull themselves. Because there was food involved, they learned quick!!

Camera meets koi

2008-11-02T06:35:00.000-08:00

I have recently received a new camera for a birthday gift, resurrecting a long lost hobby. I have a Nikon D300 with a great Nikon 18-300mm AF lens (got a great deal at www.keepitdigital.com). With new camera in hand, I had to try my hand taking pictures of the koi. A nice metallic showa (nicknamed Metallica) shows up nicely against the darker water and liner background.

Note to take away: In some cases the new functionality available in today's cameras actually makes taking pictures of fish tougher. This shot is taken with an auto focusing lens from Nikon (18MM-300MM AF zoom). It works fine when the fish are near the surface, but not so good when deeper. Apparently the auto focus keys off the surface of the water.

Enjoy

Raccoon eyes in my garden

2008-01-20T16:23:00.000-08:00

We have had many visitors at our KoiGarden. In addition to a industrious band of Squirrels and an occasional Heron, we have had an eagle come by and investigate the pond. But perhaps the most interesting visitor we have had in the KoiGarden was a mysterious Raccoon. This visitor is not easy to see, visiting in the early hours of the day. In fact, it took us a long time to be certain that we had gotten on his circuit.

At the time we found many shredded Lily pads and nervous fish. The Raccoons also delighted in ripping the netting we had over the pond. But there was no permanent damage. Like humans Raccoons don’t like to bellyflop into water, so your first action in the fight against the goggle-eyed marauders is to have sharp edges to your pond. Also placing a net over the pond is a fairly good deterrent. But this is not perfect, as in our case. The flexible netting is the most transparent, but also the easiest to get around, as in the case of our wily visitor. Raccoons have quite sharp teeth and can make easy handy work with the light netting. Even if they do get into your pond, giving the fish a hiding place at the bottom will be quite helpful. A series of cement pipe sections can serve the need quite well, depending on the size of your fish.

After finding the netting ripped many mornings, we built a pond cover composed of metal netting and a wood frame for easy movement and structural integrity. And that was how we finally saw our four legged bandit of the wilderness world. Actually, we heard him at first. Shaking a large metal screen at 4 in the morning is not too quiet. But despite all his efforts, he was not able to get into the pond. By sneaking out to investigate, we finally saw our menace and his failure to get around our latest defenses. In the spring, Raccoons spend most of their food finding efforts finding following a circuit. Once their food searching circuit is set, they will keep it for a while. So we have been lucky in using the metal screen in the winter and early in the spring. Then we can remove the screen and enjoy easier visibility and access to our water friends.

2007-10-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

First of all the basics:
We live in a townhome in Seattle’s Central district. The townhome is large enough for us (1800 sq ft) but the yard is fairly small. Having a Japanese garden is perfect for such a small space. We have basically two sections for the yard: a 25X10 ft section directly in the back of the townhome and a 6X30 ft section on the side of the townhome. The side section was previously used to store trash and recycling containers. It was also always in the shade since the neighbor has large trees that have grown to reach over our yard and actually touch our townhome. This side yard was the space we wanted to turn into a small, reflective, sort of Zen garden with a small Koi pond. When we bought the first thing we did was get a tree trimmer in to cut the large trees trimmed back (a pear, a flowering cherry and a plum tree). Originally this space was so dark that even a lawn would not grow here and for any plan, we would have done the tree trimming.

I didn’t take a photo of the original look of the side yard.

Note to take away: Always, always take a photo before you do any work at all. With digital cameras so cheap and essentially no charges for picture storage, there is no excuse. You will really value any photos taken before and during any projects you have.They will be as or more important than the ones taken after the project is complete!

The first picture I have is about halfway through the project. It is after the trees have been trimmed back.
I have also cleared out the dead lawn and laid down a layer of landscaping paper followed by about 3 yards of crushed granite gravel.

I also moved some of the plants around for a more balanced feel.

To separate the side yard from the front yard, I put up a fence and gate. While the end product looks great and very custom, it was basically a standard one fitted to the space. I purchased the fence, the gate and any hardware from our local Lowes (www.lowes.com) and Oasis Water Garden (www.oasiswatergardens.com).

Note to take away: We probably have singlehandedly kept our local Lowes in profit by all our purchases, but they are local and very helpful. It really pays to develop relationships with some guys to rely on. Be it gardening, pond management or just basics construction, you need professional assistance. If you have your purchases made at the same places you ask a lot of questions, you are more apt to get good advice.

This separated our trash from the front yard and gave our Koi garden some privacy but it did nothing to separate the koi garden from the trash. Not exactly the relaxing Zen like environment I was looking for. To accomplish that, we purchased a small trestle and cut it to size without impinging on the walkway. We planted a Akibia vine to grow up the woodwork and fill it in. We have three or more different species of Akibia vines around the yards. We have been told that they will pollinate each other and given enough sun, we might have some sweet fruit every fall…. Who knows?

Now since every Koi pond needs a quiet place to contemplate the fish and relax by the refreshing water sounds, we placed two ceramic garden stools and a small table. For the table we found a great rain drum originally from Thailand. This works great as a place to relax and read a book or even a place for a quiet romantic dinner.

A little bit of the orient at home

2007-10-29T11:40:00.000-07:00

This site will cover all the trials and tribulations of building and maintaining a Koi pond and garden. Since it is my first forey into blogging, you will get a first hand look at the simplicity (or not) of the blogging world. I hope to cover the fish, including individual types of the japanese koi and the effort to provide them a nice place to live. I will also cover the garden: the plants, the layout, the additional things you can do to make a garden look and feel like an americanized version of the real thing. Hopefully this will lead you to undertake a project like this and build your own koi garden. I plan on adding pictures to give you a better feel of the garden and also update the site as the seasons turn.....

Enjoy