Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Thu Jun 26, 2008 1:14 pm

Ok the issue with the leaking sump has been solved and the problem with the future bio-filters overflowing has been sorted out.

I have covered the bottoms of the streams with some rock and one pump is running basically full time daily now without any issues in the bio filter tanks and the connecting streams.

My biggest toothache now is the fact that I miscalculated the sump and I have measured out the expansion for it. The primary water inlet is also under construction. With the Soccer Stadium running in scheduling problems there is a chronic shortage of cement in Nelspruit and my cement arrived an hour ago. Tomorrow Pond #1's floor will be plastered and then the bulk of the wetwork should be finished.

Here are a few shots of some of the latest progress.

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LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:44 am

Well things are going as planned ... the final pond is busy getting it's floor Wink

I also see quite a explosion in algae Sad

... but for now I will not worry too much about it.
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LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:16 pm

Can any one tell ... the salt that you add to the water ... is it some special type or can normal bulk coarse salt from the Co-op do the trick ?
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Never underestimate the power of denial.
LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:06 pm

Why do you want to add salt?
There is no need to.
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Jaco Vorster

Joined : 15 Jan 2008 Posts : 40

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jun 27, 2008 2:51 pm

Dit is een van daai onderwerpe waaroor seker die meeste gestry word. Verskeie opinies word bespreek onder http://koionline.forumotion.com/faq-f28/om-te-sout-of-nie-t141.htm

Ek hou nie permanent sout in my damme nie, slegs wanneer ek 'n nuwe dam begin, nuwe visse toevoeg, gesondheidsprobleme ondervind of voorsien en aan die begin van die somer.

Die redes waarom ek sout in 'n nuwe dam gooi is tweeledig. Enersyds is die visse gestrees weens die nuwe omstandighede. Sout maak hulle vatbaar vir minder infeksies en parasiete wat sal probeer toeslaan weens die lae immuniteit weens stress.

Andersyds is jou filters nog nuut en hoe Nitriete is waarskynlik. Sout verminder die negatiewe effek van Nitriet vergiftinging in 'n groot mate.
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Paul Viljoen
E Mail: koi@absamail.co.za ; http://www.koionline.co.za

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:29 pm

Thank you very much ... I will keep you guys posted.

Thank you all for the support in this project ... support without which I would have suffered a few more stress attacks Wink

_________________

Never underestimate the power of denial.
LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:51 pm

Ok ... the sun has gone down and it is now night in Mpumalanga. The last pond, Pond #1 is done as far as wetwork is concerned.

This calls for drink Very Happy

_________________

Never underestimate the power of denial.
LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:41 pm

This "transito" volume of water is busy smuggling with my brain Smile

... damn ... everyday I learn something more about it. What a Face

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Never underestimate the power of denial.
LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:34 pm

Today I have some shots and more stories about this project. I have encountered some really bad water losses in the stream going down to pond #3. We found the problem and it is being repaired now as I type here.

Pond #2 and #3 as well as the sump/weir has been filled to the brim and left standing for 3 days and the there is no water losses noticed. So I am happy that this part of the project is now secure.

As I said earlier the "transit" volume of water was more than I expected and my sump turned out to be too small. The sump is now in the process of being enlarged to hold another 3,000 liters of water of which only around 150 liters will not be available for "transit" capacity.

Pond #1 in finishing stages.

Indication of the pond construction and waterproof plastering.

Primary water inlet under construction.

Extended sump facility.

Pond #3 and the sump.

Today the Coprox for Pond #1 arrived so hopefully that job will get done on Monday.

On another topic. I have had offers of Koi from a few friends but I am thinking about all the risks involved in introducing fish to ponds and I am leaning towards this ...

There is an exporter near Nelspruit that is friends with my brother. He has offered me 150mm Koi at R90.00 per Koi. Is this a fair price ?

I think I will only put 30 fish per pond. I am of the opinion that by buying all the fish in one batch from one source and then let them grow here I am minimising risks of contamination.

What do you think ?

Thanks in advance.
_________________

Never underestimate the power of denial.
LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:47 pm

Hi Colyn, whats your aim with the ponds?

My feeling was always that if i spend like in my case R 100 000 on a pond, i would like some decent koi in it but everyone is different.

If you want show quality koi then you will roughly pay R 1000 per 15cm koi but if you just want some colourfull fish in your pond then the R 90 per koi option sounds fine.

Wayne
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Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:58 pm

I agree with you Wayne ... but my realities are that I have a huge risk of predation and that makes me reluctant to place expensive fish in here.

Next point is that I will obviously have to get to grips with the realities of Koi keeping and will most probably make mistakes in the beginning. There is also the matter of the system getting into balance and maturing which I believe can take a year.

So with the above in mind I think it will be more prudent to start of with colourful rather than quality. Wink

What do you think ?
_________________

Never underestimate the power of denial.
LinkAfrica Koipond

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:21 pm

Hi Colyn

I agree, i started with gold fish and cut my teeth on them and then moved over to koi...the problem with starting with cheapish kois are that they eat and take up the same amount of space as quality koi and you struggel to sell them later as no one wants ugly koi..but i agree first put some cheap koi or gold fish in to see what happens, especially with all those birds around your pond.
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Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jul 04, 2008 9:09 am

Hi Colyn,

Your setup looks great, wish I had your space.

Once your wife falls in love with the cheaper ones you can never get rid of them lol!

But I agree your decision is the right one.
We all started that way and we all lost some koi due to ignorance.
But then any big koi is a nice koi in my opinion.
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Jaco Vorster

Subject: Re: Rhenosterkop Koiponds ... I have a vision Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:02 am

Dankie Jaco ... ja ek is al 'n ou ballie en het op die harde manier geleer dis gewoonlik goedkoper om versigtig te wees Smile

Ek hat offers van a paar pelle vir grotes wat in hulle plaasdamme rondswem maar ek is hel bang ek bring siflis in die sisteem in en dan sit ek met die lyke Smile

_________________

Never underestimate the power of denial.
LinkAfrica Koipond