I will try to post all my pictures and observations one by one.
The first one is on UV lights....
Japanese prefer to put their UV lights above the water. Just in a simple rectangular box like shade on top, open on the bottom, so it does not hurt the eyes.
The light is suspended 10-15 cm above the water in the filter chamber.
Some pictures.[img] Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr[/img][img] Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr[/img][img] Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr[/img]

I think the fittings for aquariums can be used, since they are water proof.

I can see 26 views, but no interest in Japanese filtration...

Neli, we wait in anticipation. Please show us more.

Two days in a raw We met Tanaka San at Oishi...it is not a very well kown name abroad....but it is one of the top ones for Japanese koi kitchi.
He was just standing near by buying very little tosai...real little...12-15cm...in the next pond.
I just started joking with him....and since I was so proud of my little baby kohaku....I drugged him by the hand to show him what I bought...after all I felt sorry for him, buying all this little Koi...that did not look good at all to me.
He obediently followed me and made approving noises to my kohaku...
After that two days in a row We sat together...and had coffee, chatted laughed...I showed him pictures of my pond...talked about what We do....but mostly joked and laughed...smiled...and so on...
To my surprise...the translator said Tanaka San has invited U for supper and he wants to show U his pond.
Waw! That was good news to me! I will probably see a Japanese pond full of small Koi...but it is a Japanese pond...in a Japanese house...so let's go! It might be interesting!
So we jumped in two cars and off We went...
It was a long drive....to another town....which one? I forgot...H.....something near Hiroshima.
To my surprise we were taken to a big factory...called Tanaka   As expected...
Probably to his annoyance I kept calling him Takai San, which I learned from P. Waddingtons site...and means expensive in Japanese...yes Mr Takai.  No Takai San.....I just kept getting confused....
I made sure I learned this word....so I know what to say when the fish is too expensive.
So I continue....it was a big shiny modern factory...with a large green house in the front, and two very large beautiful bonsai...
I took the camera, iPad and started clicking away....
Soon I followed everyone into the green house....to my shock and surprise....there were four ponds inside filled up with monsters...one of the largest Koi I have ever seen, and as pretty as the pictures on Koi magazines....many winners of All Japan show....
He! Silly me! And I felt sorry for him....that he was buying such tiny Koi...what is the story here?
Why is he buying all this tiny tosai..?
I was puzzled....and started firing questions....until I managed to drug most of it out.
Tanaka San started keeping Koi four years ago....I could see the guy is very wealthy.
So far he has bought only tosai....never anything larger than that . All of them from Oishi Koi farm.
I asked:
How many koi does He have?.....around .hundred was the answer.
How many did he have to buy to end up with so many champion Koi....around 150 koi...
What does he do with the Koi that do not meet his standards?  Gives them away as presents.
Waw! I would not mind some of those as present!
How much does He pay for the tosai , each that become this champions?
Between 30000-100000 yen each.....Waw again....I did not know tosai can be so expensive...
Why do U buy Koi only from Oishi, why not from Sakai and other known Koi breeders?
Oishi has the best value for money. Sakai is just a name....they produce lots of fish....so the probabilities that they will have a champion...to the number of fish are higher...and there U pay for the name. With Oishi, for the price I get my fish at, I will never buy from Sakai anything as good as from Oishi. Many Japanese collectors prefer to buy from Oishi... For Us it is a top farm.
The way the fish develops...the parent stock...is almost the same as Sakai...same blood line.
To be continued...tomorrow.
Some pictures for U.

Some of the koi for Mr Tanaka that won at all Japan show.
[img] Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr[/img]

Mr Tanakas factory and green house.

Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr

Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr
And Mr Tanaka

Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr

Inside the green house

Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr

Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr
And his bonsai in front of the factory

Untitled by MISS MUZUNGU, on Flickr
More to follow tomorrow.

This is Mr Takanas DIY aeration for his BD. I think it was a afterthought...

Y can see his BD here. The pond is over 2m deep.


All his returns are on the surface

this is his settlement chamber...Just few 2-3 matala and the same his knitting wool invention he uses as bio.


His DIY filtration media made from knitting wool.


The system is fully automated

Mr Tanaka only buys Tosai but good quality ones...He says he never bought a nisai...U can see the picture of his tosai in the smaller pond, and He only buys oishi koi nothig else! He has won many prizes at All Japan shows with his Oishi Kohakus...