On the 4th of October 2008 Koi Adventures organised a pond safari that was open to all koi hobbyists. The pond safari was a huge success and we visited 4 ponds from some very passionate koi keepers.
We started of at the pond of Eugen Binedell. Eugen have been keeping koi for about 2 years but have been keeping all kinds of fish from a very young age.
He and his father build the 7000 liter pond together and constructed it from clay bricks which was then rendered and painted with bitumen paint after which they finished the pond of by giving it a rocky look. The filtration of the pond consists out of a self build up and under filter system that have a four bays settlement chamber, brushes, bio balls and aerated kaldness. This fish all seem very healthy and the water actually sparkles. Eugen bought a Sekiguchi showa from Orient koi farm about 2 months ago at the SAKKS koi show which he intends to enter into next years show. We want to wish him all the best.
Die dam van Eugen Binnedel
We thanked Eugen for his hospitality and moved on to the next pond of another passionate and well known koi keeper, Prof Bennie Zeeman.
Prof Zeeman have been keeping koi for many, many years and have received many awards from SAKKS for various koi in his pond. Prof Zeeman has since retired from showing his koi but he is still a very passionate koi keeper.
His 35 000 liter pond was constructed from clay bricks which was then rendered and fiber glassed. There are 4 bottom drains in the pond which leads to a very impressive vortex filtration system that contains Japanese brushes and Japanese matting. The water then passes through two sand filter which takes out the last bit of fine solids before the water return to the pond. The pond is very well aerated with air being introduced into the pond through 2 venturis and 4 aerated bottom drains. All the fish seem very healthy and actually seem to thrive in his pond which has a very low stocking level. Interesting enough one of his koi is named "face lift" as he bought the koi after receiving some money from a face lift procedure which he performed.
We thanked Prof. Zeeman for giving us the chance to visit his pond and house, from there we moved on to the house of Rassie Erasmus.
Die dam van Prof. Bennie Zeeman
The house of Rassie Erasmus where the last to visit on the pond safari. When we arrived we found that Rassie took the effort to arrange drinks and chips for everyone. What a nice way to end of such a wonderful pond safari.
Rassie have been keeping koi for only one year but has already managed to build 2 ponds. His two ponds was build for him by a construction company. The first pond is a 7000 liter pond and the second a 10 000 liter pond. Rassie mentioned that he had several problems with fish dying in the beginning when and he think that it was due to his sand filter going anaerobic, for that reason rassie has done away with most of his sand filters. Rassie has also wisely invested in a 6000 liter plastic container which he uses as a quarantine facility.
Die damme van Rassie Erasmus
As can be seen this pond safari was a huge success and everyone had a wonderful day out but this day would not have been possible without our hosts opening their homes and ponds for us to see. We want to thank everyone that took part in the safari.
Our next pond safari for the western
cape have already been arranged for the 2nd of November 2008, everyone will receive their invitations in a few days time. For the people in the Gauteng region we also have a surprise. Koi Adventures is expanding and Gauteng is the next logical step, we will notify everyone shortly when and where our launch will be.
Hope to see you all at our next event.
Wayne Barker
Http://www.KoiAdventures.co.za
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