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  • Results 1 to 17 of 17

    Thread: 40,000 Gallon Mud Pond Build! Does anybody want to share a shipment from ISA KOI FARM

    1. #1
      Mudpondlover12 is offline Member
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      Exclamation 40,000 Gallon Mud Pond Build! Does anybody want to share a shipment from ISA KOI FARM

      Hey everybody I am building a mudpond in the back hidden inside the woods. It will be about thirty by fourty and in an L shape. I want to raise new fry from my doitsu koi spawn in the spring and hold some oF my current store stock over the winter. How many 5 inch koi would I be able to put in there. 10inch? 15inch? 20inch? 30inch? I am probably going to put a pond aerator but I don't know what size or kind is best...any ideas? I am also trying to set up a shipment with Isa, ogata, igarashi, kokugyo, or Niigata koi farm, DOES ANYBODY WANT TO SHARE AND SAVE FOR SHIPPING!!!! We may be able to cut a deal if we buy enough at once for this years harvest. I am in Indianapolis and will use Chicago to get the koi.(customs won't allow indianapolis) Now for my questions

      Is 40,000 gallons reasonable?
      How big do you think the fish would get over the winter? Summer?
      The best pond aerator?
      Easiest size fish to raise?
      Do I need an automatic feeder?
      Any body want to share a shipment?

      Thanks for all of your help in advance!!

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    2. #2
      mtsklar is offline Senior Member
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      Q: Is 40,000 gallons reasonable?
      A: YES

      Q: How big do you think the fish would get over the winter? Summer?
      A: Growth varies from fish to fish. A four inch fry could grow to 9 -16 inches, year 1

      Q: The best pond aerator?
      A: How deep is the pond and how many diffusers do you want?
      Don't forget to add some mechanical filtration to get the leaves of the surface before the collect at the bottom.

      Q: Easiest size fish to raise?
      A: Not a relevant question. Raise fish that you think will develop into great koi.

      Q: Do I need an automatic feeder?
      A: It really helps. Koi do much better if they get a little food over 5-8 feedings a day VS. 2 meals of gorging themselves.
      Last edited by mtsklar; 08-31-2010 at 10:30 PM.

    3. #3
      Airic is offline Senior Member
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      I'm an Indianapolis mud ponder as well. My pond is anywhere from 40k-60k. I have a waterfall for aeration but, plan on potentially adding an aerator at some point. I currently have 30 koi at around 12"-18" and have not lost any this year. As Mtsklar stated I feel a skimmer with mechanical filtration is a must. Surface debris including dust and pollen and leaves can build up so bad in a day that it can make it near impossible to see your fish regardless of if your water is clear or not. I'm in the process of putting a skimmer and mid level pick up now.

    4. #4
      mtsklar is offline Senior Member
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      Airic,
      Photos please...;-).

    5. #5
      Airic is offline Senior Member
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      Mine is shown here. I'll be posting additional as the mechanical filter build gets rolling.

      https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showth...-My-Mud-Puddle

    6. #6
      Mudpondlover12 is offline Member
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      Thanks for the help guys and especially mtsklar. I am thinking about two diffusers? Also what about two medium sized ponds instead of one big one? What automatic feeder do you use and how much does it usually cost? I have seen them but they look really expensive... Also if I put some oyagoi in the pond do you think they would spawn? Thanks!

    7. #7
      Airic is offline Senior Member
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      Try to have a depth of at least 6' deep so your koi survive winter, this also will stop stringy plant growth (My technical term for what ever the plant is that I had before digging deeper). Be sure you have a means to keep the pond full ie, well, spring, runoff. Will you be digging this yourself or contracting it out? If it were me, I would go with one larger pond but, it depends on what you want to do. I know nothing on the auto feeder as I do it myself. I would save your money the first few years and then decide if you need one.

      As for fish, start out simple and inexpensive the first year so you can learn and study the your pond and fish.

    8. #8
      Mudpondlover12 is offline Member
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      I was pushing for eight feet but maybe more... Also how do you train the fish to come to the surface? If it is completely muddy and you can't see them how do you train them?

    9. #9
      Airic is offline Senior Member
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      They learn that pretty quickly as I believe they smell the food. I'm on my second year and they also know when I approach. They typicaly see me before I see them and will begin to come to the surface begging. I work around the pond a lot and they follow me around the edges. When netting sticks and such they rush to the action of the water and will practically jump in the net. Not gotten them to eat out of my hand but not sure I want them that tame do to predators.

    10. #10
      mtsklar is offline Senior Member
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      Many koi food manufacturers put garlic in the food. The attracts the fish quickly. Once one koi finds the pellets the others will come. Remember they used the lateral line to sense vibration in the water. They know what is going on.

      Matt

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    11. #11
      tallypackrat is offline Member
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      Airic - Did you add a skimmer and mid level pick up? If so, would you mind telling me what kind/type are you using? I need to add a skimmer to my waterfall. Just added aeration a few days ago in addition to the waterfall.

    12. #12
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      Missed this thread. But I'm in if you are still open……………………

      Doug - out
      See Our Pond https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showth...ond&highlight=

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      I'm thinking about adding an "in-pond" skimmer box. Any opinions?

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      mtsklar is offline Senior Member
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      what is the surface area of the pond and the shape?

    15. #15
      stephen's Avatar
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      We have skimmers on all 3 of our mud ponds and never have any leaves or other surface debris.

    16. #16
      tallypackrat is offline Member
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      It's about 1150 sq ft of surface area. Four feet at its deepest. Shape is half moon shaped with the waterfall in one corner. I need to get some pictures on here this weekend.

    17. #17
      BWG is offline Senior Member
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      We put the pond overflow on the downwind side of the pond and add water on a timed basis. Any debris on the surface goes out the overflow. Over flow water is kept to a minimum. For aeration we quit using the expensive pond aerators and now make our own aerator circulators that are giving good results.

      https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showth...or-and-aerator

      40,000 gallons is small for a mud pond and you will be limited. Be careful to not over circulate the pond in the winter as it will lower its temperature too much. For winter only a small hole is needed in the ice and a circulator for this size of pond should be small. You are on the very shallow side for overwintering fish in your climate zone.
      Last edited by BWG; 09-05-2014 at 11:20 PM.

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