So, thanks to some very uncouth and discourteous statements made on my build thread, I find it necessary to share a very tragic event with my pond.
I don't make a habit of sharing tragedies, it's not in my nature. I didn't start threads about losing my mom, losing my dad, being forced into retirement due to a very bad worker's comp incident, spending numerous visits to ER with a different health issue, my neighbor spraying her trees and nearly killing all of my fish so it's not unusual that I didn't share losing my koi while I was in Japan.
Some of you have read about my fabulous greenhouse. I love it and it's amazing. There have been some modifications needed as I did make mistakes. The most costly of which cost me my entire herd of glorious koi.
Short story is I opted not run the cleaning water for the RDF through my carbon filter. My logic was simple though flawed. The Centaur carbon filter is only supposed to filter a certain number of gallons per minute. I was concerned that with the autofill going, adding the water for the RDF cleaning might mean chloramines would get into the pond.
Hindsight is, of course, twenty-twenty. A fitting came loose and all the cleaning water, untreated, went into the pond.
If I had been home I think I would have hung it up on the hobby. I had winning koi in there, some of which can no longer be replaced simply because the breeder is unable to produce them. The most notable is the stunning Goshiki Shigure/Ochiba Goshiki/Ochibiki. She took most unusual last year in Portland.
I admit I bawled like a baby when the friend that was checking on place for us while we were away notified us. I simply didn't have the heart to look at the pics. Sadly, he was there with someone I was donating a lovely Showa to for a breeding program.
So there it is. That's the story. It was my own mistake which cost me my beloved herd of koi. Enough with the snarky remarks, casting aspersions and so forth.
And for those that felt the need to broadcast this, i wouldn't wish the tragedy on even you.
When I calm down a bit I will share some pics of the lovely koi I lost. I may even share some pics of the beauties I bought while I was in Japan. Getting them doesn't ease the pain of those I lost but they are keeping my heart in the hobby.