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    Thread: A before and after indoor koi "spa".

    1. #1
      KoiValley's Avatar
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      Exclamation A before and after indoor koi "spa".

      EDIT - See below link for a thread featuring another indoor koi spa by Karl:
      https://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101931



      I built this indoor prototype koi tank in 2004. Since then I've built nine more. Each time there have been improvements in design and usability. So it was time to take my first one and work out a way to improve it.

      This is what it looked like in 2004:
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      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

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    2. #2
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      My first indoor koi spa had one window. And it was a small one! So I wanted to increase the viewing area but yet keep the structure intact. I went with two windows 20" X 38". This gave me a viewing area of 15" X 34".

      I also wanted to increase my filtration. So I added another 55gal trickle tower and increased the pump size to 1/4 hp. The result was about 1500gph per barrel.
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      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

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    3. #3
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      We like the new windows and I think the koi like them as well. They don't seem so crowded to look at us and see if we have food!

      Who's lookin' at who!
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      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

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    4. #4
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      Thanks for posting pics.....great indoors facility.........your filtering must be spot on with such high density..........congrats
      Jorge

    5. #5
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      Quote Originally Posted by andres58 View Post
      Thanks for posting pics.....great indoors facility.........your filtering must be spot on with such high density..........congrats
      Thanks! Yes, the filtration is fairly strong. The tank is 1250 gallons and the filters turn the water at a rate of 4500 gph. That and an oversize UV and frequent water changes does the trick. I grew up in the aquarium industry. High stocking, over-filtration and frequent water changes are the mainstays of that industry and certainly can be applied to the koi hobby.
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

      Certified: AKCA Better Health Practices December 2008


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      That's a great "spa"! Your fish are beautiful, too! What are the windows made of? Are they Lexan?


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    7. #7
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      Quote Originally Posted by sworley View Post
      That's a great "spa"! Your fish are beautiful, too! What are the windows made of? Are they Lexan?
      Pretty much. 1/2" polycarbonate. Polished with Novus 1&2.
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

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      constantly changing art.

    9. #9
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      Cool... Those windows probably really help with seeing any health problems they are having. You can see them so clearly while they get to remain in their habitat.

    10. #10
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      Quote Originally Posted by cindy View Post
      constantly changing art.
      Thanks!

      It's like having two flat screens with the screen saver constantly changing. What we have noticed is that the koi are much more laid back when they have more "looking" room. No crowding to the single small window in an effort to see what is going on outside. I noticed that with the last several "spas". Larger windows and more of them. The last one I built has four windows. All larger than the ones I could install in this old spa.

      It also makes it easy to observe for behavior problems, small nicks and possible bacterial ulcers. My wife has a keen eye so I just sit back and watch. The problem is the desire to feed them and feed them and feed them!

      I think that they become much more friendly and acclimated to our activity outside the spa. My wife has a ginrin soragoi that is so friendly she can lift it out of the water and she doesn't even struggle. Her name is "zipper". No, we don't have names for all of them....................yet.
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

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    11. #11
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      Looks good Karl Our fish are still in the pond till this coming week..One of smaller stock tanks sprung a leak
      Marie

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    12. #12
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      Wow thats a lot of fish.
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    13. #13
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      Quote Originally Posted by MissMelissa View Post
      Cool... Those windows probably really help with seeing any health problems they are having. You can see them so clearly while they get to remain in their habitat.
      You assumed what I have found to be so true. That is why I decided to update my original prototype to something near what I construct today. They seem perfectly relaxed and so it does give us the opportunity to observe for as long as we want......and feed and feed and feed....

      The result is more water changes, more filter cleaning, but what the heck. It is nearly winter here. The weather forecast is for 2-4 inches of snow overnight into tomorrow!
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

      Certified: AKCA Better Health Practices December 2008


    14. #14
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      Quote Originally Posted by vipldy View Post
      Looks good Karl Our fish are still in the pond till this coming week..One of smaller stock tanks sprung a leak
      Gettemout! You have snow coming your way!
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

      Certified: AKCA Better Health Practices December 2008


    15. #15
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      Quote Originally Posted by KoiValley View Post
      Gettemout! You have snow coming your way!
      No we don't There have been flurries but I have not seen them here in my hood The fish are hanging a few ft down and kinda slow moving
      Marie

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    16. #16
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      Quote Originally Posted by gander View Post
      Wow thats a lot of fish.

      Naw. Only 40. I counted them when we brought them in. Actually we brought in 48 but 8 of them are b-flies. The b-flies have their own tank in the fishroom. I will be culling with some difficulty as I have four additions to the main herd which sooner or later must be added to the spa.

      Think about that. A total of 44 koi in 1250 gallons. And these aren't small koi. That means a lot of water changes and some serious water quality monitoring.
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

      Certified: AKCA Better Health Practices December 2008


    17. #17
      KoiValley's Avatar
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      Quote Originally Posted by vipldy View Post
      No we don't There have been flurries but I have not seen them here in my hood The fish are hanging a few ft down and kinda slow moving
      Maybe. But it is on the horizon!!!!
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

      Certified: AKCA Better Health Practices December 2008


    18. #18
      vipldy's Avatar
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      Quote Originally Posted by KoiValley View Post
      Maybe. But it is on the horizon!!!!
      No doubt I just went out and looked at the fish and they came up like we are hungry Their water was 67 deg. the other day but feels a tad cold now
      Marie

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    19. #19
      KoiValley's Avatar
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      Quote Originally Posted by vipldy View Post
      No doubt I just went out and looked at the fish and they came up like we are hungry Their water was 67 deg. the other day but feels a tad cold now
      I moved mine in last Thursday. The pond was 56*F so I had to pump the water into the spa to make things work. Fortunately I had laid out the piping and was able to do it in a little over an hour. The filter was cycled with Mike Hammocks' shipment of six fine 15 to 18" Ogons as well as a 21" Sanke and a 28" Tancho kohaku. Some great fish! Most were sold but I had to keep the Sanke as well as a couple Yamabuki Ogons.
      Karl Schoeler, founder: EIHIOICGI

      Certified: AKCA Better Health Practices December 2008


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      webted is offline Senior Member
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      What a timely post – I’m working on designs right now for an indoor tank… it looks to be my winter project.

      A few questions:

      1. Is the basic construction 2 X 6 “studs” w/ a lapped and lagged 2 X 6 waistband? It looks like you also have ½” plywood sistered in the waistband and along some of the stud bays?
      2. ½” or ¾” plywood interior?
      3. It looks like the polycarb is epoxied to the stud frame. How did you join the liner to the polycarbonate?
      4. Does your ½ polycarb bulge at all?

      Great pictures, and sharp construction.

      I’d love to take advantage of any your design improvements… then maybe it’ll only take me 8 tanks to get where you’re at!

      Best regards,

      -t

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