It’s finally happening, but it’s actually happening

[The Masked Shadow]

The thing that makes me skeptical of koi pox is that I live in coastal southern california, and the temperature average is maybe a bit below 60 (16C) factoring in the nights, so it is not exactly dropping too cold. Im not sure if the lack of extreme temp drops makes a difference, but I was thinking it could be something with the slime coat??? Bottom line, I need to get one of them out to check them out, otherwise I’m just going to keep guessing lol

 

[kendragon]

I live in SD and have seen many ponds with carp pox. Even people in the Koi Club have them.
Good idea to keep investigating. Part of the hobby.

 

[danotaylor]

What volume is you pond? Any harm in throwing a 40# bag or 2 of salt in to reduce bacterial counts and stimulate slime coat production?
I use this from Home Depot. 99.8% pure sodium chloride. $9/bag in Ohio

 

[Jarneyg]

For a 1500 gallon pond, you could probably keep about 5 or 6 koi comfortably once they grow up. They get huge and poop a ton, so just make sure your filtration is overkill.

Since you asked about other fish, maybe look into Rosy Red Minnows or Shubunkins. They handle the cold great and add some nice movement without needing as much space as koi. Those interlocking blocks for the wall are a smart move too, makes the build way easier.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

It’s definitely koi pox! womp, it was bound to happen at some point; its a koi pond, it’s gonna have some problems!

On a side note, I backflushed the filter, and I left the backflush valve thing open about 1/10 of an inch, and if it had been just 1 more 10th an inch, it would’ve drained the pond. Simply speaking, it is a mistake I will only make once

 

[jjohnwm]

Simply speaking, it is a mistake I will only make once

Lol, that's exactly what I said the first time I left the water running when I should have turned it off. It's also exactly what I said the first time I turned the water off when I should have left it running. Also, the first time that I...well, you get the idea...

 

[Fishman Dave]

Hahaha yes, unfortunately that’s what I said the first time I left the lid up and my 18” arrowana jumped out and died……….. I remind myself often of these same conversations……….. usually the second ……. And often the third time I do them too!

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Beautiful day after the rains here! Im trying out Barley Straw as preventative string-algae control, as far as i understand it releases something similar to hydrogen peroxide that prevents string algae from growing, not sure how well it works, but might as well try.

Ironically, the Lillies advertised as ‘hardy lillies’ have the fewest leaves compared to the lily advertised as ‘hardy x tropixal,’ which has been doing quite well despite the ‘cold’.

 

[jjohnwm]

That looks amazing! Do you need to prune and trim any of the submerged plant growth periodically?

All the lilies look great. Interesting to hear that the supposedly more-delicate ones are exceeding the growth of the "hardy" type.

Mine are all supposedly hardy. Your post prompted me to force my way into the pond to check them out.


I don't think mine look as good as yours.

 

[danotaylor]

The pond looks very clear mate. Nice one. Doesn’t seem to be much flow on the water fall. Is it turned off atm? How many gph is your pond pump?