Location: Middle of Missouri outside
Size: 5500g (3 ponds and linear run) Largest pool is a 10-12' circle and 4 feet deep (size estimate based on 10')
Story:
My mom has a 5500 gallon pond system at her house. it has a large main section with a 3' waterfall into it, a smaller upper section with 1' waterfall into it, and 2' waterfall out of it into the main section, a river section that bends around a tree about 6"-12" deep and 8' long in run with another small drop into the last pond about 6" into it. The pump returns water from the bottom pond up to the waterfall.
As far as I know she had no filtration built into it, but it is crazy stocked with plants. And has kept koi and various gold fish since it was built about 12 years ago. The fish overwinter in the pond and she does not use heaters. As far as I know she's never removed a dead fish from it, but has lost several to blue herrings and other wild creatures. there are of course many frogs that hang out and around. She never adds chemicals, and I'm sure has no clue what any water conditions are other than frozen or not.
Craziest fact: She has regular Koi Spawning. Every year she discovers more baby fish in the bottom pond hanging out and moves a few bigger ones to the main pond.
I'm looking for something new to get her for the pond. Either more fish, an upgrade to the mechanical systems, plants, reptiles, amphibian really anything. My initial thought was some Mud or Map turtles to hang out in the river section, but afraid they will get into the big pond and not be able to get back up (my musk turtle is a horrible swimmer). I will be there over Thanksgiving and will snap some pics so those will be up by the end of the week. But here's some Google Arial view.
Probably want to stay away from Missouri Native predator fish due to the Koi and their fry.
Size: 5500g (3 ponds and linear run) Largest pool is a 10-12' circle and 4 feet deep (size estimate based on 10')
Story:
My mom has a 5500 gallon pond system at her house. it has a large main section with a 3' waterfall into it, a smaller upper section with 1' waterfall into it, and 2' waterfall out of it into the main section, a river section that bends around a tree about 6"-12" deep and 8' long in run with another small drop into the last pond about 6" into it. The pump returns water from the bottom pond up to the waterfall.
As far as I know she had no filtration built into it, but it is crazy stocked with plants. And has kept koi and various gold fish since it was built about 12 years ago. The fish overwinter in the pond and she does not use heaters. As far as I know she's never removed a dead fish from it, but has lost several to blue herrings and other wild creatures. there are of course many frogs that hang out and around. She never adds chemicals, and I'm sure has no clue what any water conditions are other than frozen or not.
Craziest fact: She has regular Koi Spawning. Every year she discovers more baby fish in the bottom pond hanging out and moves a few bigger ones to the main pond.
I'm looking for something new to get her for the pond. Either more fish, an upgrade to the mechanical systems, plants, reptiles, amphibian really anything. My initial thought was some Mud or Map turtles to hang out in the river section, but afraid they will get into the big pond and not be able to get back up (my musk turtle is a horrible swimmer). I will be there over Thanksgiving and will snap some pics so those will be up by the end of the week. But here's some Google Arial view.
Probably want to stay away from Missouri Native predator fish due to the Koi and their fry.
