Syd Mitchell's blog

This article is by Syd Mitchell, our Water Quality instructor extraordinaire!  In this article, Syd discusses various techniques that work with different predators.

Ozone

Filter maturation

Biological filters are not the only place in the koi pond and filter system where biological filtration takes place. Nitrifying bugs (nitrosomonas and nitrobacter) are prolific in nature, on land, everywhere in the aquatic environment, even in the air but it is only how they behave under water that is of interest to koi-keepers.

Koi predators

Fresh food

Thanks to Syd for finding the cartoon above!

Many Koi keepers will tell you that you need to add clay to Koi ponds.  Bentonite or Mortmorillinite clay are what's sold as Koi Clay.  Here's a short article by Syd Mitchell about benefits and disadvantages of using clay.  If you can't come to the PNKCA Convetion June 19-21, 2015 - then take our ON-LINE Lab #220 from the comfort of your own home!  CLICK HERE for more info about the lab.  Full article after the break.

Syd Mitchell explains the science behind how to create a working filter - without fish!  You can meet Syd and your other K.O.I. instructors at the PNKCA Convention, June 19-21, 2015!  CLICK HERE for more about the Convention...  Full article after the break.

Someone asked me the other day how to best deter predators from ponds.  The primary predators are fish-eating birds like Herons.  They wade in the water and kill anything that moves.  They will actually kill every Koi in the pond (or poke a hole in the larger fish), even though they can only eat one fish.  Racoons can't catch a healthy fish, but will eat one that is near the edge because it is sick or dying.  To test that theory, stand in your pond, and try to catch a fish by hand.  Even assuming you are smarter and have bigger hands than coons, bet you can't catch the Koi (unless they are used to you feeding them by hand)!  Here is a great article by Syd Mitchell to answer the plastic heron debate, and to discuss alternatives to keep your pond safe.  Hint - the very best system uses several of the devices pictures above (sold as Pond Scarecrows).  Full text after the break...

The other day, I was talking  to Syd Mitchell, Water Quality Guru Extraordinaire.  We were discussing ponds that have the propensity to pH crash, and he said he knew of some folks using an Automatic Dosing system for Baking Soda (if you don't know why stable pH or why adding Baking Soda may be important to your pond, you might want to invest a few bucks, and read "Alkalinity and pH").  Syd was explaining how to make your own dosing system - schematic and more info after the break...