Nurturing Sumi

[MikeM]

Dizzy: Excellent link.

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by koifishgirl HEY KOICZAR I would love to see a picture of your swimming pool converted to a pond

Okay, here you go! There's also a diagram- the only correction/change made is the pump is a 1/3hp Dragon by Lim on the Ultima 20000.

Enjoy!!!!

Mike

[koiczar]

Yeah, but Isa doesn't explain about which soil works for which variety!

That being said, and the article by Isa/Kodama being written and IF it is taken as fact, then why is Sakai (Matsunosuke/Yamamatsu) so successful with mixing all types of gosanke in the same growout pond(s) for all at the same time? When I was at his fall harvest this year, I saw it first hand. It was a medium density clay soil. There were a mix of his fish and customer fish all in the same two ponds. Interesting!?!?!? I have also been at harvests of Hosokai and Torazo. Their ponds are more of a soft clay. It really stirs up heavily when the nets are pulled through it. Torazo also had a mixed gosanke group in his #1 Nisai pond. So did Hosokai. So what is the REAL truth??

I guess it really boils down to this - try different breeders fish in your pond til you find the winning combination of bloodline and water conditions that bring out the best - and stick with those that work for you. It takes several years, but it can/does work.

Mike

[Auntiesue]

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar Yeah, but Isa doesn't explain about which soil works for which variety! That being said, and the article by Isa/Kodama being written and IF it is taken as fact, then why is Sakai (Matsunosuke/Yamamatsu) so successful with mixing all types of gosanke in the same growout pond(s) for all at the same time? When I was at his fall harvest this year, I saw it first hand. It was a medium density clay soil. There were a mix of his fish and customer fish all in the same two ponds. Interesting!?!?!? I have also been at harvests of Hosokai and Torazo. Their ponds are more of a soft clay. It really stirs up heavily when the nets are pulled through it. Torazo also had a mixed gosanke group in his #1 Nisai pond. So did Hosokai. So what is the REAL truth?? I guess it really boils down to this - try different breeders fish in your pond til you find the winning combination of bloodline and water conditions that bring out the best - and stick with those that work for you. It takes several years, but it can/does work. Mike

Mike, thanks for mentioning that. I was thinking the same thing!! Hmmm!! Maybe someone will chime in here with some comments.

[PapaBear]

So many wise counselors
Thanks for rolling this one back out Mike. It is timely and informative. How many of you treating your water with Koi Clay (typically 10-12% silica) have improved sumi development after beginning treatment?
BTW, I don't know if improved Sumi in dark pond vs light ponds is a "chameleon" response or photocellular reaction, but it matches our observations as well. Most of our utsuri had a washed out appearance in a pale blue temp pond last year which improved dramatically when they were returned to their dark pond home.

[koifishgirl]

Quote: Originally Posted by koiczar Okay, here you go! There's also a diagram- the only correction/change made is the pump is a 1/3hp Dragon by Lim on the Ultima 20000. Enjoy!!!! Mike

Thanks that beautiful You would never know that it was ever a swimming pool, you have done a great job with that pool,pond the landscaping is outstanding and well laid out. Great job!!!

Hey others, how about posting some pics of your ponds on here in another thread. I love to see pond pictures.

[KoiCop]

very nice koi pond, Mike -- art and science beautifully balanced. Job Well Done!

I do agree with you that there's far more than just the one factor at work re: sumi development. Different breeders have different opinions based upon different experiences; same with hobbyists.

You're so correct: We can read, we can ask, we can watch -- but in the end, we still have to experiment to find what works with our fish in our ponds.

Would that this hobby were as simple as it appears to the novice. In reality, the more we learn the more we're humbled by what we need to learn.

[Nancy M.]

Very Very nice pond Mike, I am sure your fish thank you, for giving them a good home and environment, in which to grow and develop. I don't see any rocks.. Wow now isn't that a surprise, I guess it is true High end hobbyist don't put rocks in there ponds. Or perhaps we just have rocks in our heads.

[dizzyfish]

Mike,
It looks nice. What changes did you have to make to convert from swimming pool to koi pond? Did you add the waterfall? And how about a couple of fish pictures?
thanks,
Mitch
PS
How often do you have to backflush the 20,000 Optima? How much water does it take?

[Auntiesue]

Quote: Originally Posted by PapaBear So many wise counselors Thanks for rolling this one back out Mike. It is timely and informative. How many of you treating your water with Koi Clay (typically 10-12% silica) have improved sumi development after beginning treatment? BTW, I don't know if improved Sumi in dark pond vs light ponds is a "chameleon" response or photocellular reaction, but it matches our observations as well. Most of our utsuri had a washed out appearance in a pale blue temp pond last year which improved dramatically when they were returned to their dark pond home.

I've used "KC" for years now. I don't really have a control group to compare to, but my instinct says that it helps in many ways, not just to enhance sumi, but it seems to really bring up the whites and the reds become a bit deeper. I don't use it that much in my indoor winter holding tanks (but I should). Inside I do see a "fading" of color, especially sumi, but I feel that has more to do with the lack of sunlight then anything else.