Why are we here?

[cantonguy]

Feng-shui (chinese astrology) master told me to dig a pond in frontyard .
He said good for prosperity & health.

Since my home near some koi dealers (only. approx 5 minutes drive) , i visit them frequently and ask a dealer to make a koi-pond for me .
This also cause me involved in this hobby deeper and deeper , almost can not control myself to buy a better koi.

Yes.. the fengshui master is right , i can reduced my stress after work by watching/feeding koi at front yard ... even sometimes feel like a crazy man sitting beside a pond.

Riwin

[PapaBear]

I've enjoyed Koi from afar for years. Drew up plans for a backyard paradise a long time ago but it remained a pipe dream... until I met my new wife 2 years ago. She brought up her desire for a garden pond/zen style garden and described it to me. I smiled, got out my old plans, and said "you mean like this?".
Digging commenced shortly thereafter. We got some surplus koi from a friend to start with AND NONE OF THEM DIED in spite of our ignorance. The internet saved our butts (and our koi). We had our first spawn only one month after stocking it and now we are hooked deep. Adding a hatchery pool this winter, expanding the filtration, deepening the main pond, and getting psyched for next springs spawn. All 3 of our females are fat with eggs so we're gonna be busy How cool is that

BTW, our pond is affectionately referred to as "The Black Hole" because it sucks us in every morning over a cup of coffee and every evening with a glass of wine or Dark Doitsu Beer

[killroy]

Hot headed in my college days, Never had an outlet to release the stress I was going through..some time, I punch my bedroom door, bang my head in the wall when me and my parents have arguments. No one seems to understand. and so on and so forth......until one day, saw this kid waiting for a cab at a nearby petshop. Saw he was carryng somthn...a plastic bag with a fish inside. I simply looked at the fish...Dont know what the koi was thinking, but the small fish was looking at me...and i felt peace instantly. Though the little boy starred at me also, it was a stare that meant "shoo away, buy your own fish" Will never forget that moment. Right there and then, bought my first koi. I was in to marine and freshwater fish before but never felt this kind of peace with a koi. Kois helped me alot to channel all my stress, hatred in life etc etc in a different path. I learned to relax and swim thru my problems. Hmmmm, how funny it is, I learned these things from a fish.

But now, i have a different perspective abt the hobby...beyond the serenity and peace one could get from keeping kois,I guess the true magic is how one could gain new friends from this. Peace to all!

jay