What have you learned this year?

[Nancy M.]

What have you learned this year? Have you learned more about Koi health, Breeders,Koi identification, Pond construction, water quality, koi diets? etc... And if so how did you learn it? from books, message boards, other hobbiest..

[Akinosan]

I've learned alot this year about keeping Koi, treating disease, filtration, Koi appreciation, and how many different types of people share the same interests as I do. But most of all I've learned that I have an awful lot to learn, and most of it has and will be learned right here on this forum. Thank you everybody!

[dubtaco]

I learned (almost the hard way) to always have a supply of chemicals on hand for water and disease issues that may come up. Im a newbie, and when ammonia spiked I had no idea what to do and nothing on hand. That will never happen again. I also learned in the same incident to use a test kit that is not expired.


Chris

[dick benbow]

I've learned the "smallness" of this planet. The goodness of those willing to help for tsunami or hurricane victims alike. The fact that our koi ponds are our oasis away from the "madness" of the world. And while japan has several hundred years on us with basic koi understanding, the uniqueness of the different parts of the world, climates, cultures that each of us needs to incorporate that into our learning of the hobby. Not just blindly emulate the country and culture that started it all for us. That's why I appreciate this board and each one of you for the contribution, understanding etc that you bring.

[ucpondguy]

I learned about the importance of maintaining good water quality. With good water quality, koi that have minor scrapes heal without needing to inject, koi grow faster and have better quality skin, and it is better not to panic when faced with koi disease. Sometimes doing shotgun treatments are worse than knowing what you are dealing with and treating accordingly.
Last and most importantly, there are koi hobbyists who help because it is in their nature without expecting something in return and are true friends.

[Tom C]

Nancy I think everyone that reads on this board and NI board has learned a lot this year. I don't think you can learned as much from any book out. As long as this hobby stays around, you will see great people teaching others about it.

Tom

[saratogatan]

forgot to turn off water, 4hr and 10K gallons later, all my big females are dead. I have timer, but the remodelling crew pulled that line up the roof to test plumbing....
lession learned : always keep extra hose and timer on hand, and never use a free line to add water to koi pond.

stan

[111whalen]

I learned about Costia. Never had it before. Lost my best fish (avaitor) by using PP to control the problem. You never know to much.

Mark

[mulberryjen]

Quote: Originally Posted by ucpondguy I learned about the importance of maintaining good water quality. With good water quality, koi that have minor scrapes heal without needing to inject, koi grow faster and have better quality skin, and it is better not to panic when faced with koi disease. Sometimes doing shotgun treatments are worse than knowing what you are dealing with and treating accordingly. Last and most importantly, there are koi hobbyists who help because it is in their nature without expecting something in return and are true friends.

ucpondguy - ditto on all of the above. Water quality, water quality, water quality. I've learned alot about health issues - the hard way, of course. Learning to look past the pattern and develop a better eye. (thanks Tony, Joe, & Brian at Champ!) Learned that if you name your fish they immediately flip over and die. Learned that most koi-keepers are intelligent, (you have to be to keep the daggone things alive!) a little crazy, and generally well-rounded....(and I don't mean body conformation.)

[Mike T]

Koi Keeping is not the Genteel hobby I thought it was...

Aloha! Mike T