Gravel

[luke frisbee]

KFG,
there ain't nothing to feel ashamed about.
It is just interesting that in the age of E-nlightment that someone still had gravel in the bottom of their pond....but then you weren't on the "Boards" 2 yrs ago, back when Koi-vet, was a major Board and was having gravel wars.....
As I recall the Big Doc J Himself supported the Rocky Bottom Industry and proclaimed he was going to have them install a rocky bottom pond fotr him as he believed in their philosophy. Since then I've been booted from that board.
it would be interesting to find out if he still is supporting the Aquascape Philosophy for koi ponds.....ANYONE KNOW?
You joined the board after that issue was resolved as far as the mainstream Koi Hobbyist is concerned......
Wonder what will be next? Stand alone PMS systems will stay an issue till a few more years pass...and the system proves/disproves itself at most installations.
but something "newer" will come forward......I can't wait for the flood of cloned koi..but it is a few years off

[butterfly]

I think you should take care of the pH. 9.0 is just too high. Fish can survive at that pH. But with difficulty. Your fish is already having ulcers. I will bring it down to 7.5, at least below 8.0. Make sure that pond water is not touching concrete. Calcium hydroxide leaching from newer concrete can increase pH to 9 (and also high calcium). I wonder why the pH is so high. Good luck!

[koifishgirl]

Reason for the high ph is my water source is high ph. I dont know why because it used to be around 7.5 all the time. I have added some baking soda to the pond and I think I am going to go and get some oyster shells to put in the filter.

Judy

[koifishgirl]

I jst went out to feed my koi and noticed the koi flashing. I treated my pond for flukes, I wish I had known about the gravel in the bottom of my pond. It has been nite mare after nite mare this summer. Way to many bugs and bad bacteria. Do you guys think I will be able to get this under control? I have been dipping the koi in the good ulcer meds and they are doing much better, the ulcers are almost healed, I put the koi sleep and put the topical meds and bandaid on them and was doing ok, but the dip has been the best by far. Tricide- Neo after three days of the dip are almost healed. Very good stuff. The med is high priced and all koi that has ulcers are 15 inches and under so I used one gallon of water and dip the koi saving the most of the packet, so now I have enough left for four more rounds if I need it. The koi were cramped in the bucket but all went well as they calmed down very good and took the treatment like full grown men My koi have been through pure hell this summer and they still love me, you would think after a few times of being put to sleep and pulled from the pond to salt baths and so forth that they would be scared of me. Nope when they see me they come swimming up to me, just like they are thanking me and with open mouths ready to eat. I wonder if koi even have a brain now. Or just no memory

[butterfly]

I think your high pH water is causing the problems. Prolonged exposure to high pH could not be good for your fish. Instead of treating with all the medicine, why dont you fix the pH first and use a high powered UV next. Baking soda did more harm than good because it helps to maintain high pH. I will change the water completely and then see.