Will you be bringing in your koi for the winter?

[gregbickal]

Im covering the top and front with 10mm twin wall polycarbonate sheeting. I want the light and the heat that the sun will bring in. Lots of fading in previous years from being inside. Also would like the natural light for algae growth on the walls.

[KingKoi]

I too bring mine koi in for the winter, 1/2 are in now and the other 1/2 will soon be coming in also ,just waiting on the rain to stop here been raining for a week stright .

[gregbickal]

sorry, double post.

[Regenmeneer]

I'll be bringing in my koi somewhere in october, depending on the water temperature. I'll move them into my winterpond, which is 15ton, and has a polycabonate dome. The pond is heated, and the temperature will be slowly dropped to 8c, kept there for about 6 weeks, and then slowly up to 15c. Somewhere in april/may, the koi will go back to the outside pond.

Regenmeneer

[ChrisC]

Mine are in. I don't have enough light in the garage for this temporary set up, but I am experimenting with metal halide light to see if I can bring the hi back up.

[keokoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by ChrisC Mine are in. I don't have enough light in the garage for this temporary set up, but I am experimenting with metal halide light to see if I can bring the hi back up.

very interesting ChrisC, How many watts of MH are you going to use. In my reef days I used a combo of 20,000k which has a bit more blue actinic light and 10,000k which is more white. The ones you buy at HD or Lowes is a 5500k which gives off a more red effect if I remeber correctly..

I had 3-400 watt MH and 2 96 watt actinics.. Yeesh..

Joe

[ChrisC]

Quote: Originally Posted by keokoi very interesting ChrisC, How many watts of MH are you going to use. In my reef days I used a combo of 20,000k which has a bit more blue actinic light and 10,000k which is more white. The ones you buy at HD or Lowes is a 5500k which gives off a more red effect if I remeber correctly.. I had 3-400 watt MH and 2 96 watt actinics.. Yeesh.. Joe

I plugged in my 1000 W bulb, which I think is too much, since I could see the skeletons through the fish. My electrical panel obviously needs an upgrade too, since I couldn't keep it on if I turned on the coffee machine.

I think 300-400 is probably good enough. I'm trying that next.