Rock Bottom Ponds

[MikeM]

The folks selling rock bottom ponds are starting to irritate me. A few weeks ago we went to a "home show" to get some ideas for a remodeling project. At one booth was a fellow marketing rock bottom ponds. I started looking at one of the brochures. I was immediately approached and asked if I was interested in a koi pond. My wife answered that we already have one, "it's a swimming pool for fish". The fellow became very assertive that the rock bottom approach was superior to all others. I replied as politely as I could, "I disagree, but I don't want to debate it." That got him going. He pointed out a video that was playing of a beautiful water garden with a few koi. There was not a speck of algae on any of the river rock covering the bottom, waterlillies were in bloom and the water was crystal clear so the rocks could be clearly seen...about 2 feet below the surface. (Obviously it was newly installed, but his spiel made it sound like it had been established for years.) I told him it was beautiful, but not what I would want for my koi. I explained that my pond was 6 feet deep, operated with several filter systems, bottom drains and no plants. The guy became belligerant. We walked away with him almost yelling that he bet we fed our koi more than every other day, and feeding any more was bad for their health.

I put the incident out of mind until I got home from work on Friday. My wife said I had a call that afternoon from a guy who was providing pond cleaning services, and that in one day they could remove all the fish, empty the pond, clean off all the algae and put it back together so it was like "brand new"... for a not very modest fee. My wife said she replied: "Not my husband's pond your not!" Something ended up being said about rocks in the pond and she hung up on him. (...My wife really isn't into koikeeping, but she knows more than she lets on.) I don't know who called. I guess they found my name in some koi club materials. But one thing I'm sure about, the caller thinks rock bottomed ponds are a good repeat account.

I am posting about this simply because in both instances there was a very hard sell, aggressive approach taken, and as soon as anything critical of rocks in a pond was said, these guys got downright belligerant. It is an unusual sales technique to start attacking the "prospect". Newbies really should be warned. Weird stuff.

[John Bloch]

Quote: Originally Posted by MikeM The folks selling rock bottom ponds are starting to irritate me. A few weeks ago we went to a "home show" to get some ideas for a remodeling project. At one booth was a fellow marketing rock bottom ponds. I started looking at one of the brochures. I was immediately approached and asked if I was interested in a koi pond. My wife answered that we already have one, "it's a swimming pool for fish". The fellow became very assertive that the rock bottom approach was superior to all others. I replied as politely as I could, "I disagree, but I don't want to debate it." That got him going. He pointed out a video that was playing of a beautiful water garden with a few koi. There was not a speck of algae on any of the river rock covering the bottom, waterlillies were in bloom and the water was crystal clear so the rocks could be clearly seen...about 2 feet below the surface. (Obviously it was newly installed, but his spiel made it sound like it had been established for years.) I told him it was beautiful, but not what I would want for my koi. I explained that my pond was 6 feet deep, operated with several filter systems, bottom drains and no plants. The guy became belligerant. We walked away with him almost yelling that he bet we fed our koi more than every other day, and feeding any more was bad for their health. I put the incident out of mind until I got home from work on Friday. My wife said I had a call that afternoon from a guy who was providing pond cleaning services, and that in one day they could remove all the fish, empty the pond, clean off all the algae and put it back together so it was like "brand new"... for a not very modest fee. My wife said she replied: "Not my husband's pond your not!" Something ended up being said about rocks in the pond and she hung up on him. (...My wife really isn't into koikeeping, but she knows more than she lets on.) I don't know who called. I guess they found my name in some koi club materials. But one thing I'm sure about, the caller thinks rock bottomed ponds are a good repeat account. I am posting about this simply because in both instances there was a very hard sell, aggressive approach taken, and as soon as anything critical of rocks in a pond was said, these guys got downright belligerant. It is an unusual sales technique to start attacking the "prospect". Newbies really should be warned. Weird stuff.

yeah... I'm pretty dissapointed in the knowladge aspect of pond places around here... they have fish in stock, but have no idea what their names are (its not like I buy them, but Ive chatted a bit) and mentioned things like "a koi pond only needs to be 18" deep" and things like that...

I dont know what they think about rocks in their ponds... and to be honest I dont know what I think of rocks in a koi pond... I have seen nice established ponds around that have rock bottoms and lill'ys that seem to look quite nice... they were all deeper than 2 feet of course... I'm sure its asthetically pleaseing, but I'm not sure if it would be easy to pull off...

[KoiCop]

your sentence #8: "I don't want to debate it."

Koi Pond vs. PortaPotty. Out.

[MikeM]

John: There is nothing wrong with a rock bottom water garden pond, although the rocks will get covered with algae unless algaecides are used virtually weekly. The overall effect makes a really nice background for waterlillies and other water plants. As a home for koi, however, they are a catastrophe. Of course, if a person thinks of their koi as temporary ornaments they will replace each year...... well, our domestic breeders need to sell their culls to somebody.

[Nancy M.]

Quote: Originally Posted by KoiCop your sentence #8: "I don't want to debate it." Koi Pond vs. PortaPotty. Out.

Hey Don
That is my line.. LOFLMAO

[keokoi]

Mike, I think I had seen those guys at the home and garden show as well.

They were selling a DIY kit complete with Bacteria and all

See Pic Below

[KoiCop]

ROFLMAO. You da man! And Nancy: You da Lady!

[MikeM]

Good one, Joe.


... Hey, Joe. What've you been up to? Good to have you post.

[dick benbow]

For as long as i can remember there have been shisters hawking watergarden ponds for koi. Over the decades, I have tried to help literally hundreds of unhappy koi owners who were hoodwinked because they trusted and didn't know.....reason why clubs have to get the word out...maybe we should have a booth at the home and garden shows.

Had a nice chat with a lady from the bonsai garden at Weyerhauser this afternoon that had koi. 3 in a 1,500 gallon pond. Was green and needed filtration....so you never know when you get a chance to educate. While i was at the gift shop buying a bonsai magazine, I ran into her. Was wearing a koi sweatshirt that started the conversation...

I think having the KB board helps as folks often look to the web to get educated on a miriad of subjects....

[lildude]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow For as long as i can remember there have been shisters hawking watergarden ponds for koi. Over the decades, I have tried to help literally hundreds of unhappy koi owners who were hoodwinked because they trusted and didn't know.....reason why clubs have to get the word out...maybe we should have a booth at the home and garden shows. Had a nice chat with a lady from the bonsai garden at Weyerhauser this afternoon that had koi. 3 in a 1,500 gallon pond. Was green and needed filtration....so you never know when you get a chance to educate. While i was at the gift shop buying a bonsai magazine, I ran into her. Was wearing a koi sweatshirt that started the conversation... I think having the KB board helps as folks often look to the web to get educated on a miriad of subjects....

having a Koi-Bito booth would be a mighty fine thing to have