Home | * NEW - Koi TV * | Koi Mart | Koi For Sale | Tategoi | Yamakoshi | Koi Hotels | Koi Store | Koimag BBS | >> Koi 2 Kichi <<

KOI NEWS: The Great Nishikigoi Giveaway | Post a Message | To the BBS Main Page

Mud Pond characteristics

Posted by Michael Van Neste on 5/9/2008, 8:51 pm, in reply to "Re: ideal water parameters"
82.112.143.98

In answer to Michael's question, yes, Ann Telford took samples from mud ponds and published the results in a Koi Carp magazine a few years ago. Contrary to popular views, the results were not consistent pond to pond, particularly in the area of alkalinity and general hardness, which interest so many. I also recall mentioning this before and JR chastising me for ignoring the probable effects of snowfall, thawing etc. Ann took her readings in the winter. Mike Snaden has just published an article in Koi Carp Magazine on the subject of mudponds and the reasons for their beneficial effects on koi. His views happen to coincide largely with mine. I have long questioned these effects, since my pondwater closely resembles that of Niigata mudponds in terms of pH, total alkalinity and GH. Nevertheless I am unable to successfully keep Kujaku, Goshiki, Sushui etc and my kohaku are subject to shimmies and my gosanke to hikui. He makes the point that koi in concrete ponds are kept in pristine conditions, whereas koi in mudponds are protected from strong sunlight by the turpidity of the water. I am sure he is right. This does not explain why Toshio Sakai goes to all the trouble of shipping his best koi every spring to Niigata mudponds instead of placing them in his own local mudponds in central Japan. There must be more to it than just turpidity. Also some top hobbyists place their best koi in Niigata mudponds every summer. They could more easily arrange for some turpidity in their pondwater and enjoy their koi as well. As for Niigata mudponds, they do vary greatly. Ponds near the top of the slopes can have very clear water and the top breeders' ponds are generally at the top of slopes or placed where there are no other breeders' ponds above them. Ponds lower down may well be served with water that has already passed through ponds above. Since the earthquake many new facilities and mudponds are being created on the flatlands close to Ojiya. The water for these is raised from boreholes. It remains to be seen whether the koi from these facilities will match the "mountain koi" that we associate with Niigata. Michael

---

Responses: There are no responses to this message. « Back to thread

---

Post a Response

Home | * NEW - Koi TV * | Koi Mart | Koi For Sale | Tategoi | Yamakoshi | Koi Hotels | Koi Store | Koimag BBS

Copyright 2004 © Nishikigoi International, Ltd. Innovation House, Parkside Business Park, Golborne, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 3PY Tel: 01942 777879 ~ Fax: 01942 777876 ~ nikoimag@aol.com

Nishikigoi International Ltd does not qualify any of the material posted for accuracy and so accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever either direct or consequential for any information posted on the message board. Acceptance of the aforementioned is a complicit term of viewing and or posting messages on the board