My Balcony Koi Pond

Japanese Koi Pond for the Condominium / Apartment Dweller.

Fiberglass tank with treated Nyatoh wood finishing.

Specs:
Tank - 5'6" (L) x 2' (W) x 2'4" (D)
Filter - 1'3" (L) x 2' (W) x 1' (D)
Water spout - 4" (L) x 8" (W)
Glass Window - 3' (L) x 1'5" (D) x 10mm thick

1 unit Shanda SDP-9800A pump, 85W, 5500L/H
1 unit Dophin UV-7W Steriliser Filter, 17W, 500L/H
1 unit low voltage underwater 12V/50W spot light w/ halogen bulb
1 lot Filter Medias (bio-filter foam mats, crushed corals, ceramic bio rings, bio balls, japanese filter mats)

13 Koi's in video (all between 6-8 inches) :
2x Sanke
1x Tancho Sanke
1x Kohaku
1x Showa
1x Shiro Bekko
1x Aka Hajiro (large scales)
1x Doitsu Karashigoi
1x Budo Goromo
1x Shusui
1x Asagi
1x Chagoi
1x Ochiba Shigure
2x Albino Pleco

Music : Rin' - Sakura Sakura

To ensure koi's stay 'mini', I've implemented a system that has so far proved successful for me. Koi's are only fed once a day - from Monday to Friday with Wheat Germ and from Saturday to Sunday with Spirulina.

50% water change is implemented once every two weeks. Filter is cleaned once a week due to its size.

Overstocking in the tank has naturally caused the fish to remain small in size. In addition, many of these koi's are from specially chosen stock, where the parent koi have not grown more than 12-14 inches. With the knowledge that not every koi has potential to become jumbo, I am in the process of trying to create my own bonsai or toy koi stock.

In the six months since they've been in the tank, none of them have grown in length by more than 2cm (less than an inch). They have grown a bit sideways though! I am currently trying to regulate feeding further so that they don't develop pot-bellies, but as you can see in the video, one or two of them seem to be bigger eaters than the rest.

All koi have remained active and healthy, as none have become sick or picked up any diseases. I have not incurred any fatalities either, so at the moment the experiment seems to be working well.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• mini
• bonsai
• toy
• german
• mirror
• armor
• armour
• large
• scale
• scaleless
• scale-less
• leather
• doitsu
• japanese
• koi
• fish
• carp
• nishikigoi
• nishiki-goi
• fresh
• water
• fall
• fiberglass
• pond
• tank
• aquatic
• aquarium
• feeding
• food
• eating
• swimming
• plants
• balcony
• apartment
• condominium
• indoor
• built
• build
• DIY
• elegant
• serene
• fishpond
• pets
• animals
• hobby
• tosai
• gosanke
• tancho
• sanke
• showa
• kohaku
• shiro
• bekko
• budo
• goromo
• koromo
• aka
• hajiro
• karashigoi
• ochiba
• shigure
• chagoi
• asagi
• shushui
• albino
• plecostomus
• rin'
• sakura

[San2278]

Finally uploaded the video of the filter set-up. Click on my username to check it out!

[zombiedude763]

whats the song thanks

[San2278]

@zombiedude763 It's in the info - Rin' Sakura Sakura.

[ishot811and300]

Very awesome setup. I personally think it's a lot overstocked and don't think the feeding cycle is going to keep them from growing to their maximum size, but I do wish you the best of luck.

Again, love the set up...would love to see the complete filter system.

Thanks for sharing.

[San2278]

@ishot811and300 Been changing the filter set up slightly. Added in bio balls, replaced crush corals with ceramic bio rings, and been trying out different filter mats. Will try to upload a vid of the filters' interior once I've settled on an ideal set-up. Thanks for watching!

[mrshinyshoes]

Love it! You did a great job! You must have a very strong and solid balcony to support the heavy weight of the water.

[boatmaster10o]

Nice pond. My opinion, needs some plants and more water fall like things. But still a nice pond. And good idea with the window

[yohordanp]

Greetings from Venezuela.

Your mini pond is beautiful and very well designed.

Still think you have too many fish, I would recommend sending my

pond some =D ... Exitos en tu experimento.

Congratulations

[damafiafz]

JAW DROPING WWOOOOOOWWWWWWW AWSM man nicest super pond ever seen ur lucky as hell :D take a gud care of it i love ponds with glass windows.....

[ZZgS]

thats a good idea to put glass on the side. I always hate how you cant see koi in ponds too good ya no?

[callteg4]

Long way down if they jump