I started feeding my pond fish over the weekend and they are all there! My little inch long gold koi is abou 3 inches now, he is so pretty! My biggest koi is about 8 inches or so, maybe 10. I also had frog eggs in the pond, so I'll have tadpoles before long. The frogs and toads are everywhere and I love to hear them at night. I'll try to get pictures this weekend of the pond - it's still pretty "pea soup" looking but I will clean the filter again and hopefully clear some of that up.

Lachfa, I am so jealous! Mine won't be up and running for several weeks. I love the frogs too. I go to get tadpoles every year so that I have frogs. I love to listen to them.

A perk to not bring in my fish for the winter. But you get to see your fish all winter and I don't! What do you mean you go get tadpoles? I have tons of frogs and toads! The kids love to find litte baby frogs all over the yard and chase them. I let them keep them for the day if they can catch them and they they have to put them back outside so they can go home. Ever once in a while a big old bullfrog will hope across the yard and scare the heck out of someone - I expect them to be in the pond, but not in the yard! Try catching one of them

How many gallons you got Lachfa! That's awesome

It's about a 500 gallon pond. I am going to get new pictures this weekend of it.

How cool is that...

We go to a local pond place and get tadpoles out of their pond and put them in our pond so that they grow into frogs. Every now and then we do find one jumping across the yard.

I did enjoy the fish all winter so I won't complain. It was so nice being able to see them everyday. I still have to get more water into the pond. It takes a while to get 800 gallons into it. Hopefully it will be cycleing by the weekend.

Then on the other hand you had to care for those fish all winter - I didn't do anything but turn the heater on now and then.

Can't you take water from the troughs and put in the pond to cycle it instantly?

I would love to be able to take the water from the tanks but the pond is much bigger and I can't put the fish in yet. It is still way too cold at night for the fancies. The Koi and comets would be fine with the temps but I'm afraid it would shock their system too much to move them until it gets warmer. Their tanks downstairs are 62. Once I move everyone into the pond I will then dump that water into the pond.

I keep forgetting it is colder in NY. The shock would be a lot on them. I thought some of the trough water might help cycle it quicker. When you do water changes, take the water to the pond....just a thought, might be a lot of work. I'm off tomorrow and if the rain stops I will take new pics of my pond.

Lachfa, that is a great idea. I plan on cleaning them and doing a water change this weekend. I'll just drain it into buckets instead of the sump pump and carry it outside to the pond. Thanks!

Did your rain stop so that you could get pictures today? I need to get some new ones of my kids. I really want to wait until I get them all moved. But maybe I'll take some this weekend.

I took a few pictures, but I am at home and this computer is SLOW. I will wait until tomorrow to post them. They aren't the greatest, you can't see the fish in them - the water is still to nasty.