Beth4, checking in for this year. I originated this post last August. Since then I've not lost a single fish -- except for 3 that disappeared after winter thaw and before the leaf canopy came out that disguises the pond. I think I lost those 3 to a heron. They just completely disappeared. All the fish are now happy and healthy. I wonder if my fish were dying last year because I wasn't feeding them, at all, ever. When I started feeding them twice weekly, I never lost another fish. And, had several batches of babies. Six babies have survived, even made it through the winter, so all is well. For my pond, I use all Microbe Lift products. These products keep the rocks nice and clear of debris and plant growth. I can clearly see the pond rocks on the bottom of the pond. I am very happy with all of the ML products I use, and use them exactly as directed. They do a great job of breaking down the debris. I've got all my fingers crossed that everything will continue smoothly through the summer. I've already placed several plants in the pond. Need to arrange them, add more, and then bare-root plant the impatiens which will take over the sides of the streams and the pond, keep the algae at bay and look beautfiul. Thanks for everyone's comments and suggestions!

Kitty - I have a tank, I could DO that! I'm in 9b, and we did get some nippy weather last winter (my first here, so not sure it's customary), I think we had 18 or so days where it got down to 28? No horrible storms after a big wind storm that hit the week before Thanksgiving and did lots of damage around the county, but none at my house, TG! I was relying on an online weather site to tell me how cold it was, aside from COLD, but I got myself some thermometers, so I'll see just how cold it gets here at MY house, not a mile down the road and up the hill. Last winter was quite the learning experience, as I lost a lot of plants - sob, wail! I replaced some of them, and this year I've moved some stuff into the house, and walled the cats away with chicken wire. REALLY hope it works and they don't mess with them, or eat them (and poison themselves!) Other stuff I've resigned myself to not having again while I live here.

Lucy you are going to give yourself a nervous breakdown. Just leave the stuff wherever it is and quit moving it around before you hurt your back. Leave the big back door shut and just open the windows and front door unless it gets in the 30's. John had started feeding the fish a few days before we left because it had been so warm but they won't eat now until the water warms back up. If you see them swimming around looking for some you can throw in a pinch but otherwise they are good. I'm sorry you are stressing out so bad. It will be ok so quit worrying. Having a good time but worn out being on my feet all day for so many days in a row. I need a rest day instead of a run all over one. The sunset was really beautiful tonight. One side of the island is stormy every night but the other side it dry so we had to drive 2 hours to get some sun, lol. Back internet connection over here so can't get on much and can't get pics to download to photobucket. I'll mess with it more when I have time. Have only been at the house to sleep mostly. Lucy you can call me if you need to. Its a 5 hour time difference.

Hi Drama, this is a loaded question. The question of how much to feed koi has been going on since koi keeping began. Let me give you a little background first. I know really, such a simple question. Koi growth and water quality are the two biggest areas. People will skip feeding their koi to retain good water quality, Also, people who want big koi will feed their fish more often. There was just an article in my local koi club magazine (MAKC) asking, are we starving our koi. Now people will say that a fish will only grow to its surrounding. However, if water quality is perfect and the fish has the genetics, it will grow big. So how is your water quality? How big is your pond? How big do you want your fish to grow? Also, with good water quality, expect your six fish to multiply. Now I believe in feeding my koi more than once per day. However I'm a R.N. and sometimes my schedule does not permit. I have yet to buy an auto feeder. There's a great series of Youtube videos by Andrewkoi. He touches on how you should mix your koi food. For instance, as the water warms I wont just switch my fish from wheat germ to a protein food. I will slowly introduce it. I have a zip lock bag, and slowly mix more protein into the mix as the weather warms. I never completely take out the wheat germ. As the weather cool, I mix more wheat germ into the mix until its all wheat germ. Now I mix other types of food in as well, silkworm pellets, freeze dried krill, etc.. As far as the Blue Ridge pellets go, I don't believe they are bad. However, if you see floating poop on the water stop feeding them it. Sorry for the long response...I hope this helps.. Craig