Thanks for the advice. I'm still trying to find a place for the orchid outdoors. There doesn't seem to be anywhere outside that doesn't get direct sunlight for hours at a time. Fortunately, I don't have any slugs outside (eww), and I have many potted plants outside that seem to be bug free for an occasional spider, so I moved the orchid around. For a while, it was on a gravel path. But, as I said I don't even know where to keep it outside, so it goes in and out throughout the day. I will also look for something to raise it up on once I find a place outside. Jane, that would be great if it would spike! Sarah

I really like them. Hopefully in the future I will be able to put in a bigger pond and I can try again with the Golden Orfes and do it right by getting about 5 or 6. For now I am going to pass on them as I see the advice the guy in the pond store told me that one was good, was wrong. Meantime I rewarded myself by going back to the pond store and buying two new fish. I got a stunner of a butterfly koi in a strange metalic almost mustard old gold color. I know that might not sound attractive but the fish is lovely. Also a most beautiful deep almost red "goldfish" with the most long, long, long tail and fins.

Puglvr, I'm starting to wish I'd never found this forum. There's a whole world of hoyas out there that I never knew existed until now, viewing the pictures posted on this web. They're beautiful, exciting, exotic, intoxicating and downright addictive. Even more so than orchids, and orchids are like peanuts. You can't have just one. My mom had a hoya pubicalyx (its 40 or 50 years old now: mom's 84) so I appreciated mine, but didn't have proper respect. We have to continuously cut everything back in south Fla or it takes over. The saying is to cut when the blade is sharp, and always keep the blade sharp. I only cut to give cuttings and am fertilizing the base more now. She has another dozen or 20 umbels in the works. Have you read about the beer formula? What are your opinions about that?

Ok, all but eight fish perished. I've emptied and cleaned the pond. Fresh dechlorinated water. Added a much larger pump. I want to look into the possibillity of a better filter system as well. Mine is the slightly bigger than a shoebox HomeDepot bio system with dual mesh materials and bio balls. No uv. Suggestions of an affordable system will be appreciated. Remember, i'm a hobbiest, not a commercial grower. :) Moved the pond to where no roof rain spill off will affect it. I'm treating what I believe is SAP fungus on a few of the remaining fish. This will take a few days to a week if I understand correctly. The fungus supposedly thrives in cooler temps. My weather has been that unfortunately. Purchased the 'master water testing kit'. Tested three times this weekend. In the newly setup tub, most everything reads ok. Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, everything except the Ph. It was on the high end of alkalinity. Might be the added salt? Anyways, I added 'Ph down' and by the third test, it had been reduced somewhat. I'll keep my eye on it, and continue testing. I won't add more fish until I either get a better handle on all of this or a larger tub. I thank who ever turned me onto Koiphen. Very informative. I believe i'm on the right track. Continued suggestions are more than welcome.