Plans for Spring

[HeatherB]

We have a pond outside, it has currently 2 feeder goldfish and 1 fancy goldfish. We did have 2 Koi, but they were eaten by SOMETHING in the summer.

We would like to put waterlily's in it, something to help shade the pond a bit, but was curious at to what you all thought regarding this we saw on TV this AM.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.M16682.desc.Robertas-Red-Nymphaea-Water-Lily-wPlanter-Kitand-Fertilizer

We would like to get 2 more Koi to put in it again this spring.

[HeatherB]

They also have these. Also in a yellow variety:
http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.CM_SCID.coll.item.M16942.desc.Robertas-Biltmore-Jumbo-Pink-ColdHardy-Waterlily-Kit

[VoidParadigm]

How big is your pond, anyways?

In any case, I'd get those just for the gauruntee. Most sellers of aquatic plants in my experience won't gauruntee something going into a pond.

[toddnbecka]

Goldfish (and/or koi) will eat any exposed water lily roots they find. If you have potted lilies the roots are going to grow out of the pot rather quickly IME. That's one reason I keep rosy reds in my backyard lily pond. I'm just hoping the lilies survive the winter, the pond has been completely buried under snow since the first round. The fish are a total loss, but they're cheap and easier to replace than the lilies.
Here's a few pics from last summer:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Ornaments/P1030080-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Ornaments/P1030075.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Ornaments/P1030066.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/toddnbecka/Ornaments/P1030064.jpg

Assuming the plants survive the winter I can hook you up with some in the spring. As you can see, I have enough to divide some tubers. There are also several whites and I think one yellow in there somewhere. Some of them weren't big enough to bloom yet.

[HeatherB]

The pond is about 300 to 400 gallons. Right now there is 2 feeder goldfish and 1 fancy goldfish in there, which as far as I know- has survived the winter thus far.

Now I have 3 more new feeder goldfish to add to the mix. Guess that kinda means no koi. Although I would love to have two again.

Could I use some kind of netting? Like this:
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5178+16852&pcatid=16852

[toddnbecka]

Might work, at least up to a point. I had one really large white lily rhizome that I split up a couple years ago. The roots had grown out several feet all around the pot and across the bottom of the pond. I suspect the goldfish would keep the roots pruned back, and prevent the plant/s from growing too large.

[smaug]

First your pond isn't big enough for koi,I know its difficult to not get them as they are beautiful but they reach 3 ft easily and 300 gal ponds aren't big enough.A koi pond with 3-4 koi really needs to be a minimum of 750 gal.As fir the Lily's,that add looks good and they would look nice,1 should do it.Other plants that work well for shading and also do double duty for water cleaning are hyacinth and watter lettuce,they multiply quickly and are cheap,get 3-4 each and by the time summer is over they will cover the pond entirely.They will not overwinter so they are a yearly proposition but the cheaper cost makes that ok.

[HeatherB]

The fish place I get my koi from has large outdoor ponds that I can return them too when they get too big. My neigbor sold them back 2 two-footers right before fall last year. They are an outdoor garden center with a big waterhole/pond. - but I think six goldfish (even they are small-all under 3 inches) and 2 koi would be pushing it.

[smaug]

If you are able to rehome the koi when they reach a foot or so then that would be on.2 koi under a foot and your goldy would be fine.That brings up the plants though,koi are voracious plant eaters,especially floating plant roots.The lily's in my pond are protected in there pots with a layer of jagged rocks over there tubers to keep the koi from rooting them out.If you put rounder more comfortable rocks over them the little pigs will simply keep rooting till they get under them.They wont hurt themselves with the jagged rocks they are fairly smart and wont dig where it hurts.I love my koi but they are a pain in the rear for plant keeping:hmm3grin2orange:

[HeatherB]

What about if i just weigh them down with a couple large heavy rocks? Ones they cant move??

[smaug]

During the course of a lily's growth they sprout there floating leaves from the rhizome.Because of this they need multiple points of exit toward the surface,one big rock would block most of these .

[HeatherB]

Rats. Guess I'll keep on the look out for small, jagged rock then. Curses. Will the plant net work do you think?

[smaug]

Crykee!.They actually make just such a thing,I always forget about them.They are made to actually put the whole pot in,it keeps the fish out and allows the shoots to come through.Thanks for the reverse advise!
http://www.bonniesplants.com/how_to/lilyprotect.html this is one type but I dont like it as it takes away from the natural look.
here it is
http://www.pondbiz.com/home/pb1/page_447_304/

[HeatherB]

Maybe once the lily pads grow, I can kinda drape them over the styrofoam so they can camoflage it a bit???

Think the fertilizer that comes with the lilys is safe to use? I would think they would make it safe for fish (since it's for ponds) but that could just be common sense talking, and you know not everyone has that!

[smaug]

Yes it would be safe for fish.I put lily pellets in my baskets twice a month during the bloom season.I have 4 lilys and a lotus.Check out this protector.
http://www.pondbiz.com/home/pb1/page_447_304/

[HeatherB]

That would be nice if you had plants that stayed underwater. I am hoping my two boggish plants come back to life. Dad forgot to water them so hopefully after 3 weeks of nothing, MAYBE they will come back!!

[smaug]

You are talking about lilys right?Oh,,,I see your confusion,the net works for lilly because they grow through the netting while the roots are protected from the koi.

[HeatherB]

So you can't see it floating? That is a wonderful thing!!! Let me go get the credit card now!!!

[smaug]

The 2nd one I posted is something like a laundry basket I assume.Ive seen them at the pond shop.

[HeatherB]

That's a great idea. I will have to look and see if they have one around here.