When Can Koi & Goldfish Be Moved From an Aquarium Back to the Pond?

A customer recently emailed this question to Aquatic Connections. "My son bought some koi and shubunkins for our pond at christmas time and has kept them indoor in an aquarium. When and how do we adapt the fish to our pond. Our water temp is 52 degrees right now."

Aquatic Connections Response: Ideally, koi and goldfish only like a water temperature change of about 2-5 degrees. We aren't selling koi or goldfish at Aquatic Connections right now (March-Early April)because there is too much of a difference from our tanks to most people's ponds. I would wait longer. I would get your pond water tested and make sure the water quality is good right before you are ready to transfer the fish. You'll want to add pond salt and stress coat to the pond. What you'll do is put some aquarium water in a plastic bag and put the koi and shubunkins in that (or several bags). Tie the bags and float them in the pond for 15-20 minutes to let the fish get used to the temperature. Then you'll open the bags and use a net to scoop them out. You don't want to dump the aquarium water in the pond because it could change your water quality. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

If you have any tips, comments or suggestions on moving koi and goldfish from aquariums to an outdoor pond, please post your comment here.

Click Here to visit Aquatic Connections Website.

THE BIRTH OF A HUMMINGBIRD

A customer forwarded this email to Aquatic Connections and we wanted to share it with everyone. This is truly amazing. A lady found a hummingbird nest and got pictures all the way from the egg to leaving the nest. Took 24 days from birth to flight. Because you'll probably never in your lifetime see this again, enjoy; and please share. Be sure to click on NEXT PAGE at the bottom of each page; there are 5 pages in all. If you want to see pictures of a hummingbird nest, egss & hummingbird babies please Click here.

Also, if you haven't read the two comments left on the Hummingbird Posting from 3/31/09, you missed a link to a 2009 Hummingbird Migration Map. For a link to the Map, Click Here.

ALEX'S LEMONADE POND TOUR...A POND TOUR FOR THE CURE

Aquatic Connections has teamed up with several other Water Garden Companies to host a joint pond tour to be held on Saturday, August 1, 2009. There will be a tour in Pennsylvania and a tour in New Jersey. The cost of the tour will be $15 for adults and children over twelve, and the proceeds will be donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand. You will be able to purchase your tickets at Aquatic Connections and will receive a complimentary Alex's Lemonade Stand pin, which we ask that you wear on the day of the tour. This special pin is your admission ticket to the tour and shows your support for Alex's Lemonade Stand and the fight against childhood cancer. Directional booklets will be handed out when you make your donation and receive your pin. Further details will be provided as the date of the Tour approaches. You can find more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand and the Pond Tour for the Cure by Clicking Here.

Don't Turn on your UV Sterilizer Just Yet!

I wanted to pass along a pond tip for those of you who use UV sterilizers in your pond. At Aquatic Connections, we would suggest waiting a few more weeks before you turn on your UV light. UV lights can not distinguish between the "Good Bacteria" in your pond that you want to grow right now and the algae you want to get rid of. Coming out of the winter season, all of your Good Bacteria has died off in the cold water. In order to help your pond's ecosystem re-establish itself for the Spring, you want to add bacteria, like Microbe-lift, and let it colonize in your filter system. Running your UV will make that process more difficult and possibly delay the process.

Also, did you know that you should replace your UV bulb EVERY year?

If you would like to read more about Spring Opening Pond Tips, you can visit our website, Aquaticconnections.com and click on the Pond News Tab for Seminar Notes or Click Here.

Here Come the Hummingbirds

On Sunday March 29th, I got together with a few customers at our store, Aquatic Connections, and we talked about attracting Hummingbirds to our backyards. I was honest with them and said that I had not actually tried this yet, and this was going to be my first season to put up hummingbird feeders. I had done a lot of research and looked at many different types of feeders at a wild bird trade show in February. One thing I learned was that male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will migrate back to Pennsylvania, earlier than the females and younger birds, scouting for food sources and breeding grounds. It was suggested to me that the feeders should be put out by the end of March or beginning of April so these scouts would find them and hopefully the rest of the flock would follow. So, we all agreed we would put our Hummingbird feeders out that afternoon and stay in touch and let each other know when the Hummers show up. I put out two feeders and spilled nectar all over the place because I didn't screw the lids on properly! I finally got it right and I can't wait to start adding plants to my garden that will hopefully bring these tiny little birds to my yard. So, I'll let you know when they show up. If you have any tips for me or other readers, please feel free to comment. If you would like a copy of the Hummingbird Seminar notes, they're posted on Aquaticconnections.com under the Pond News Tab or Click Here.